Eligibility Requirements
Core Curriculum
Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge
and skills and the need to take into account
global, national, state, and local cultures, the core
curriculum for institutions of higher education
in the State of Texas must ensure students
develop the essential knowledge and skills needed
for success in college, career, and individual
communities, and in life.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board has approved a 42 semester credit hour
core curriculum for all undergraduate students
in Texas. The TTUHSC School of Nursing
will ensure the students transferring into the
baccalaureate nursing programs have completely
met the core competencies of the 42 semester
credit hour curriculum. Objectives for the core
curriculum competencies include the following:
- Critical Thinking Skills – includes creative
thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis,
evaluation and synthesis of information.
- Communication Skills – includes effective
written, oral, and visual communication.
- Empirical and Quantitative Skills – includes
the manipulation and analysis of numerical
data or observable facts resulting in informed
conclusions.
- Teamwork – includes the ability to consider
different points of view and to work effectively
with others to support a shared purpose or
goal.
- Personal Responsibility – includes the ability
to connect choices, actions, and consequences
to ethical decision-making.
- Social Responsibility – includes intercultural
competence, knowledge of civic responsibility,
and the ability to engage effectively in
regional, national, and global communities.
Core Curriculum Requirements
Students who will be earning a baccalaureate
degree from Texas Tech University Health
Sciences Center (TTUHSC) MUST satisfy the
coursework requirements of the Texas Core
Curriculum. The curriculum complies with
the 1997 Texas legislation that required each
state-supported institution to establish a core
curriculum that encompasses components of
natural and applied sciences, social sciences,
mathematics, humanities, visual and performing
arts and tools of language and thoughts.
These courses or their equivalents for a total of
42 semester credit hours may be taken at any
regionally accredited college or university and
should be completed with a grade of “C” or higher
BEFORE enrolling at TTUHSC. IF a student
successfully completes a core curriculum of 42 or
more semester credit hours at another accredited
public institution of higher education in Texas,
and the core curriculum meets the following
specified “component area” requirements, the
block of courses may be transferred to TTUHSC
and substituted for the core curriculum shown below.
The student will not be required to take any
additional core curriculum courses. The State of
Texas has specified the following component area
requirements as found in the following table.
CORE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
|
Communication (English Rhetoric/Composition) (010)
| 6 credit hours
|
Mathematics (020)
| 3 credit hours
|
Life and Physical Sciences (030)
| 6 credit hours
|
Language, Philosophy, and Culture (040)
| 3 credit hours
|
Creative Arts (050)
| 3 credit hours
|
American History (060)
| 6 credit hours
|
Government/Political Science (070)
| 6 credit hours
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences (080)
| 3 credit hours
|
Component Area Option
| 6 credit hours
|
Total Core Curriculum Hours
| 42 credit hours
|
Criminal Background Check (CBC)
A Criminal Background Check (CBC) must be completed prior to enrollment at TTUHSC School of Nursing in compliance with TTUHSC OP 10.20 and SON OP 60.081. Each student is responsible for the cost of his/her CBC and any additional fees.
All applicants, once offered provisional admission, must complete a criminal background check before being allowed to matriculate. Those who do not complete a criminal background check are ineligible for progress in the nursing program. A history of criminal conduct or convictions may result in withdrawal of the admission offer. The TTUHSC SON utilizes the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) criminal background check process for all pre-licensure students. For RN-BSN, MSN and DNP students, the students will be required to use the institutionally approved vendor to process these background checks. Only those individuals with a BON Blue Card, a BON Declaratory Order with No Stipulations and approval from the Associate Dean of Student Affairs will be allowed to matriculate into the program.
In accordance with TTUHSC OP 10.20, students in the School of Nursing shall self-disclose relevant criminal history record information no later than five (5) business days following the charge of a crime. Failure to self-disclose may result in dismissal or withdrawal of acceptance from the university.
Additional background checks are required after a break in enrollment in accordance with TTUHSC OP 10.20.
If an applicant believes the record is in error and gives written notification to the School of the intent to challenge the report, matriculation will be put on hold pending the outcome of the challenge. Should the applicant fail to notify the School of the intent to challenge or the record is determined to be accurate at the conclusion of a vendor challenge by an applicant; the admission offer will be withdrawn.
Drug Screening
Drug screenings may be required if requested
by the clinical institution site. If a student is
requested to complete a required drug screening,
this request must be completed within three
days of receipt of notification. All results are
confidential and are managed by the Office of
Student Affairs. The cost of all drug screens are
the responsibility of the student, including any
additional screenings.
General Education Competencies
At Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center, we expect students to enter the
institution with a foundation in certain basic
intellectual competencies. These include
critical thinking skills, communication skills,
empirical/quantitative skills, teamwork, personal
responsibility, and social responsibility. Through
our undergraduate programs, we seek to build
upon the existing foundation in order to enhance
these basic competencies. TTUHSC uses a variety
of methods to measure student progress in
developing the desired competencies, including
the ETS-Proficiency Profile. We will use the
results from this instrument to identify the
strengths and weaknesses of different student subgroups.
The results will be used to make ongoing
improvements to our undergraduate degree
programs.
Government-Issued Identification
Government-issued identification (e.g., driver’s
license, identification card, pass port) is required
for admission and matriculation through
completion of the School of Nursing degree
program. There is no additional charge for review
and verification of student government-issued
identification. See SON OP 60.078.
Immunization Requirements
Students are expected to maintain a general
state of good health. Failure to maintain
documentation of immunization requirements in
the appropriate departmental office can result in
exclusion from clinical practice and a hold being
placed on school records. The below information
must be on file for a complete immunization
record while enrolled in the School of Nursing.
Students should contact the Immunization
Coordinator in the Office of Institutional Health/TTUHSC Infection Control for the most up-to-date
information on obtaining immunizations by
calling (806) 743-2264.
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
|
Vaccine
| When Required
|
Hepatitis B series (Hep B)
| At the beginning of the initial semester of enrollment to be completed within 6 months, or a titer showing immunity is required.
|
Measles, Mumps,
Rubella vaccine/titer
(MMR)
| At the beginning of the initial semester of enrollment, with doses of
vaccine or titers showing immunity are required. (Note: Women who need
MMR must make an appointment with a health professional to verify
pregnancy status before receiving MMR.)
|
Meningococcal (MCV)
| At the beginning of the initial semester of enrollment. Adults 22 years of
age or younger within the last five years.
|
Tuberculosis (TB)
| At the beginning of the initial semester of enrollment and annually
thereafter. If you have not had a TB test within the last 12 months you must
have a 2 step skin test with a minimum of 7 days between the 2 readings.
|
PPD/Tuberculin test/X-ray
| Upon admission and annually
|
Tetanus/Diphtheria
(Td)
| At the beginning of the initial semester of enrollment. (Booster required
every 10 years.)
|
Tetanus, Diphtheria
and Acellular
Pertussis (Tdap)
| At the beginning of the initial semester of enrollment. (Adult - one time
dose.)
|
Influenza (Flu)
| Required during flu season annually.
|
Varicella (Chicken Pox)
| At the beginning of the initial semester of enrollment – two (2) doses of
vaccine or titer showing immunity are required. (TTUHSC does not accept
history of the disease.)
|
*COVID-19 vaccination may be mandatory at some clinical sites. At this time, TTUHSC does not require you to disclose whether or
not you have received the COVID-19 vaccine. However, for those who do not receive the vaccine or obtain an approved COVID-19
vaccine waiver, if applicable, your ability to obtain required clinical hours necessary for program completion may be impacted.
For those who wish to not disclose, it will be considered that you have not received the vaccine for the purposes of adhering to
clinical site requirements.
Keep personal immunization records in a safe
place; immunization records are required for all
healthcare workers employed in the healthcare
industry. All copies of Personal Immunization
Records provided to the School of Nursing
become the property of the School of Nursing.
Never supply the School of Nursing with original
documents. There may be a fee charged to receive
a copy of the immunization records from School
of Nursing files.
Other specialty-related immunizations or testing
may be recommended to a student or may be
required by a clinical agency. All students are
expected to personally maintain immunization
requirements; this maintenance should be
documented in the appropriate departmental
office for every semester the student is enrolled at
TTUHSC – NO notification will be sent.
International Applicants
International applicants should refer to the School of Nursing's website for current requirements for admission https://www.ttuhsc.edu/nursing/student-affairs/international-applicants.aspx.
NCLEX-RN Examination Eligibility
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) has identified certain circumstances that may render a potential candidate ineligible for licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Texas. A Petition for Declaratory Order (DO) is a formal disclosure to the Board of an eligibility issue that may prevent an applicant from taking the NCLEX and receiving initial licensure. The DO permits the Board to make a decision regarding a petitioner’s eligibility for licensure prior to entering or completing a nursing program. An individual who has reason to believe that they may be ineligible for initial licensure due to issues discussed in Rule §213.30 may petition the Board for a declaratory order as to their eligibility such as:
- if the potential ineligibility is due to the petitioner's criminal history, all court documents, including, but not limited to: indictments, agreements for pre-trial diversion or deferred prosecution, orders of deferred adjudication, judgments, probation records, and evidence of completion of probation, as applicable;
- if the potential ineligibility is due to the petitioner's mental health condition or diminished capacity, verifiable and reliable evidence of controlled behavior and consistent compliance with recommended treatment, including compliance with a prescribed medication regime, for a reasonable amount of time, as applicable;
- if the potential ineligibility is due to the petitioner's substance use disorder and/or the abuse/misuse of alcohol or drugs, verifiable and reliable evidence of sobriety and abstinence from drugs and alcohol, which may include evidence of the completion of inpatient, outpatient, or aftercare treatment, random drug screens, individual or group therapy, and/or support group attendance;
The DO should be submitted electronically via the Nurse Portal at this link: https://www.bon.texas.gov/texasnurseportal/. Students who have obtained a Declaratory Order Petition must notify the Associate Dean/Department Chair and inform them of the outcome of the petition.
*Pursuant to the Occupations Code §301.207, information, including diagnosis and treatment, regarding an individual's physical or mental condition, intemperate use of drugs or alcohol, or chemical dependency and information regarding an any other information in the petition for declaratory order of eligibility is confidential to the same extent that information collected as part of an investigation is confidential under the Occupations Code §301.466.
NOTE: Expunged and Sealed Offenses: While expunged or sealed offenses, arrests, tickets, or citations need not be disclosed, the student has the responsibility to ensure the offense, arrest, ticket, or citation has, in fact, been expunged or sealed. The recommendation is submission of a copy of the court order expunging or sealing the record in question to the Texas Board of Nursing with your application. Failure to reveal an offense, arrest, ticket, or citation that is not in fact expunged or sealed, will at a minimum, subject your license to a disciplinary fine. Non-disclosure of relevant offenses raises questions related to truthfulness and character.
NOTE: Orders of Non-Disclosure: Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.142(b), a person who is the subject of information that is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 under this section may deny the occurrence of the criminal proceeding to which the information relates and the exception of the information under this section, unless the information is being used against the person in a subsequent criminal proceeding. Pursuant to other sections of the Texas Government Code Chapter 411, the Texas Board of Nursing is entitled to access criminal history record information that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure, even if you properly did not reveal that matter, the Board may require you to provide information about any conduct that raises issues of character.
Statues and Rules governing the Petition for Declaratory Order may be found in the Texas Occupations Code §§ 301.257, 301.452, 304.454 (Nursing Practice Act), and in the Board Rules and Regulations relating to Nurse Education, Licensure and Practice, 22 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §§ 213.27-30 and Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §§ 217.11-12.
The Nurse Practice Act was amended during the 2005 Texas legislative session, adding Texas Occupations Code § 301.4535, to authorize the Board of Nursing to deny or revoke licensure to an individual for certain criminal offenses. Under the provision, the BON shall refuse or shall withdraw a license if the person has been convicted of an identified offense or has noted on his or her criminal record a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. The Texas Board of Nursing may consider eligibility for licensure of an applicant, who otherwise would be ineligible for licensure, after the fifth anniversary of the successful completion of and dismissal from probation or parole. The criminal offenses barring licensure, as defined by Texas Penal Code, include the following: murder, capital murder or manslaughter; kidnapping or unlawful restraint and the offense was punished as a felony; sexual assault; aggravated sexual assault; continuous sexual abuse of young child or children, or indecency with a child; aggravated assault; intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly injuring a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual; intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly abandoning or endangering a child; aiding suicide and the offense was punished as a state jail felony; an offense involving a violation of certain court orders or conditions of bond punished as a felony; an agreement to abduct a child from custody; the sale or purchase of a child; robbery; aggravated robbery; an offense for which a defendant is required to register as a sex offender; or an offense under the law of another state, federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice for similar crimes.
Technical Standards for the School of Nursing
Physical, cognitive, psychomotor, affective and social abilities are required in unique combinations to provide safe and effective nursing care. In order to be admitted and to progress in the nursing program, one must possess a functional level of ability to perform the duties required of a nurse. The applicant/student must be able to meet the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation’s throughout the program of learning. Admission, progression and graduation are contingent upon one’s ability to demonstrate the essential functions as identified by the school or additional essential functions as may be identified by affiliated clinical agencies. The TTUHSC School of Nursing reserves the right to amend the essential functions as deemed necessary.
Each student/applicant should use the following standards for participation in the School of Nursing to assist in determining the necessity of accommodation or modifications.
MOTOR SKILLS The student should have sufficient motor functions such that they are able to execute movements required to provide general care and treatment to patients in all health care settings.
| Specific Requirements: Students should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpitation, auscultation, percussion, and other assessment techniques. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional uses of the senses of touch, vision and hearing. The student must be able to perform basic life support (including CPR), transfer and position patients, and position and re-position self around patients. The student must also be able to operate equipment typically found in the health care environment (IV pumps, cardiac monitor, and electric and manual blood pressure equipment, safe patient handling equipment, etc.).
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SENSORY/OBSERVATION: The student must be able to acquire information presented through demonstration and experience in the basic and nursing sciences. | Specific Requirements: The student must be able to observe the patient accurately, at a distance and close at hand, and observe non-verbal communications when performing nursing assessments and interventions or administering medications. The student must be capable of perceiving the signs of disease and infection as manifested through physical examination. Such information may be derived from visual inspection and images of the body surfaces, palpable changes in various organs and tissues, and auditory information (patient voice, heart tones, bowel and lung sounds, etc.)
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COMMUNICATION: The student must have the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with other students, faculty, staff, patients, family and other professionals. | Specific Requirements: The student must be able to express his or her ideas and feelings clearly and demonstrate a willingness and ability to give and receive feedback. The student must be able to convey or exchange information at a proficiency level to obtain a health history, identify problems presented, explain alternative solutions, and give directions during treatment and post-treatment. The student must be able to effectively communicate in English through verbal, written and electronic formats with the ability to retrieve information from various sources of literature and computerized data bases. The student must able to communicate verbally in English in classroom presentations, seminars, simulation, practicum sites, practicum conferences, and on-line formats. The student must be able to process and communicate information on the patient’s status with accuracy in a timely manner to members of the health care team. The appropriate communication may also rely on the student’s ability to make a correct judgment seeking supervision and consultation in a timely manner.
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COGNITIVE: The student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, prioritize, analyze, integrate, synthesize information and act with integrity and judgment (ability to manage impulsivity). The student must have the ability to sustain attention and memory to maintain patient safety. | Specific Requirements: The student must be able to read and comprehend extensive written materials. The student must also be able to evaluate and apply information and engage in critical thinking in the classroom, lab and clinical setting within the time constraints unique to each setting.
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BEHAVIORAL/EMOTIONAL: The student must possess the emotional health required for the utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the nursing care of patients and families.
| Specific Requirements: The student must be able to maintain mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, students, faculty, staff and other professionals under all circumstances, including highly stressful situations. They must have the emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to an environment that may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways. The student must be able to experience empathy for the situations and circumstances of others and effectively communicate that empathy. They must know how their own values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and experiences affect their perceptions and relationships with others. The student must be able and willing to examine their behavior when it interferes with productive individual or team relationships. The student must possess skills and experience necessary for effective and harmonious relationships in diverse academic and work environments. The student must be able to meet TTUHSC School of Nursing attendance requirements. The student must be able to satisfy all requirements set forth by the School of Nursing and Health care agency’s affiliation agreements as well as any additional requirements of any clinical setting. The student must uphold professional nursing standards related to the student's scope of practice.
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TTUHSC OP 51.04 and TTUHSC OP 77.14 complies with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and state and local requirements regarding students with disabilities. Under these laws, no otherwise qualified and competitive individual with a disability shall be denied access to or participation in services, programs and activities of TTUHSC solely on the basis of the disability. ADA guidelines apply to all qualified persons. A qualified person is a person with a disability who, with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices, the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services, meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services, or the participation in programs or activities provided by a public entity and who can perform the “essential functions” of the position. For further information, contact the Office of Student Disability Services or visit their website located at https://www.ttuhsc.edu/disability/default.aspx.
