Javier Velasco, LPN
Javier Velasco is a Senior Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN Care Navigator) at UC Davis Health with over 12–15 years of nursing experience and 26 years of service in the U.S. Army. Inspired by his medic colleagues early in his military career, Javier completed the Army Practical Nurse course at Walter Reed Bethesda, Maryland, in 2014–2015. His clinical background spans emergency medicine, med-surg, internal medicine, and pediatrics, including active deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic, equipping him with extensive expertise in patient care across diverse and high-pressure settings.
In his current role at UC Davis Health, Javier manages a panel of 118 patients, serving as the only Spanish-speaking member of his team and ensuring culturally competent care for the Sacramento community. He coordinates referrals, manages medications, connects patients with community resources, and addresses social determinants of health. His dedication to patient advocacy often goes beyond the hospital walls; he has personally delivered medical equipment in adverse conditions and assisted vulnerable populations, including homeless veterans, in accessing critical services. Each LVN Care Navigator contributes significantly to the system, saving the hospital approximately $6 million annually through proactive case management.
Javier is committed to advancing his professional expertise and is currently pursuing a Registered Nursing degree through Nightingale College and Excelsior University, with two semesters remaining. Combining decades of military discipline, extensive clinical experience, and a passion for patient-centered care, Javier continues to make a meaningful impact in healthcare while preparing for future leadership in nurse case management.
• Nightingale College - Bachelor's degree, Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
• Montgomery College - Associates in Nursing, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
• University of Maryland Global Campus
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- LTC
- Geriatrics
- Case Management
- Emergency Room
- Med-Surg
- Internal Medicine
- Pediatrics
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I really like helping the patients. I treat them like my soldiers from the Army - I feel like I have to take care of them the same way. In the Army, your job is to take care of soldiers and their families, and it's the same thing with my patients. I just like helping out people that can't help themselves, people who need a lot of assistance. It could be just with interpreting or language, or it could be helping them get a new wheelchair. I helped a homeless Native American soldier get durable medical equipment for his knee - I rode my motorcycle in the rain to get him set up with the equipment he needed. There are a lot of things that patients wouldn't get done if it wasn't for us. Some referrals sit for six months or a year and never get completed - the patient struggles with their wheelchair every day because it never went through. I like helping out the patients where they weren't gonna get help if we didn't use our resources. The whole thing is very rewarding, just helping them out, especially the veterans. When they find out you're in the Army, there's an instant connection right there.