Nursing Degree Programs in Texas
As one of the largest states in the country, Texas has an equally high population with considerable density in metro areas. Nurses are in demands across the country, but Texas has one of the lowest amounts of nurses for the jobs that are available, with a 2% deficit based on the jobs that are available. The demand for nurses is expected to rise at a rate of about 5% annually, which makes employment opportunities in Texas very good.
Salaries for Registered Nurses in Texas are on the higher side of the national median, with an average income of about $67,000 per year. Combined with the projected growth in demand is also a projected growth in wages. This creates great opportunities for entry level and experienced nurses throughout the state, with incentives to continue education and professional enrichment.
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Smaller colleges can offer a quality path towards a new career in nursing. The following video outlines Odessa College’s nursing programs and mission statements.
Featured Texas Nursing School
Odessa College
Odessa College is a smaller vocational school that offers quality education at great affordability. The nursing program features comprehensive learning in state of the art labs and in real world settings, preparing you for the experience and knowledge you need to work in the healthcare environment. Odessa College is also committed to the diversity of the community, and focuses on healthcare practices that respect cultural differences and special populations. This makes the program very effective in transitioning to workplace scenarios.
The following degree programs are available:
• Vocational Nursing Program
• Associate Degree in Nursing
As a community college, Odessa has a tuition scale that varies depending upon student residency. In state students pay just over $300 per semester hour and out of state students will pay around $600. However, six months or more of residency within the state will you for the lower rate, which makes the affordability of this college that much more attractive. Odessa College accepts Federal Financial aid, but also offers over eight million dollars in school sponsored grants to its students every year. This is in keeping with the idea that education should be accessible to anyone, and allows you to consider career changes regardless of your financial status.
Odessa College Overview
Campus: Odessa, Texas
Type: Community, Public, non-profit.
Accreditation: Regionally Accredited, Nursing Programs meet Texas Board of Nursing Education requirements
GRE/GMAT Required: No.
Minimum Time Commitment:
On Campus Requirement: Both programs are campus based.
Programs: Practical Nursing Certificate, ADN.
School Site: Tuition, Financial Aid, Admissions
Where to Earn Your Nursing Degree in Texas
Texas offers quality nursing classes through larger universities and institutions as well as community colleges. The following list outlines some of the schools and the programs that they offer.
Online Nursing
Description
Chamberlain College of Nursing
RN to BSN Online Option
This online degree program allows you to earn your BSN in just three semesters, and you do not need to drive to class.
Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP
You can earn your DNP mostly online in as few as five semesters. Choose from Advanced Practice Leadership, or Healthcare Systems Leadership.
MSN Family Nurse Pracitioner
Earn your MSN in as little as two years online, so that you can become a nurse practitioner, which is one of the most in demand professions today.
University of Cincinnati
MSN Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
In this speciality, you will focus your career on women’s health, so that you can serve women’s health care needs in a diverse range of settings.
MSN Nursing Administration
Earn your MSN in the field of nursing administration online, so that you can develop the skills that you need to manage an entire hospital nursing department.
MSN Nurse Midwifery
This two year MSN program will give you the skills and knowledge to become an expert in women’s health.
MSN Adult Gero Clincial Nurse Specialist
You will learn how to improve the quality of care and health outcomes for a variety of adult patients in a diverse health care setting.
MSN Adult Gero Primary Care NP
This online two year degree speciality for your MSN will give you the skills to develop an exciting career in hospital based nursing.
Campus Nursing
Description
Amarillo College
Vocational Nursing Certificate
This is an affordable and accredited program that takes just under a year to complete and allows you to sit for the licensing exam to become a Practical Nurse. It is a good choice for getting your career started quickly and gaining on the job experience for the future.
Associate Degree in Nursing
The ADN program is a two year commitment that will allow you to practice as a Registered Nurse and offers you a credit degree that can be used for continued education. The course is campus based and includes extensive clinical rounds to prepare you for the workforce.
Baylor University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The BSN program is available as a traditional four year course and as a fast-track course. The four year option is good if you are just entering into higher education, while the fast track allows you to apply prior Bachelor degree credits to the nursing program, and become a Registered Nurse in about a year. If you are looking for a career change and have already gone through your undergraduate classes, then the fast track is a great option for entering into nursing.
Master of Science in Nursing
The MSN classes give you a chance to expand your knowledge base and focus on aspects of nursing that are more specialized. This may include education and research, or practical applications. The Master program can be completed in as little as two years, and provides you with a solid foundation in administration and leadership skills.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
The DNP courses give you a way to move your nursing career to a highly professional level. Specialties include Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife, and Neo-natal Nurse Practitioner. This program has a strong focus on functional and practical applications of nursing in a clinical setting and can greatly increase your pay scale.
Concordia University Texas
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
This four year undergraduate program gives you a sound foundation in general education for the first two years and then switches the focus to the nursing specialty for the final two years. It is a campus based, full time program that focuses on both leadership and healthcare, to prepare you for advancements in your career as a Registered Nurse.
Covenant School of Nursing
Nursing Diploma Program
This course offers a fast option to becoming a Registered Nurse. The 18 month course is held on campus and offers lectures and labs studies, as well as practice in a variety of healthcare settings. In addition to nursing fundamentals, the program explores specialty nursing for future education endeavors.
Odessa College
Vocational Nursing Certificate
This one year program is a fast way to get started as a Licensed Practical Nurse. The course will prepare you for the exam, and offer you hand-on training to prepare you as an entry level nurse.
Associate Degree in Nursing
The ADN program is a two year course that prepares you to become a Registered Nurse. The studies focus largely on diversity, multi-cultural and community care, and holistic perspectives. This is a campus based course that has a large practical component and can get you started for a future BSN.
Temple College
Vocational Nursing Certificate
The LVN certificate program is a one year course that will get you started in the nursing profession with speed. This is a campus based class that covers the fundamentals of Practical Nursing and offers opportunities to explore the possibilities of continued education. It is a good choice if you want to start gaining work experience immediately, and will fully prepare you for your licensing exam.
Associate Degree in Nursing
This program requires at least a two year commitment, but may take longer depending upon full time or part time enrollment. The classes use state of the art labs and equipment to teach practical skills, and also incorporate lectures and clinical rounds. Students gain a full overview of career possibilities in nursing, and as a Registered Nurse you may apply these credits and your experience to an accelerated four year degree.
Texas A&M Health Sciences Center
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The four year program is held on the A&M campus and offers both general education and nursing specialty courses. This will give you a comprehensive academic overview of healthcare, but also offer exceptional hands on experience in the school’s labs.
RN to BSN
The bridge program can be completed in as little as a year, but may also span as long as two years. This will depend upon the credits and experience that you are able to transfer in, but it offers you a good way to transition from an Associate or Certificate as a Registered Nurse to a four year degree. Pre-requisite work may also be required, depending upon your prior schooling, but the program is designed to advance you within your profession.
Master of Science in Nursing
The Master program may be entered under full-time or part-time enrollment in order to accommodate work schedules and established professional practices. This course of study focuses on building leadership qualities to prepare you for advancement in the field of nursing education. This path can be especially helpful to train future nursing candidates, but also gives you the option to work as an educator in school systems and public health settings.
Victoria College
Vocational Nursing Program
The twelve month certificate course is accredited by the state board of nursing and will prepare you for your licensing exam. It is an on campus program that will prepare you to assist in a number of healthcare settings and allow you to gain experiences that can further your career.
Associate Degree in Nursing
The ADN program is a two year degree in Applied Sciences with a specialty in nursing, to prepare you to become a Registered Nurse. The campus based classes use lectures and labs, but will also expose you to real healthcare environments. This degree can also be transferred to a four year college and allows you to consider a Bachelor Degree while you are already working.