School of Nursing 2023 - 2024 Catalog

Traditional BSN Program

Traditional BSN Program

Amanda Veesart, PhD, RN, CNE 
Professor, Associate Dean/Department Chair

Erin Gibson, PhD, RN, CCRN-K
Associate Professor, Director of Clinical and Simulation

Heather Guest, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE
Assistant Professor, Director of Curriculum

Terry Hill, DNP, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor, Director of Curriculum

Brandy Pitts, DNP, RN

Assistant Professor, Director of Admissions and Retention


Program Overview

The Traditional BSN Program is for the student who is not a registered nurse and wants to earn an undergraduate degree (BSN) in nursing. The combination of classroom and hands-on learning using patient simulators and hospital settings provides students the ability to learn skills using the most current technology. Upon completion of prerequisite courses, the BSN degree plan can be completed in four consecutive semesters. The program is offered in Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Mansfield and the Permian Basin (Odessa).


Application Dates

Admission TermCampusApplication OpenApplication Deadline
Fall
Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Mansfield, OdessaFebruary 15April 15
Spring
Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Mansfield, Odessa
June 15
August 15
Summer
Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Mansfield, Odessa
October 15
December 15


Admissions Requirements

All applicants to the Traditional BSN Program complete an online application as directed on the Traditional BSN Program website. Students must meet the minimum requirements listed below for admission consideration:

Academic Requirements

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is preferred. All grades earned at all schools attended are calculated in the admission grade point average. Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Minimum science GPA of 3.0 is preferred.
  • All non-nursing course prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or better prior to enrollment.
  • Preference will be given to applicants without dropped and/or repeated courses.
  • At time of application submission, applicants must have completed and/or have enrollment verification to support completion of the required non-nursing prerequisite courses. A minimum of 45 credit hours of the required non-nursing prerequisite courses (60 hours total), including completion of at least four of the five science courses: Chemistry with lab (4 hours), Human Anatomy I (4 hours), Physiology II (4 hours), Microbiology with lab (4 hours), and Pathophysiology (3 hours).
  • Pathophysiology must be one of the four science courses completed to be eligible to apply.
  • Grades earned in science core courses - Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Microbiology, and Pathophysiology are preferred to have a minimal GPA of 3.0. Consideration is given for repetition of science courses.
  • Letter of academic good standing if prior enrollment in nursing program.
EFFECTIVE FALL 2023:
  • Students must have successfully completed a certified nurse assistant (CNA) course PRIOR to the first day of class. Preference will be given to applicants certified at the time of the application deadline, along with proof of work experience as a CNA. Additionally special considerations will be given to other healthcare experiences such as a health unit coordinator (HUC), a patient care technician (PCT), life guard, etc...

Non-Academic Admission Considerations

  • First generation college student
  • Current healthcare work experience
  • Military service and/or training
  • Based upon fulfillment of all application eligibility requirements as outlined in the School of Nursing Catalog and posted on the BSN website, a determination will be made on an offer of an interview
  • Performance in a face-to-face interview upon invitation

Applicants are reviewed by the Admissions Committee and evaluated individually and holistically, not allowing any single attribute to be the determining attribute in the admission decision. The actual number of students offered admission is dependent upon a variety of attributes, such as financial resources, classroom space, and available clinical experiences.


IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS WHO ATTENDED A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN SPRING 2020

An explanation of how TTUHSC School of Nursing considers courses in which a student earns grades of Pass (P), Fail(F), Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) is outlined below:

Official transcripts with courses awarded with P or CR during the spring 2020 semester can be used to meet prerequisite course requirements and will not be used in calculating either the cumulative or science GPA for admissions. TTUHSC SON reserves the right to determine how, and if, courses awarded with P or CR during any semester, outside of spring 2020, will be calculated into a GPA and/or considered for transfer credit. Official transcripts with courses awarded with a Fail (F) or No Credit (NC) during any semester cannot be used to meet prerequisite course requirements.


Additional Requirements for Prospective Students

NCLEX-RN Examination Eligibility

See NCLEX-RN Examination Eligibility under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.


Tuition for Repeated or Excessive Undergraduate Hours

See Tuition for Repeated or Excessive Undergraduate Hours under the Financial Information section of this catalog.


Computer Requirements

See Computer Requirements under the Student Information section of this catalog.


Criminal Background Checks

See Criminal Background Check Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.


Drug Screening

See Drug Screening Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.


Immunizations

See Immunization Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.


Special Student Enrollment

Deferment of Admission

Admission may be deferred from one semester to the next at the discretion of the admissions committee on a case-by-case basis.


Provisional Admission

Provisional admission is not available for the Traditional BSN Program.


Conditional Admission

If the requirements for full admission are not met, conditional admission may be available. The student is required to comply with “conditions” stated in the letter of admission offer prior to the first day of class for the semester the student is applying for. Failing to do so will result in retraction of the offer.


Readmission

Any student who has been dismissed or who withdrew for academic or disciplinary causes or as a result of a Complaint of Misconduct is ineligible for readmission to the Traditional BSN Program.


Transfer Admission

The Traditional BSN Program does not accept transfer admission into the nursing program.


Enrollment without Credit/Course Audit

Students who wish to audit a course for no grade must obtain approval from the Associate Dean/Department Chair. Students who audit a course will not be listed on the class roll, and no notation of the audit will be made on the student’s transcript. Students who are enrolled for 12 semester credit hours or more may audit a course without paying an additional fee.


Prerequisite Courses and Requirements

The prerequisite course requirements listed should be completed with a grade of “C” or higher in each course prior to enrollment in the first nursing course. These requirements as detailed in the following table include a total of 60 semester credit hours and can be taken at any regionally accredited college or university. A maximum of 15 credit hours can be earned via credit by examination.

The prerequisite courses listed in the following table for the Traditional BSN Program also incorporates the 42 hours of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Core Curriculum for undergraduate nursing degrees. Please see Core Curriculum Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog to review the Texas Core Curriculum requirements.


Important Information about Prerequisite Course Requirements

  • Pass/Fail grades are not accepted for credit toward degree requirements.
  • Applicants may choose to request grades for all non-nursing courses greater than 10 years old not be considered in the GPA for admission. If this option is selected, the credits excluded are not eligible for prerequisite course consideration and must be retaken for credit. The applicant must have at least 34 credit hours within the past 10 years to use this option.
  • Grades earned at all schools attended are calculated in the admission grade point average. The quality points and semester credit hours used to calculate the cumulative grade point average for admission to the School of Nursing are taken from the official transcripts submitted during the application process.
  • The School of Nursing accepts courses completed via classroom, internet, correspondence, CLEP (College Level Examination Program), or advanced placement examination for which credit with the grade of “C” or higher has been awarded and posted on an official transcript from an accredited college or university when determining completion of prerequisite non-nursing course requirements.


Traditional BSN Program Prerequisite Coursework Table


HOURS
Pathophysiology (ZOOL 3303 or equivalent)
3
Microbiology w/lab (BIOL 2420 or BIOL 2421)
4
Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/lab (BIOL 2401)
4
Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/lab (BIOL 2402)
4
Chemistry w/lab (CHEM 1305/1105 or CHEM 1406/CHEM 1411)
4
Introduction to Nursing as a Profession (HUSC 3221)
2
General Psychology (PSY 2301)
3
Life Span Human Development (PSY 2314)
3
Statistics (MATH 1342, 1442, 2342 or 2442)
3
Science of Nutrition (BIOL 1322 or HECO 1322)
3
History of the United States to 1877 (HIST 1301)
3
History of the United States since 1877 (HIST 1302)
3
American Government Organization (GOVT 2305 or POLS 1301)
3
American Public Policy (GOVT 2306 or POLS 2302)
3
English Composition I (ENGL 1301)
3
English Composition II (ENGL 1302)
3
Any Texas core approved course in Creative Arts
3
Any Texas core approved course in Language, Philosophy, or Culture
3
Communication in Nursing (COMS 2320)
3
TOTAL
60

  • Course numbers listed are based on the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS). Check with your academic institution to verify the course number corresponds with the TCCNS number.
  • Students must complete 3 credit hours of math to meet core curriculum requirements. Students who take math statistics will simultaneously meet the requirements for the nursing prerequisite and the core curriculum. Students, who take any other statistics course as the nursing prerequisite, must also take an upper level mathematics course in order to meet the core curriculum requirement.
  • All courses are considered prerequisite to admission and beginning first semester of nursing course work.


Offer of Admission

Offers of admission will be made from the Traditional BSN Admissions Chair approximately eight (8) weeks following the application deadline. Applicants are required to respond to the offer of admission no later than the deadline stated in the letter offering admission by returning a $175 nonrefundable placement guarantee/orientation fee, as well as a signed response form accepting the offer. Failure to respond by the deadline results in withdrawal of the offer of admission.


Degree Requirements for Students Admitted to Program

Graduation Under a Particular Catalog

A student is expected to complete the degree requirements set forth in the School of Nursing Catalog in effect at the time the student enters the chosen degree or area of study. Only with the specific approval from the appropriate Associate Dean/Department Chair may a different Catalog be selected. Students, in all cases are prohibited from completing the requirements set forth in a catalog more than seven years old. The School of Nursing Catalog is published at least biennially and its provisions are applicable during the following academic year (September 1 through August 31).


Maintaining Minimum Academic Requirements

  • Maintain a 2.0 GPA for each semester and overall cumulative.
  • A minimum grade of “C” required in all degree required (nursing) courses.
  • Students receiving a “D”, “F” or “WF” in a nursing course are eligible to repeat the course one time only pursuant to recommendation of course faculty.
  • Students earning an overall cumulative GPA or a semester GPA less than a 2.0 in the semester of graduation are ineligible for graduation.


Academic Dismissal from the School of Nursing will result from the following circumstances:

  • A student earning a “D”, “F” or “WF” in two or more nursing courses in one semester is cause for academic dismissal.
  • Students earning a “D”, “F” or “WF” in a second nursing course, even when students successfully complete the courses in which the previous “D”s, “F”s or “WF”s were earned.
  • Earning less than a 2.0 per semester or cumulative GPA for two consecutive semesters.


Comprehensive Examinations

Undergraduate (prelicensure) students must have a passing score on the comprehensive examination administered in NURS 4710 for the Traditional BSN Undergraduate Program. If the student is not successful on the examination, the student is required to meet with the course facilitator(s) to determine next steps in progression.


Residence Credit

The minimum actual residence credit required of each undergraduate student is 30 hours at TTUHSC, including the final 15 hours in nursing courses taken for a grade. The remaining hours may include transfer credit and correspondence course work. Residence credit as used here means credit for work done while enrolled in and attending classes at TTUHSC and should not be confused with “residence” in the State of Texas for tuition purposes.


Semester Credit Hours and Course Loads

The semester credit hour is the unit of measure for credit purposes. Didactic (lecture) hours are measured on a one-to-one basis; clinical hours are measured on a one-to-three basis. Approximately two hours in preparation for each hour of lecture or recitation and an appropriate amount of time for preparation for clinical activity is required. The number of semester credit hours a student may carry (course load) is regulated by the Associate Dean/Department Chair. In determining course load, the Associate Dean/Department Chair takes into account the quality of prior scholastic work performed and the types of courses involved. Permission is needed to enroll in more than 20 semester credit hours. Traditional BSN students are required to complete 60 hours of prerequisite courses and 60 hours of nursing courses, totaling 120 credit hours.

Traditional BSN Undergraduate Program
60
Semester Hours from general education prerequisite courses
60
Semester Hours from the Traditional BSN Undergraduate curriculum
120
Total Semester Hours


Recognition of Previous Nursing Learning

Transfer of Credit

  • The Traditional BSN program does not accept transfers into the nursing program.
  • Students who attended a previous nursing program may apply to the Traditional Nursing program.
  • Due to the nature of the Traditional BSN program, transfer credits for nursing courses are not given.
  • Credit for nursing courses cannot be earned via credit by examination.


Degree Plan

Degree plans are generally completed by the appropriate Student Affairs Coordinator during new student orientation. The degree plan may be revised by the Program Director of Curriculum based on a student’s ability to successfully progress through the curriculum. Course enrollment may be limited based on available resources, including but not limited to, availability of clinical sites within the community. The following degree plan is designed for applicants without a RN license. The sample degree plan provides an overview of a basic course schedule for full-time students. All non-nursing courses should be completed prior to taking the first nursing course. When necessary, methods for limiting enrollment will be determined by the Traditional BSN Associate Dean/Department Chair.


Sample Degree Plan - Traditional BSN Undergraduate Program

Level 1

Number
Course Name
Credits
NURS 3604
Core Concepts of Nursing Care, CL
(6:5:3 F)
NURS 3511
Applied Concepts of Pharmacology, CL
(5:4:3 F)
NURS 3322
Health Promotion Across the Lifespan
(3:3:0 O)
NURS 3208
Integrated Learning I, CL
(2:1.5:1.5 F)

Total Semester Hours
16

Level 2

Number
Course Name
Credits
NURS 3512
Complex Concepts of Nursing Care I, CL
(5:4:3 F)
NURS 3502
Mental & Behavioral Health Nursing, CL
(5:4.5:1.5 F)
NURS 3450
Concepts of Community and Public Health Nursing, CL(4:3:3 F)
NURS 3102
Integrated Learning II
(1:1:0 F)

Total Semester Hours
15


Level 3

Number
Course Name
Credits
NURS 4602
Complex Concepts of Nursing Care II with Application to Practice, CL
(6:4:6 F)
NURS 4407
Nursing Care of Families with Children, CL
(4:3:3 F)
NURS 4204
Leadership in Interprofessional Practice
(2:2:0 F)
NURS 4102
Integrated Learning III
(1:1:0 F)

Total Semester Hours
13


Level 4

Number
Course Name
Credits
NURS 4322
Evidence-Based Practice
(3:3:0 O)
NURS 4710
Professional Transitions of Nursing Care, CL
(7:3:12 H)
NURS 4610
Integrated Learning IV: Clinical Immersion, CL
(6:3:9 F)

Total Semester Hours
16


Total Credit Hours
60


KEY:

  • Courses are listed in numerical order
  • (F) Face-to-face
  • (O) Online
  • (H) Hybrid (combination of face-to-face and online)
  • (CL) Concurrent enrollment in a Clinical Section is required
  • (#:#:#) First # represents the number of credit hours, Second # represents the number of lecture hours per week, Third # represents the number of clinical hours per week
  • * Elective Courses are offered at select times as faculty and interest are present
  • (V) Variable Credit
 
  • NURS 3102 Integrated Learning II (1:1:0,F)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208. Corequisites: NURS 3512, 3502, 3450) This course integrates knowledge from complex concepts of medical, surgical, community health, behavioral, and mental health nursing. Students apply this essential integrated knowledge to the mastery of designated nursing skill competencies. Clinical learning for these skills occurs in a simulated learning environment using deliberate practice with various levels of fidelity of simulation and evaluation relies on formative/summative examinations.

  • NURS 3208 Intergrated Learning I (2:1.5:1.5,F)

    Corequisite: Admission to the School of Nursing, NURS 3604, 3511, 3322) This course integrates knowledge from health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacological therapy, and health promotion. Students apply this integrated knowledge to the mastery of designated nursing skill competencies. Clinical learning for these skills occurs in a simulated learning environment; deliberate practice with various levels of fidelity of simulation and evaluation by formative/summative examination will be implemented.

  • NURS 3322 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan (3:3:0,O)

    (Co-requisite: Admission to the School of Nursing, NURS 3604, 3511, 3208) This course provides an introduction to concepts of health promotion and maintenance across the lifespan with a focus on maintenance of functional capacity, physiologic changes, and access to health care. Emphasis will be placed on improving quality of life through routine health assessment, advocacy, and education for health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention across the lifespan.

  • NURS 3450 Concepts of Community and Public Health Nursing (4:3:3,F)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208. Corequisites: NURS 3512, 3502, 3102) This course emphasizes public health and community nursing concepts essential for professional nursing practice. Focus is on the concepts of community health nursing practice, epidemiology and disease transmission, comprehensive assessment of risk factors and health problems, program planning and intervention, environmental health, collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, and promotion of healthy populations.

  • NURS 3502 Mental and Behavioral Health Nursing (5:4.5:1.5,F)

    (Pre-requisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208. Co-requisites: NURS 3512, 3450, 3102.) This course emphasizes the concepts of altered mental health and the pathological processes associated with mental health disorders. The focus is on approaches to promote mental health/optimal function in the care of patients, groups, and families experiencing altered states of mental health utilizing evidence based standards of care.

  • NURS 3511 Applied Concepts of Pharmacology (5:4:3,F)

    (Co-requisite: Admission to the School of Nursing, NURS 3604, 3322, 3208) This course introduces principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. Classifications of drugs and the use of nursing process for safe medication administration is emphasized. The various components of drug therapy are explored including genetic, life span/age and cultural implications. Evidence-based practice and legal/ethical standards will guide the use of case studies and simulation of accurate dosage calculations, medication administration, and methods of documentation.

  • NURS 3512 Complex Concepts of Nursing Care I (5:4:3,F)

    (Pre-requisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208. Co-Requisites: NURS 3450, 3502, 3102.) This course emphasizes chronic care nursing concepts essential for professional nursing practice in a variety of settings. Special focus is on the concepts of aging, health promotion, disease prevention, and genetics as well as illness management. Clinical judgment and reasoning and the integration of therapeutic nursing skills will be demonstrated through case study analysis and critical thinking activities according to contextual priorities.

  • NURS 3604 Core Concepts of Nursing Care (6:5:3,F)

    (Co-requisite: Admission to the School of Nursing, NURS 3511, 3322, 3208.) This course is an introduction to nursing foundations for patient safety. Using current evidence, the skills of health assessment, communication, clinical reasoning, and select standards of nursing care, profession role and safe use of select nursing skills are explored. Emphasis is on recognizing shared commonalities and uniqueness of a patient's health such as age, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, culture, lifestyle, socio-economic class and sexual orientation. Performance assessment of skills is required in a laboratory experience.

  • NURS 4102 Integrated Learning III (1:1:0,F)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3502, 3450 3102. Corequisites: NURS 4602, 4407, 4322, 4204) This course integrates knowledge from advanced concepts of medical surgical, leadership and management, scholarship of evidence-based practice and nursing care of families. Students apply this integrated knowledge to the obtainment of designated nursing skill competencies. Clinical learning for these skills occurs in a simulated learning environment; using deliberate practice with various levels of fidelity of simulation with evaluation utilizing formative and summative examinations.

  • NURS 4103 Nursing Care of Families with Children: Application to Practice (1:0:3,F)

    (Pre-requisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3450, 3502, 3102, 4602, 4407, 4322, 4204, 4102. Co-requisites: NURS 4105, 4520, 4620) This clinical laboratory experience provides opportunities to care for children, families, and communities in obstetrical and pediatric settings using evidence-based knowledge from the theory courses.

  • NURS 4105 Complex Concepts of Nursing Care II Application to Practice II (1:0:3,F)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3502, 3450, 3102, 4602, 4407, 4322, 4204, 4102. Corequisites: NURS 4620, 4103, 4520) . This course provides opportunities for students to synthesize generalist nursing roles of provider, manager of nursing care in clinical and simulated acute care settings. Simulated case studies and weekly clinical experiences will provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate nursing skills appropriate for care of the patient experiencing acute care needs. Evidence based practice will be a major focus as will be safety and quality processes for clinical evaluation.

  • NURS 4204 Leadership in Interprofessional Practice (2:2:0,F)

    Pre-reqs: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3502, 3450, 3102 Co-reqs: NURS 4602, 4407, 4322, 4102. This course surveys the role of the nurse as a leader, a manager and a member of an inter-professional team. The student is introduced to key concepts in systems theory, change theory, management and leadership theory, conflict resolution, quality improvement, and financial concepts. The opportunity to examine staffing and delegation strategies, as well as legal and ethical modalities that impact nursing practice will be included.

  • NURS 4322 Evidence-based Practice (3:3:0,O)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3450, 3502, 3102. Corequisites: NURS 4602, 4407, 4204, 4102) This course focuses on exploring the theory and methods of evidence-based practice with emphasis on the role in providing quality patient-centered care in the medical/surgical setting. The dialogue of asking and answering of clinical nursing questions through the synthesis of current literature and analysis of clinical practice guidelines is a major emphasis.

  • NURS 4407 Nursing Care of Families with Children (4:3:3,F)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3450, 3502, 3102. Corequisites: NURS 4602, 4322, 4204, 4102) This course emphasizes essential nursing concepts related to the safe delivery of quality nursing care to families with children. The focus is on the childbearing family unit from preconception through birth to care of the child appropriate to age and development. Emphasis is placed upon the nursing role and communication within an interdisciplinary team, patient safety, and evidence based nursing care.

  • NURS 4602 Complex Concepts of Nursing Care II with Application to Practice (6:4:6,F)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3502, 3450, 3102. Corequisites: 4407, 4322, 4204, 4102) This course provides opportunities for students to synthesize generalist nursing roles of provider and manager of care in the clinical and simulated acute care setting. Clinical judgment, reasoning and therapeutic nursing skills necessary in the acute care delivery are demonstrated in the application of evidence-based nursing care through simulated case studies and weekly clinical experiences. Simulated case studies and weekly clinical experiences will provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate nursing skills appropriate for care of the patient experiencing acute care needs.

  • NURS 4610 Integrated Learning IV: Clinical Immersion (6:3:9,F)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3450, 3502, 3102, 4602, 4407, 4322, 4204, 4102. Corequisites: NURS 4710. This course is designed to focus on subjects of special interest to groups of students. This course provides a clinical immersion experience for the student preparing to transition to practice in the clinical specialty area of the student’s choice. Opportunity for integration of knowledge, concepts and skills from all four levels of curriculum will occur.

  • NURS 4710 Professional Transitions of Nursing Care (7:3:12,H)

    (Prerequisites: NURS 3604, 3511, 3322, 3208, 3512, 3450, 3502, 3102, 4602, 4407, 4322, 4204, 4102. Corequisites: NURS 4610) This course focuses on the role of the professional nurse using evidence-based practice and quality standards to deliver safe holistic care to the culturally diverse complex client and family. Emphasis is on the transition of the student nurse into a professional role which includes their ability to apply concepts related to interprofessional teamwork, informatics and patient-centered care.