Vanguard University

Mission Statement

The Vanguard University Department of Nursing is committed to providing exceptional undergraduate and graduate nursing programs taught by professor-mentors in a dynamic learning community. Since launching our first nursing program in 2006, we have been a center of excellence in Christian nursing education that integrates our University values of truth, virtue and service. Vanguard Nursing Program alumni leave committed to compassionate, holistic patient care – mind, body and spirit.

Accreditations

•  Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
•  California State Board of Registered Nursing
•  WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Program Distinctives

• The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Pre-Licensure program equips students to be compassionate health care providers and leaders in nursing. Students receive simulated training in two state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Labs, take part in clinical training at leading partner health care facilities including St. Jude Medical Center, Orange County Global Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, Children's Hospital of Orange County and Orange Coast Medical Center, and participate in a variety of community-based experiences.
• The RN to BSN program combines innovative curriculum, interdisciplinary teaching, and collaborative partnerships in a values-based baccalaureate program. This program promotes critical inquiry, enhances the nurse’s skill set, and prepares the nurse for leadership roles in the healthcare environment and may be completed in as little as 10 months. Dual enrollment options are available.
• The RN to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed for registered nurses who do not have a bachelor’s degree and are seeking to complete a master’s degree. This program prepares graduates to assume a position as a Nurse Educator in healthcare settings, serve in advanced roles related to population health education, and teach in academic nursing programs. Designed for nurses with busy schedules this program focuses on one course at a time, with classes in the evening and occasional Saturdays. Synchronized online classes are offered with online discussions and practicum hours.
• The MSN program offers a dual track for the baccalaureate prepared nurse, emphasizing the application of theoretical knowledge in the development of Nursing Education and Leadership competencies. We combine the benefits of a cohort model and faculty mentoring in combination with a hybrid curriculum and the convenience of online learning. Since launching our program in 2012, we have been a center of excellence in Christian Nursing Education, committed to promoting a culture of compassion. Our graduate nurse educators, leaders, and researchers are prepared for advanced roles in both clinical and academic settings and are making a difference in their communities and in the overall trajectory of healthcare.
• The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate prepares the master’s level nurse for advanced practice in mental health care for children, adolescents, adults and older adults experiencing psychiatric and mental health disorders. The program seeks to add to the supply of psychiatric advanced practice clinicians, to help address the current shortage of mental health providers in the State of California. Graduates are qualified to apply for NP licensure from the California BRN and take the national certification exam for the Psychiatric/Mental Health specialty from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS, BSN)
• RN to BSN
• RN to Master of Science in Nursing
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nursing Education and Leadership
• Post-master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate