Forty-nine Practical Nursing students at Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) recently received the traditional nurse’s cap at a ceremony recognizing the achievements and accomplishments in completing the first half of the intense and comprehensive nursing program. The students have successfully completed many hours of classroom and skills testing. They will now continue on to specialty rotations at local health facilities. A practical nurse is trained to care for acute, sub-acute, convalescent and chronically ill patients under the direction of a registered nurse and/or licensed physician.

The OCVTS nursing students continue to gain valuable experience in the state-of-the-art nursing skills lab, funded through a generous donation from the Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation. The lab, located at the OCVTS Toms River Center, equipped with the latest equipment and technology provides a reality-based approach to learning, including a life-like manikin which can be programmed to simulate a myriad of childbirth scenarios. Additionally, OCVTS has established agreements with over a dozen local hospitals and health care facilities which provide valuable opportunities for students to gain experience and apply classroom theory.

Graduation is scheduled for the end of June. At that time students will be prepared to take the NCLEX-PN for qualification as a Licensed Practical Nurse in New Jersey. Historically, OCVTS nursing graduates’ pass rate for the NCLEX-PN has surpassed both the state and national average pass rate.

The OCVTS Practical Nursing Program was the first program offered at OCVTS and began in 1959. It is approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing and the Department of Education. The program has a very competitive admissions process and class sizes are limited. It is the largest vocational technical-based nursing program in New Jersey.

For more information about the Practical Nursing program at OCVTS visit ocvts.org or call 732.473.3100 extension 3137.