Nursing Education Department

Welcome to Nursing Education Department in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CONHS) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi!

Consistent with the CONHS vision and mission, the Nursing Education Department is dedicated to excellence in undergraduate nursing education and scholarship. The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree with a variety of tracks. Students may join us on campus for the pre-licensure traditional face-to-face BSN program, or join our online programs, such as RN-BSN, eLine, and eLine Military.

Our outstanding students, faculty, and staff are our most valuable resources. They comprise the supportive learner-centered CONHS community that embraces evidence-based teaching and advising in a caring, respectful, and inclusive global context.

Committed to our students, we offer state-of-the-art resources and infrastructure to ensure students’ success. Students are prepared with the necessary knowledge and skills to be "day one ready" when joining the nursing workforce. Our face-to-face classrooms are equipped with emerging technologies that enhance active learning experiences. Online, our courses are supported by the Digital Learning & Academic Innovations office that offers superior distance learning resources. Our cutting-edge Simulation and Clinical Learning Center provides students with an immersive clinical experience that helps them to successfully transition to the real-world healthcare setting.

I hope you enjoy exploring our offerings and choose to join us.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Shuhong Luo, EdD, MSN, MBA, RN
Associate Professor
Department Chair of Nursing Education

The Nursing Program provides a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through two options:

• Pre-licensure option (i.e. traditional/eLine/eLine military tracks) for the individual who wishes to earn the BSN degree while preparing to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Tracks of Study

• RN-BSN option is for individuals who have completed an associate or diploma program in nursing, already possess an RN license, and wish to earn their BSN degree. This track is offered online.

• Freshmen and sophomores enrolled as pre-nursing students are highly encouraged to complete the University Core Curriculum Program (42 semester hours) and required Nursing Support Courses prior to admission to the BSN program. See detailed courses here.
  • However, pre-nursing students can apply for the nursing program and be conditionally admitted upon successful completion of those courses.
• Prior to course registration, pre-nursing students should contact their academic advisor for assistance with degree planning and to obtain additional information on core curriculum and support courses, including their recommended course sequence.

• Application deadlines (Due 10:59 pm CST) for entry into the nursing program (across all BSN tracks) for each semester are as follows.

•  Dates may be subject to change.
• The college reserves the right to defer admission because of low enrollment. Students will be notified and given options if a selected track is not offered.

Freshman Students
Freshman students generally declare a pre-nursing major as their intended program of study. To become a pre-nursing student, please apply here.

Transfer Students and Post-Baccalaureate Students

• Transfer students and post-baccalaureate students must satisfy current state core curriculum requirements

• GPA in the last 60 hours - Last 60 hours of coursework completed at the time of nursing application. This includes any course, regardless of where they were taken.
• Science GPA- Science courses listed on degree plan, which include Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II, General Chemistry, and Microbiology. Science courses may not be older than 7 years for Pre-Licensure BSN students.
• HESI A2 Reading -Comprehension score of HESI A2
• HESI A2 Critical Thinking -Critical Thinking section of HESI A2
• HESI A2 Composite - Cumulative HESI score

No “D” or “F” grades will be accepted for credit. 

Minimum requirements for admission to be considered for the program:
o          GPA (last 60 hours): 2.4
o          Science GPA: 2.25
o          HESI A2 Reading: 68
o          HESI A2 Critical Thinking: 670
o          HESI A2 Composite: 61.14
 
However, acceptance into the nursing program can be highly competitive. The following are the average scores for the recently accepted cohorts.
o          GPA (last 60 hours): 3.48
o          Science GPA: 3.54
o          HESI A2 Reading: 87.25
o          HESI A2 Critical Thinking: 876
o          HESI A2 Composite: 84.2

Applying for RN-BSN Option

• RNs who have completed one of two types of Nursing Programs:

• Completion of a nationally accredited associate degree nursing program.
• Completion of a nationally accredited diploma school of nursing program.

For students who are graduates of a non-accredited program, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi College of Nursing and Health Sciences honors the Texas Nursing Articulation Model, the first voluntary statewide model for transitioning from one level of education to another without repetition in learning. The assumptions of the model that apply to graduates from nonaccredited programs are the following: “5. Articulation without testing is an educationally and professionally sound practice based upon the accepted competencies; 6. Texas nurses seeking educational mobility demonstrate minimal competence on the basis of an official transcript(s) and a valid Texas license(s). (The Texas Nursing Articulation Model 1997-2000).

• Students who are currently enrolled in their last semester of an associate nursing degree program may apply for admission. These students must take and pass the state board examination on the first date they are eligible.
• A student receives 30 hours of credit from previous nursing courses, which is held in escrow until the student has successfully completed 12 hours of nursing courses.
• Students must have all TAMUCC Core Curriculum Program and supporting Nursing courses completed before admittance into the program.
• Associate degree students receiving conditional admission status may take up to 5 semester hours of selected nursing courses prior to full status admission. These online courses include:

If you are looking for RN-MSN Option, refer to the CONHS’s Nursing Practice’s

Footnotes

* Online offering

• Step 1. Application
• Pre-nursing students in TAMUCC can complete an online application at Nursing CAS. You can only apply for one track in the nursing program. 

• Transfer nursing students. Transfer students from another nursing school, who have completed some nursing courses, must apply to both Nursing CAS and TAMUCC transfer. Please note that admission to the University DOES NOT constitute admission to the nursing program. These transfer nursing students may request that a review of their coursework be completed for possible equivalency, or they may repeat the course(s) in question. To initiate the equivalency review of the course(s), students should provide nursing course descriptions from the college catalog and the course syllabi, including the course objectives, outlines, and textbooks used, from the transferring institution. A letter from the Dean or Director of the previous nursing program confirming good standing and eligibility to return is also required. Any student who needs to validate courses should schedule a meeting with the nursing academic advisor.

• Transfer pre-nursing students and post-baccalaureate students in other majors. Transfer pre-nursing students from other universities, or if students already have a bachelor's degree in other fields and are interested in getting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in TAMUCC, they must apply here and consult with an academic advisor for assistance with degree planning and course transfers.

• Step 2. HESI A2 Exam

• All applicants must complete the HESI A2CT Exam and upload their final HESI scores to their Nursing CAS application. This computerized exam is timed and typically takes approximately 3 hours to complete.

   Specific Steps: 

  1. Schedule the HESI A2CT exam. Instructions are here.
  2. Select the exam type: Admissions Assessment Exam with Critical Thinking (A2CT).
  3. Take the HESI A2CT exam.
  4. Download the final HESI scores. Instructions are provided in:
     1. HESI Scores Instructions  OR
     2. How do I register for my HESI Distance Testing exam with my department ID?
  5. Upload the final HESI scores to the Nursing CAS application by the due date.
  6. For additional information or questions regarding the HESI A2CT exam, please visit Elsevier's HESI Support Page.

  Practice tests and resources to prepare for the Nursing program entrance exams are available online, including websites such as NurseHub.com

• Step 3. Post Application
• Students will be notified of their admission review results via email. The admission to the nursing program is conditional upon the submission of a background check, urine drug screenings, and proof of vaccination status.
• The Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) requires disclosure of any criminal history or disciplinary action, as well as an FBI background check, before granting licensure. To ensure client safety and fulfill the requirements of the TBON and its affiliated clinical agencies, students must complete the background check and be declared eligible by the TBON to take the licensing exam prior to being accepted into the program. See the TBON web site http://www.bne.state.tx.usfor the statutes and rules regulating licensure.

• RN-BSN Option
• Provide evidence of current unencumbered Texas registered nurse license.
• Transfer credit if grade is C or better.
• Have a grade point average of 3.2 (4.0 scale) or better in the last 60 hours of course work.
• Please contact CONHS (conhs@tamucc.edu) for more details.

• Program Completion Requirements
• Immunization Requirements
• Insurance Requirements
• Policies, Progression, Retention, and Dismissal

• Texas A & M University Corpus Christi makes every effort to ensure state licensure or certification information is current; however, state requirements may change. If you are a prospective or current student planning to pursue professional licensure in a state other than Texas, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program.
• Texas A & M University -Corpus Christi BSN graduates can be licensed in all U.S. states except for the following states or territories.
  • California
  • S. Virgin Islands
  • Puerto Rico

• National licensing boards
  • National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)is an independent, not-for-profit organization through which nursing regulatory bodies act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting public health, safety and welfare, including the development of nursing licensure examinations. 
  • The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States and Canada. 

• State licensing boards 
  • The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)allows a nurse to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in the home state and other compact states. Please refer to the other states’ boards of nursing for specific requirements to practice.

• For more information on professional licensure requirements in the field, please contact CONHS at conhs@tamucc.edu.

Licensure:
Registered Nurse (RN) 
Texas Board of Nursing (TBON)

Certifications:
Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
National League of Nursing (NLN)

Professional Organizations:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
American Nurses Association (ANA)
American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL)
National League for Nursing
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 
Texas Nurses Association (TNA)

2022 CONHS Student Handbook  The 2022 Handbook is utilized for CONHS cohorts that started their perspective program starting in 2023.

2017 CONHS Student Handbook  The 2017 Student Handbook is utilized for CONHS cohorts that started their perspective program prior to 2023.