Program History

Yuba College Nursing History

The Yuba College Nursing Program began in 1952 as a Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) program, the first year California legislation authorized the establishment of LVN education programs. The initial cohort consisted primarily of students with prior healthcare experience, such as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and completed a 64-hour preparatory course prior to entering LVN-level training. 

In 1954, the college expanded to a full-year LVN program designed for students without prior healthcare experience. Between 1952 and 1954, approximately 120 students graduated from the vocational nursing program. 

In 1986, the LVN-to-RN Career Mobility “step-up” program was introduced, and the LVN program capacity expanded from 30 to 45 students. In 1993, the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program was launched. Initially, cohorts alternated between 40 and 50 students, and the program was structured as a four-semester sequence with approximately 40 units of prerequisite coursework and additional co-requisites. 

For several years, the program admitted 26 LVN-to-RN students and 40 ADN students each fall, with graduates completing requirements each May. In 1999, the ADN program expanded to 60 students annually, and later briefly increased to 70 students in 2006 due to state funding. In 2012, the last LVN cohort graduated from the program. 

Currently, the program admits 60 ASN students per year, with 30 students entering each spring and 30 each fall. The LVN-to-RN Career Mobility pathway is offered each semester based on available space.