Rio Grande Valley College

This 12 week – 272 clock hours course which trains prospective students in competencies that enables the graduate to successfully pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technology. The Emergency Medical Technology (Basic) will perform skills that include: (a) a brief overview of the human body, (b) techniques as defined in airway and pulmonary resuscitation for adults and special populations, (c) communication using various methods and proper documentation, (d) use of terminology and medical abbreviations as they relate to the EMT-Basic, (e) evaluating the scene for potential hazards, (f) recognizing the signs and symptoms of allergic reactions, (g) summarize signs of medical/behavioral emergencies. (h) traumatic injuries to the spine and head (i) learning the pre-hospital environment and transferring patients with life threatening illness. Upon successful completion of these courses as required by state regulations, graduates receive a certificate of completion for Emergency Medical Technology Program-Basic from Rio Grande Valley College. All students must pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technology Examination prior to registration as an Emergency Medical Technology-Basic.

The Medical Assistant Program offers students a chance to become introduced to and learn the fundamental skills needed to become a competent and knowledgeable Medical Assistant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for the Medical Assistant field is projected to grow at a rate of 29% over the next decade!

Medical Assistants are trained to perform administrative work, perform certain basic clinical procedures and assist with examinations and lab work. Duties may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, and performing bookkeeping related functions. Students will learn to obtain and record health histories, vital signs, weight and height. In some cases they may test vision, draw blood, and perform basic lab procedures. Graduates of this program may pursue certification by passing national measures and proficiency examination with the National Center for Competency Testing. Job opportunities may exist with healthcare providers, job opportunities exist in medical offices, outpatient, health maintenance organizations, and public health agencies. This program is represented to lead to multiple job opportunities and is not meant to lead to any particular outcome. While job placement assistance is offered, finding a job is the ultimate responsibility of the student. The institute does not guarantee that any student will be placed in a training related job or at all.

The Medical Assistant Program offers students a chance to become introduced to and learn the fundamental skills needed to become a competent and knowledgeable Medical Assistant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for the Medical Assistant field is projected to grow at a rate of 29% over the next decade!

Medical Assistants are trained to perform administrative work, perform certain basic clinical procedures and assist with examinations and lab work. Duties may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, and performing bookkeeping related functions. Students will learn to obtain and record health histories, vital signs, weight and height. In some cases they may test vision, draw blood, and perform basic lab procedures. Graduates of this program may pursue certification by passing national measures and proficiency examination with the National Center for Competency Testing. Job opportunities may exist with healthcare providers, job opportunities exist in medical offices, outpatient, health maintenance organizations, and public health agencies. This program is represented to lead to multiple job opportunities and is not meant to lead to any particular outcome. While job placement assistance is offered, finding a job is the ultimate responsibility of the student. The institute does not guarantee that any student will be placed in a training related job or at all.

Have you ever wanted to be part of a medical facility, but preferred an administrative angle? Now, with your degree in Medical Billing & Coding, you can have the ability to be part of a clinical office, hospital, nursing home, or you may even work from home!

The Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Program will prepare the student to access health information for medical billing and coding. Students will learn skills in coding procedures, coding classification and reimbursement (ICD-9-CM coding, HCPCS coding, CPT coding). Students will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of medical ethics and legal issues, and basic anatomy and physiology including medical terminology. Finally, students will be able to identify diseases, and assign appropriate medical codes to narrative descriptions of health diseases and procedures required for reimbursement, medical research, quality assurance, or risk management. Upon completion of the program, graduates will receive a certificate of completion from RGV College. Graduates of this program may pursue certification by passing national measures and proficiency examination with the National Center for Competency Testing. Employment opportunities may exist in medical offices, outpatient clinics, private billing agencies, consulting firms and home office. This program is represented to lead to multiple job opportunities and is not meant to lead to any particular outcome. While job placement assistance is offered, finding a job is the ultimate responsibility of the student. The institute does not guarantee that any student will be placed in a training related job or at all.

Do you have a compassionate heart and desire to care for others? Become a Certified Nurse Aide and make a true difference in the lives and families of many.

As one of our fastest and most popular programs, the Certified Nurse Aide is an excellent way to begin a rewarding career in healthcare and nursing. It also serves as a perfect first step towards a future career in Vocational Nursing. In only about five weeks, the student will learn the basic skills needed to assist residents in a nursing facility and vastly improve their quality of life!

The Certified Nurse Aide will perform skills that include: (a) taking and recording vital signs, (b) proficiency in infection control, (c) assisting residents to promote their independence, (d) monitoring behavior changes, (e) professional communication with patients, (g) awareness of changes in bodily functions, (h) helping some patients to perform day to day tasks, (i) how to physically hande and move patients and associated care items. Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion for the Nurse Aide Program from RGV College upon successful completion of the course. All students must pass the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) Nurse Aide Certification Examination in order to register as a Certified Nurse Aide. This course of instruction trains prospective students in competencies that enable the graduate to succesfully pass the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Examination.

This 45 Week – 60 Semester Credit Hour Associate Degree in Nursing program will be prepare the student to provide patient-centered care, to be a patient safety advocate, to be member of the profession and the health care team for a limited number of patients in various healthcare settings. The student will be able to use clinical reasoning and knowledge based on the nursing program of study, evidence-based practice outcomes, and research-based policies and procedures as the basis for decision-making and comprehensive, safe patient-centered care; demonstrate skills in using patient care technologies and information systems that support safe nursing practice; promote safety and quality improvement as an advocate and manager of nursing care; coordinate, collaborate and communicate with diverse patients, families and the interdisciplinary health care team to plan, deliver, and evaluate care that promotes quality of life; adhere to standards of practice within legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks of the professional nurse; demonstrate knowledge of delegation, management, and leadership skills and demonstrate behavior that reflects the values and ethics of the nursing profession, including a spirit of inquiry.

Upon successful completion of the Associate of Applied Science major in Associate Degree in Nursing, the graduate will be able to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). After successful completion of this exam the graduate will become a Registered Nurse.

Employment opportunities for our graduates are hospitals, physician’s offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Other employment opportunities include outpatient clinics and schools, or serve in the military.

RGV College is one of the very few institutions that offers the Vocational Nursing Program multiple times a year, during the day and evening! This program prepares our students to become licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing and perform simple and more complex patient care. Acquiring this program is no easy task, and continuing the program with the highest completion rate we can achieve is an achievement of extreme importance to us.

Upon successful completion of the program, the entry-level graduate vocational nurse shall be competent in the following areas: Enables the student to apply for presentation of NCLEX examination and obtain a vocational nursing licensure; apply for entry-level vocational nursing positions; assist in the determination of predictable healthcare needs of clients within healthcare setting; encourages lifelong learning and provides a foundation for furthering their education; promotes involvement in both professional and community organization and activities; to accept personal accountability for ethical and competent nursing practice, as well as for continuing professional and personal development; to communicate effectively, orally and in writing; to practice nursing under the direction of a registered nurse, advanced practice nurse, healthcare provider’s assistant, healthcare provider, podiatrist or dentist. Please see Vocational Nursing Catalog for details pertaining to this program.

This 30 week – 885 hour course prepares individuals for employment in health-care facilities. Students will learn the specifics of patient care through the management of safe clinical skills. Students will be involved in the clinical experiences that will enhance their knowledge in ECG and Phlebotomy. The multi-skilled course of instruction is designed to prepare students on: 1) quick response to changing working environment, 2) their personal view and how they view others, and 3) how to deal with stress response, infections, surgical procedures, nutrition hydration, diagnostic examination, and health communication. Upon completion of this program students will be able to: 1) identify anatomical structures that relate to the cardiac cycle, 2) electrical activity of the heart, 3) patient preparation for lead placement, 4) cable connection for ECG readings and how to identify abnormal rhythms, and 5) identify anatomical structures in relation to the cardiac cycle, electrical activity of the heart, patient preparation for lead placement, cable connecting for ECG readings, and the identification of abnormal rhythms. Students will also learn to demonstrate venipuncture, blood glucose monitoring, interpretation of multiple laboratory tests, OSHA rules/regulations and venipuncture procedures. The students will be instructed on medical office procedures such as scheduling patient appointments, reimbursements, patient records, billing, and other office operations. Upon successfully completing the program, RGV College will issue a certification of completion for Patient Care Technician and allow the graduate to take the National Center for Competency Testing Exam for Patient Care Technician (NCPCT). The graduate will find job opportunities in hospitals, health clinics, doctor’s offices, nursing homes and other health care institutions.

Have you ever wondered what medications consist of, or how medicine interacts with our bodies to improve our quality of life? Now you have a chance to learn about this and much more. Become a Pharmacy Technician and embark on a career that is essential to our health care industry and allows for further career growth.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for the Pharmacy Technician field is projected to grow at a rate of 20% over the next decade! Graduates tend to enjoy an increased salary, a quick turnaround, and a very bright future!

The Pharmacy Technician will perform skills that include: (a) filling medications, (b) preparation of admixtures of I.V. and sterile compounding of solutions, (c) applying the administrative and technical aspects of administrating a pharmacy, (d) use of terminology and medical abbreviations as they relate to pharmacy, (e) applying dosage forms and routes of administration, (f) using pharmacy calculations, (g) applying pharmacy law, (h) interpretation of medication orders, prescriptions and drug classifications. (i) dealing with purchasing and inventory control (j) applying computer technology and (k) identifying basic anatomic and physiologic systems as they relate to medication interactions. Graduates receive a certificate of completion for Pharmacy Technician from RGV College. All students must pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s National Certification Examination in order to register as a Pharmacy Technician. This course of instruction trains prospective students in competencies that enable the graduate to successfully pass the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination.

This 17 week– 490 clock hour course prepares students for employment possibilities in hospitals, doctors’ offices and other health-care facilities. Students will learn all tasks related to phlebotomy. Upon completion of this program students will be able to perform laboratory and phlebotomy skills that include phlebotomy procedures, identify the human body systems and functions, demonstrate knowledge of applicable safety regulations and work within the code of ethics and handle equipment properly. Graduates receive a certificate of completion for Phlebotomy Technician from Rio Grande Valley College.