Best RN to BSN Programs in Texas

Best RN to BSN Programs in Texas: One of the occupations with the fastest growth in the US is nursing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 15% increase in demand for registered nurses (RNs) between 2016 and 2026. But, Texas is expected to experience substantially stronger growth, according to specialists in the healthcare labor market. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Research predicted in a 2018 report that by 2030, there will be a 54% increase in demand for RNs statewide, leading to an anticipated 60,000 full-time job openings. Texas has one of the best employment prospects in the nation for nurses.

Although a Texas nursing career can begin with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies emphasizes that hospitals are increasingly favoring applicants who have at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Although Texas employers favor experienced nurses, any competent, caring, and dedicated licensed nurse is likely to find a good employment in the Lone Star State given the demand for qualified experts.

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Getting a Nursing License in Texas

Get a Degree

In Texas, an ADN can start a career at the entry-level level in nonprimary care settings. Nonetheless, you should achieve at least a BSN if you intend to work as an RN or LVN/LPN in Texas as the majority of hospitals demand that new nurses have a bachelor’s degree.

Many nurses begin their careers as RNs, LVNs, or LPNs before going back to school to specialize in nursing. Through practical, professional experience, this technique enables nurses to explore their professional interests. For instance, some experts don’t realize they have a preference for a particular branch of nursing until they come across it in the course of their work.

The majority of APRNs and other nursing experts have MSNs with emphases in healthcare. Particularly appealing to those considering jobs in nursing education is the DNP designation. Be sure your institution has accreditation from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Accreditation Council for Education in Nursing, or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education to verify you are qualified for a Texas nursing license.

Acquire a Nursing License

The Texas Board of Nursing is in charge of regulating and licensing nurses in the state. Texas offers both examination-based and endorsement-based licensing options for RNs and LVN/LPNs.

Candidates for the exam option must possess a nursing degree from an institution that has been approved and is recognized by the Texas Board of Nursing. The board keeps listings of accredited professional and vocational nursing programs that are frequently updated.

You must pass the National Council Licensure Examination in order to obtain your nursing license by examination (NCLEX). Texas nursing candidates must pass a jurisprudence test before taking the NCLEX. After passing both tests, candidates must pass a criminal background check. Candidates must pay the $200 NCLEX fee as of 2019 in addition to the fees of the jurisprudence exam and the application.

You can apply for licensure through endorsement if you have already passed the NCLEX and/or currently possess a license to practice nursing in another U.S. state. However, candidates who have previously held a Texas nursing license are ineligible for certification through endorsement.

Upkeep and Renewal of Certification

The validity of a Texas nursing license is two years. The renewal procedure can be finished online by nurses. If Texas nurses default on a Texas Guaranteed Student Loan, let their license go into inactive or delinquent status, or don’t fulfill the state’s continuing education requirements, they lose their eligibility for automatic license renewal.

Texas nurses may also lose their ability to renew their licenses if they engage in illegal or careless behavior.

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Best RN to BSN Programs in Texas

We took into account important data when assessing Texas nursing programs, including faculty caliber, reputation, employment rates, and graduation rates. You should weigh these factors against the advantages of online and conventional on-campus education. While traditional schooling gives more structure and peer connection, online learning offers excellent flexibility.

The best RN to BSN programs in Texas are listed in the rankings below. Based on information from the Texas Board of Nursing website, we ranked them.

1. Texas State University

The RN-to-BSN program at Texas State’s St. David’s School of Nursing consists primarily of online education, with certain in-person components taking place in cutting-edge simulation labs on the Round Rock campus. The 30-credit program offers both full-time and part-time alternatives and lets students move at their own pace. Two semesters are all it takes for full-time students to graduate.

Students are prepared for a profession in nursing in Texas by the RN-to-BSN curriculum. Community-based nursing, healthcare systems, information technology in nursing practice, pathophysiology, and pharmacology are among the subjects covered in the prerequisite courses.

Candidates must possess an unrestricted RN license from their home state. A degree from a registered nursing school at a postsecondary institution with regional accreditation and a minimum GPA of 2.5 is furthermore required. 60 credits of necessary courses and two letters of recommendation are required of incoming students.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has granted St. David’s School of Nursing accreditation.

2 University of Houston

This RN-to-BSN program from the University of Houston gives working nurses in Texas flexibility and is accessible online and at two of its campuses. The curriculum can be started in the fall or spring, and students normally finish it in one year.

There are 120 credits total in the RN to BSN program, including 30 major credits. Courses on pathophysiology, policy and ethics, community health nursing, and healthcare informatics are all included in the curriculum. Three practica are included in the program: a capstone, a health assessment lab, and a community health clinical. Clinical experiences are planned and assigned by the nursing college to students.

The prerequisites for prospective students are an unencumbered Texas RN license and an associate degree from a recognized college. Other requirements for the program include a minimum GPA of 2.5 and at least 30 credits of undergraduate nursing coursework.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the UH College of Nursing.

3. Concordia University, Texas

The RN-to-BSN program at Concordia University in Texas enables working healthcare professionals to get a bachelor’s degree while still maintaining a full-time schedule thanks to its 24 credit hours of nursing courses. Most students complete their degrees in four semesters.

By equipping students with the leadership and practical skills required to work as nurse managers, nurse educators, case managers, and performance improvement managers, the program intends to improve the employment prospects for nurses in Texas. Although students can choose to attend in-person classes if they so choose, it offers all classes online.

Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in all nursing courses and an associate’s degree in nursing from a recognized postsecondary school to be eligible. Also, they must offer three letters of recommendation and be an active registered nurse in Texas. After enrolling, students who want to keep their academic standing up must keep a 3.0 GPA.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the College of Nursing.

4. East Texas Baptist University

The 121-credit RN-to-BSN program offered by Marshall-based ETBU was established in 1912 and is designed to prepare students to sit for the Texas Nursing Licensure Examination. It focuses on educating students how to care for patients in a variety of healthcare settings while also emphasizing critical thinking, leadership, ethics, and evidence-based procedures.

In addition to the 34 credits of major coursework, the faith-based curriculum needs 54 credits of general education classes. Topics including pharmacology, pediatric nursing, mental health, and gerontology are covered in nursing classes. Both a clinical lab and a six-credit course on nursing leadership and management are required of students.

The ATI TEAS exam, which measures students’ proficiency in reading, math, science, and Language, is required of applicants, along with two professional recommendations and a passing score. Also, candidates must have a minimum 2.8 GPA and at least an associate’s degree from an authorized university.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the nursing program.

5. LeTourneau University

A flexible online BSN program is provided by LeTourneau, a faith-based university in the city of Longview in the state of Texas, to assist registered nurses in advancing their professions. The program offers seven-week sessions all year round, and students take lessons alongside groups of their peers. Pharmacology, pathology, nursing leadership, and ethics and policy are among the subjects that students take. Without going to Longview, students can fulfill their clinical requirements close to home. The majority of full-time students can complete their bachelor’s degrees in one academic year.

A valid, unrestricted RN licensure and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 are requirements for applicants. Also, they must have earned a C or above in each prerequisite course in psychology, science, and nutrition.

The Texas Board of Nursing and the Council on Collegiate Nursing Education have both accredited this RN-to-BSN curriculum.

6. Stephen F. Austin State University

SFA, which is based in Nacogdoches, offers a 100% online RN-to-BSN program that enables Texas-licensed nurses to continue working while pursuing their education. By enrolling in courses on subjects like pathophysiology, pharmacology, community healthcare, and nursing informatics, students can learn on their own schedule.

Students explore how culture influences the provision of care for people, families, and communities in a class on cultural concerns in professional nursing. In order to transition into the various employment prospects that a bachelor’s degree offers, students also attend a transition course.

Candidates must be employed as registered nurses and possess an unencumbered RN licensure in addition to an associate degree in nursing. Also, they must have at least a 2.5 GPA in each prerequisite course.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the DeWitt School of Nursing.

7. University of Texas in El Paso

With the nursing school at UTEP, students have access to an online RN-to-BSN curriculum. Students can finish the program’s structure and degree requirements in 18 months.

Key courses encompass topics such adult health nursing, evidence-based research, mental behavioral health, and care for elderly. These programs equip students with the abilities and information required to engage with a variety of people and families while still practicing nursing in Texas. For a total of 120 credits toward their degree, students take 51 credits of program coursework.

Application requirements include having a least 2.0 GPA on your college transcripts and having an associate’s degree in nursing. Also, candidates must have a valid, current RN license issued in the United States.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has granted this BSN program accreditation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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