New Nursing Program Offered Close to Home

Providing basic patient bedside care such as measuring and recording vital signs, preparing and giving injections and more, Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) are a vital part of any health care delivery team.  Memorial Health System of East Texas and Angelina College have teamed up at the Memorial Medical Center – Livingston campus to provide a LVN Program so students in the community can stay close to home while working towards their certification.

“We are able to partner with Angelina College on this initiative thanks to a grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,” said David LeMonte, Administrator at Memorial Medical Center – Livingston.  “As the need for health care professionals in rural areas increases, we want to be a part of the solution and we feel that this partnership is a step in that direction.”

The partnership grant made the Vocational Nursing (VN) Program at Memorial Medical Center – Livingston possible.  The first class in the program began in August 2010 with 14 students.  The students in the program meet for class, lab and clinical experience at Memorial Medical Center – Livingston.  “The students in the program rarely have to drive to the Lufkin campus for classes,” said Amber Murphy, RN, onsite Angelina College Instructor.  “They do have to go occasionally for end of the semester testing and to get their books, but the rest of the time they are in Livingston.”

The one-year program is open to all those in the area who are interested in applying.  Admission into the program depends on the applicant’s HESI reading and math scores.  Applicants are ranked according to these scores and the top students are offered conditional acceptance.  For more information on admission requirements for this program, contact the Health Careers Division at Angelina College, 936-633-5265.

“We are delighted that we can partner with MMC-L,” said Sharon Buffalo, Associate Degree Program Coordinator and Interim VN Program Coordinator at Angelina College.  “The benefits of a partnership such as this are many.  We are able to provide classes for our students close to home while Memorial has the benefit of students trained at their facility which assists in the orientation of new graduates.”