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The Vocational Nursing program is the entry-level pathway into the Nursing field. Following completion of three prerequisite courses, the VN program takes one year to complete and prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-VN). Licensure as a Vocational Nurse must be granted by the Texas State Board of Nursing.

Applicants to the VN program must have completed the required prerequisite courses with a "C" or higher to be eligible for the program. Applicants should know that a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher provides a better chance of being selected into the Nursing program. Students may apply with one final prerequisite in progress; however, this class must be completed with a "C" or better prior to the start of the program to maintain eligibility.

Prospective students should meet with the Health Science Counselor to ensure all requirements are met. Applications should be submitted to the Nursing Department office 229.

Application Procedures

A limited number of students are accepted in each class. As a result, the admittance process is deliberate and decisive.

1. Must have completed the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ College general admission application and be enrolled as a student of ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ College.

2. Must be TSI complete or college-ready in Reading, Writing, and Math.

3. Must submit official copies of all college transcripts regardless of classes or grades.

4. Must be a high school graduate or have a GED. Either an official copy of the high school diploma or a copy of the GED must be submitted, except for the Holland Dual Credit program.

5. Students who have attended another nursing program prior to applying to ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ College must submit a Letter of Good Standing from the Program Director at the previous institution.

6. Must submit a current, complete nursing program application available in the Health Sciences counselor's office (separate from the general college application).

7. Must complete the Hep B immunization series of 3 shots or provide serologic confirmation of immunity to the Hepatitis B virus.

8. Must complete the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program prior to starting the Vocational Nursing program. Must complete the CNA course before the 1st day of class. Preferred to take the State Certification Exam and be certified as a CNA before starting the 1st semester. The director of nursing may consider other related certificates.

9. Must take the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI A-2) Admission Assessment during one of our scheduled testing sessions. The test includes the following subjects: Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Critical Thinking, and Math. The preferred pass rate for applicants taking the HESI test is a score of 70% or higher on each section and the Cumulative score. A minimum score of 65% on each test section will be accepted, but the overall cumulative score must be 70% or higher to apply. Testers who score below 65% on any section must retest over that section(s). Testers who score below 70% on any section(s) can retest on that section(s) if needed. Testers may only retest one time and may not retest on a section(s) in which they score 70% or higher.

10. Students may apply with one (1) final prerequisite in progress; however, this class must be completed with a "C" or better prior to the start of the program to maintain eligibility.

11. Completion of an interview.

The Vocational Nursing Program accepts three classes of nursing students each year. Please complete the application process in conjunction with the following schedule:

• January - December term
  • Deadline to Apply: October 15th
• May - May term
  • Deadline to Apply: February 15th
• August - August term
  • Deadline to Apply: June 15th

Selection Criteria

1. All applicants for admission who meet the minimal criteria for admission will be considered; however, the number of applicants normally exceeds the number of students who can be admitted to each class.

2. Preference for admission is determined by the following factors:

Prerequisites

BIOL 2401 Anatomy & Physiology I (4 Hours)

BIOL 2402 Anatomy & Physiology II (4 Hours)

MDCA 1313 Medical Terminology (3 Hours)

Please see the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ College Course Catalog for complete course information.