You know you want to be a nurse. It’s something you’ve always dreamed of doing. But what does a nurse do? How do you get started in this profession? What nursing program certifications do you need? We broke it down for you to make it short and simple – so that you’ll be able to make a change today to get started in nursing school.

What is a nurse?

A nurse is a career profession that is in the healthcare sector that focuses on the well-being of individuals, families, kids, communities, etc. A nurse who is certified usually works in a specific nursing care focus, which is defined by treatment, health condition, and patient. There are different certifications that are offered for nursing, such as a licensed vocational nurse and registered nurse, which will help dictate what field of nursing you can practice in and what nursing program you need to take.

What do they do?

Nurses provide medical care under the direction of doctors and their supervisors. Licensed vocational nurses may administer basic medical care, including monitoring patient health, ensuring patient comfort, and keeping records of patient treatment and health. In general, nurses are able to specialize in their chosen area of interest. You can become a pediatric nurse if you decide taking care of children is more of your passion. You could also be a OBGYN nurse, which specializes in women’s health, or a nurse who focuses on cardiovascular conditions.

What is the job outlook?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare industry is expected to grow exponentially from now until 2026, much faster than other industries. This is due to the aging population and the increase of chronic conditions, such as obesity and diabetes.

What nursing program certifications do you need?

There are different educational requirements for each specialized area of nursing; however, nearly all of them require that candidates are certified through a nursing program. Becoming a licensed vocational nurse requires that the individual complete an approved nursing program, typically found at trade schools. After completing the nursing program, the individual also needs to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) certification exam. Depending on your specific field or your ultimate career goals, you might consider pursuing further educational training, such as a registered nurse or bachelor’s in nursing program.

Once you are a licensed nurse, you’re ready to be employed and can begin providing patient care, educating hospital patients about their health issues, and providing advice and support to patients and their families.

Ready to take the next step?

The SBBCollege Vocational Nursing Program provides the skills and knowledge for students to become vocational nurses. The nursing program includes hands-on training to enable students to master the skills of patient care, safety, hygiene, feeding, vital signs assessment, medication administration, and much more. Students can complete the program in about 14 months, including on-the-job training where nursing students get to work with patients in different hospital settings.

After training, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical/Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN) and receive job-placement assistance, such as interview preparation, resume writing and job lead development.

Have questions about our nursing program or the nursing field in general? We’re happy to answer all of them! Call us today at 866-749-7222!

Our mission at SBBCollege is that our success is based on the success of our students. We love hearing about our student’s triumphs and their experience along the way. We had the opportunity to meet with Floyd, an SBBCollege Business Administration alumni, and speak with him about how SBBCollege has changed his future. Not only did he enjoy the courses and the teachers he met along the way, but he earned valuable knowledge in his classes.

One of the things he enjoyed most about the program and what SBBCollege has to offer is the class size. He stated that, “the classes are very small, which I like. It’s a better learning experience. My time here was very pleasant.”

Floyd is now a Payroll Clerk, and his main responsibility is entering data and computing numbers to ensure that it is delivered to the FSA, and the government.

Many of our business administration programs equip our students with programming techniques, accounts payable, coordinating, and working with different management levels.  This is exceptionally important in Floyd’s line of work because he deals with multiple businesses and clientele.

Additionally, our programs teach students relevant business software and a wide array of computer skills that are applied in daily business tasks. Plus, courses in our Business Administration program help students like Floyd develop skills in leadership, organization, critical thinking, and how to apply these skills in accounting, marketing, and finance.

Along with career-specific curriculum to help students be successful in their field, all business school students receive job-placement assistance, such as job-lead development, mock interviews and resume preparation. Our career services team was instrumental in helping Floyd begin his business career.

“They have very professional and friendly staff, faculty and instructors are very knowledgeable and informative, and very helpful in your development,” states Floyd.

If you want to take a step toward pursuing your business degree, but have multiple questions, contact us at (866) 749-SBBC. We offer the business administration program at the following degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s (MBA).

We want your future to be a success story, just like Floyd’s. Make a change for you and your future today!

Alumni Victoria Z., describes her experience in the SBBCollege nursing program. Since her graduation in 2015, Victoria has passed her licensure exam and works as a licensed vocational nurse in an orthopedic facility.

While studying at SBBCollege, she tells us that one of her “favorite part[s] of the nursing program … is the hands-on training.” With 60 weeks of hands-on training in the medical lab, instructors teach nursing students about sterilizing tools, tracheostomy care, patient care, vital signs assessment, and much more.

As Victoria mentioned, what sets SBBCollege apart from other nursing schools is that we feel like a “private facility, and … more like home.” With intimate class sizes, about 10-20, each of our students receives more individualized, comprehensive, and thorough classroom and lab instruction. Victoria further explains, our instructors are “very well-educated [and] they listen and they care.” After training, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical/Vocational Nurses (NVLEX-PN).

Curious about the benefits of the nursing industry? Read more about the reasons why a nursing career may be the right choice for you.

We truly pride ourselves on providing our students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the healthcare industry. Our success is dictated by the success of our students, so we want to see our students become successful nurses, and continue their education to move up the ladder.

You can be just like Victoria and share your success story in about 14 months, you just have to push yourself to get started!

We’re here to help answer your questions and help you start the career you’ve always wanted. To learn more about the nursing program at SBBCollege, call us today at 866-749-7222!

When looking at prospective jobs, you debate whether or not it is a smart career move and consider quality traits like job security, growth, and long-term stability in the industry. The great aspect of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) field is that it has the potential to be needed throughout the year, in multiple weather conditions.  Hot weather calls for air conditioning, cold weather necessitates heating and in-door commercial businesses use HVAC services all year long to keep their employees and customer comfortable. What does this mean for you? It means that qualified HVAC technicians may be needed throughout the seasons and could offer job stability.

Based on the national average income for HVAC from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an HVAC Technician can earn an average wage anywhere between $30,000 to over $70,000. Many of the responsibilities of an HVAC Technician will include examining equipment, diagnosing and troubleshooting the issue. Once the technician discovers what the issue is, he/she will provide a repair quote and work to repair or replace the mechanical components or wiring concerns.  A HVAC technician should have proper certification or an associate’s degree from an accredited HVAC school.

HVAC is a great career for those who enjoy problem solving and finding a solution! Whether it’s building HVAC equipment from scratch or the appreciation of a satisfied customer, our training program equips students with the skills to become a successful HVAC technician.

Our SBBCollege HVAC Training Program prepares students for careers as HVAC professionals. From day one, students begin developing an essential HVAC knowledge set. Throughout the HVAC technician training program, students become proficient in carrying out preventative maintenance tasks and inspections, repairing and replacing defective equipment, components, and wiring HVAC equipment, and diagnosing and troubleshooting problems in equipment commonly used in residential, commercial and industrial structures.

Three factors that sets our program apart from others:

1. HANDS-ON: Students work in the on-campus HVAC lab and get real scenario work experience out in the field through SBBCollege’s externship program.
2. FAST-TRACK: Students can complete the program in four 10-week terms! The best part is no previous experience is required. 
3. CAREER SERVICES: Once you complete the program, graduates will receive job-placement assistance.

HVAC training is held at the SBBCollege campuses in Bakersfield, Ventura, Rancho Mirage and Santa Maria. For more information on the SBBCollege HVAC school in your community, call 866-749-SBBC. Classes start soon.

When individuals are contemplating if they want to return to school, it becomes quite overwhelming.  Their minds loom with multiple questions like if it is the right fit, do they have enough money, or if they have enough time.  If you have been wanting to start a medical assistant program, you must have asked yourself if you have what it takes.

Here are three factors that you should consider if you are thinking about enrolling in a medical assistant school.

Passionate and Focused – You can earn your diploma in medical assisting in as short as 9 months; however, staying focused in class requires stamina and endurance. Being passionate about your career can help you stay focused so that you successfully complete the medical assistant program and begin a long-lasting career in the medical field. Courses in the fast-track program will include Drug Fundamentals, Clinical Procedures, Medical Law and Ethics, Medical Terminology, Computer Applications, and more. With detailed instruction, it requires you to stay focused and detail-oriented during class to absorb multiple terminology and software programs that will help make you successful in your role.

Continuing Education – Once you graduate with a diploma in medical assisting, you may want to create more opportunities for yourself and earn an associate’s degree and a certification, such as the registered medical assistant .  This would require additional learning and further studying for the examination. This test can be strenuous and challenging to study for, but once obtained it can provide more career opportunities within the medical field. The medical assistant certification exam includes questions about anatomy, medical procedures, patient examinations, terminology, pharmacology, and more.

Personality – The coursework and career path of becoming a medical assistant requires individuals to be determined, but it also requires individuals to be empathetic, especially when working with patients.  Being a medical assistant requires you to work with doctors, nurses, patients, and other medical assistants. This necessitates an individual who is patient, communicative, and dependable.

At SBBCollege, we offer a fast-track medical assisting program that students can complete in just about 9 months. The program includes hands-on training in the medical labs, as well as on-the-job training during externship. Upon graduation, medical assisting students also receive job-placement assistance such as job lead development, resume review and interview preparation.

If you have additional questions regarding the medical assistant program or how to choose among medical assistant schools, contact us at (866) 749-7222. We are here to help you make the decision to pursue your dream career!

Finals are just around the corner and there is so much to cram in! Instead of pulling your hair out, here are some study tips to help prepare you for finals week.

We all know that studying can be exceptionally daunting and overwhelming, but we want you to ace your exams.

1. Don’t wait until the last minute. Space out your study sessions. Like a pie, it’s hard to eat in one sitting. Make sure to stay organized and manage your time wisely.  If you work during the week, then carve out an hour during your lunch break to review notecards and review your notes. After work, you are extremely exhausted, but after the chores and kids are in bed (if you’ve got them), carve out another hour to review your notes and test yourself.
2. Study Groups. Reach out to your classmates and compare and review notes. They might know something that you don’t and vice versa. It is always great to get additional encouragement from your peers. Make sure that you’re in a setting that allows you to be productive with your studying. This is not a girl’s night out or a party, that comes after you take your finals. Organize a study group, review your notes with each other, make photocopies, and test each other. This is a great way to discuss items that will be on your exam and practice questions and answers with each other.
3. Relax & Focus. Finals can be extremely stressful. Make sure that you take some time for yourself too. Stress will make it difficult to retain information. Take your notecards to the gym and review them on the bicycle! Workout and get that stress out, while still studying. Or go for a long walk, while reviewing notes, or schedule yourself a massage. By relieving your stress, it allows you to relax and regain focus.
4. Don’t give up! After days of studying, your eyes are probably bloodshot, you are extremely tired, and you might feel like throwing your book against the wall or out the window. Don’t lose sight of your goals. Remember the reasons why you decided to go back to school. Whether it be because people always told you that you couldn’t, PROVE them wrong. Whether it be to provide a better life for you and your children, or to advance your career, remember that all your hard work WILL pay off.
5. Ask for help. If you have a question, send your professor an email. If you need emotional support, lean on your family to give you the support. You are not alone in this process. There are other classmates or friends that might be feeling the same way.

Finals are a stressful time. We want to provide you all the tools for you to succeed and ace your finals!

Good luck and do not forget to apply the following tips to your studying throughout the week.

This week we got to see our SBBCollege Bakersfield nursing students perform tracheostomy care in the lab. There was one-on-one instructed training from our instructors, and other nursing students stood by to learn and ask questions throughout the process. Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure to create a hole through the neck into the trachea (where the windpipe is). This assists with opening the airway and aids the patient with breathing.

The process for tracheostomy care is extremely detailed, especially since there is a possibility of infection.  Our nursing students performed tracheotomy care while two instructors assisted with guidance and direction. During the care, the nursing student walked through the steps and verbally explained the importance of each of the steps.

This procedure is one of many skills taught in the Vocational Nursing program at SBBCollege. Students first learn the knowledge of each skill though classroom lecture, and then practice and perfect each skill in a supervised clinical setting. Instructors provide this one-on-one, hands-on instruction because they want students to be successful. Many of our instructors love helping our students and watching them succeed, some have even taught at SBBCollege for up to 10 years. They are our student’s personal cheerleaders!

Our Vocational Nursing program, specifically at our Santa Maria location, has been ranked as top 5 in the State. We pride ourselves on teaching students the techniques needed to succeed in the healthcare industry. Our instructors provide 60 weeks of hands-on training, where nursing students get to work with patients in different hospital settings. After training, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical/Vocational Nurses (NVLEX-PN). SBBCollege offers a school for nursing at our campus locations in Bakersfield, Rancho Mirage and Santa Maria.

SBBCollege is committed to each student’s future. We offer financial assistance to those who qualify, and job-placement assistance to each graduate.

Have questions about our nursing program? Contact us today at 866-749-7222!