When to apply depends on your nursing education background.

Generic student should apply while enrolled in NUR 120.  NUR 120 is part of our curriculum, is a preadmission course, and serves as the applicant pool.  Generic students submit an official application while taking NUR 120. 

However, students must complete an entry process for acceptance to the NUR 120 entry pool.

NUR 120 Entry Pool Deadlines are:
Spring Entry – October 1             Fall Entry – March 1

If you are attending Tarleton, you can declare nursing as your major in your freshman year and begin participating in the activities of the school and work with our nursing advisors.

RN, LVNs, and transfer students from other nursing programs must apply to Tarleton and to the nursing program by March 1 for Fall admission.

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You should take NUR 120 during your sophomore year of college or during the semester when you will be able to complete program prerequisite courses by the completion of NUR 120.  

The program prerequisite courses must be successfully completed by the completion of NUR 120:

• ENGL 111 & 112;
• BIOL 219, 220, & 307;
• PSY 101 & 307;
• MATH 107;
• SOC 201; and
• H S 210.

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Yes—with conditions. 

• First, you must complete the application process by the appropriate application deadline (March 1 for Fall and October 1 for Spring). 

• Second, you must be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN upon successful completion of the program. 

• Third, you must successfully complete NUR 120. 

• Fourth, you must complete the program prerequisite courses with no grade lower than a C. 

• Fifth, you must have an overall GPA of 2.75 program entry requirements:

  • ENGL 111 & 112;
  • BIOL 219, 220, & 307;
  • PSY 101 & 307;
  • MATH 107;
  • SOC 201;
  • H S 210; and
  • NUR 120. 

We do not use your overall or cumulative GPA for admission purposes. 

• Sixth, you must meet conditions stipulated in your acceptance letter by the specified deadlines (i.e., record of immunizations, health history, physical exam, drug testing, malpractice insurance). 

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• Our program is designed for a student to enter NUR 120 during the Sophomore I semester.

• The BSN program is 128 hours.  Sixty-four hours of general academic courses and 64 hours of nursing.

• The nursing courses must be taken in sequence.  It takes six semesters to complete the nursing program sequence including the semester for NUR 120. 

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Review the appropriate entry checklist provided in the Application webpage. 

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Yes.

• It is to your advantage to meet with a nursing advisor early in your college career.
• Nursing programs have different entry requirements and prerequisite courses. You may be considering several nursing programs. If yes, you should become knowledgeable about the program prerequisites, application processes and admission deadlines for each program.  
• Advising by appointment is available throughout the year.  Contact the nursing office at (254) 968-9139 to make an advising appointment.  
  
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Information about tuition and fees can be found on the Tarleton website (www.tarleton.edu). 

Student expenses specific to the nursing program are available in the Tarleton Nursing Student Handbook.  For example, the handbook provides cost estimates of items such as uniforms, books, malpractice insurance, lab and clinical supplies, application to take the NCLEX-RN and to the Board of Nurse Examiners for licensure.

The first and final semesters of the nursing program are commonly the most expensive semesters for the student.

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Financial aid and scholarship information can be located on the Tarleton website (www.tarleton.edu).

Nursing scholarships are commonly awarded in late May for the following Fall semester.  The nursing program has eleven endowed scholarships and awards approximately $55,000 in awards annually.  A nursing faculty committee usually selects scholarship recipients.  Eligability criteria for each nursing scholarship can be found in the Tarleton Nursing Student Handbook.  Nursing students are also eligible for other Tarleton scholarships.

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The School of Nursing has an excellent reputation in the community. Local and state health care providers actively recruit our graduates. The BSN program has been accredited annually by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners since it began in 1995.  In April 2004, the BSN program was reaccredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for the maximum period of 10 years (2004-2014). 

Our annual NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for the past five years: 

• 2005 = 79% (29 students tested);
• 2004 = 88% (31 students tested);
• 2003 = 83% (23 students tested);
• 2002 = 90% (29 students tested); and
• 2001 = 92% (13 students tested).

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When you enter the program depends on your entry category.

Generic students enter NUR 120 in the Fall and Spring semesters.

RNs, LVNs, and other transfer nursing program students are accepted for the transition courses only for the Fall semester.

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A total of 40 students are now accepted each Fall and Spring into NUR 120.  NUR 120 serves as the program applicant pool. 
 
Beginning in Fall 2003 in an effort to meet the region’s need for registered nurses, we increased NUR 120 enrollment from 30 to 40 students per semester.

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We do not set time limits on prerequisites.  However, students are accountable for the content from these program prerequisite courses.  You will need current knowledge of the natural and behavioral sciences, English, algebra, and nutrition to be successful in the program.

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Yes, we offer a set of transition courses for LVN and RN entry. We give LVNs credit for some of the lower level courses upon completion of the transition courses.  It takes two years to complete the LVN to BSN nursing course option. We also have an RN to BSN option for registered nurses with a diploma or associate degree.  RNs can complete the nursing course sequence in three semesters.

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No, second degree students must enter through NUR 120.

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We have approximately 450 majors at Tarleton. Over 250 of these nursing majors are currently enrolled in nursing courses. 

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Yes, you will provide patient care in health care agencies under the direction of our experienced faculty. Prior to working with patients, you will be prepared in the classroom and skills laboratory. Working with patients begins during your Sophomore II semester.

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Students travel to several clinical sites during the program.  We may use hospitals, physician offices, clinics, and other health related sites in . . .

You may often travel as much as 60 miles one-way to a clinical site.  All generic and LVN entry category students will travel to the Waco VA for an inpatient psychiatric experience.  Students must also travel to Dallas for an inpatient pediatric experience.  Although students often carpool during the program, a dependable vehicle is a must. 

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Many college students work while attending college. Balancing employment and academic work while enrolled in college is a very individual decision.  Some can do both successfully.  Whether you can successfully do both depends on how many college hours you are taking, your study habits, whether or not you have family or other responsibilities, and the flexibility of your job.  If you are taking 12 or more semester credit hours, you should consider the combined amount of study and class time as a full-time job.  

The faculty feels strongly that students should not attempt to work more than 20 hours a week (50% time) while enrolled in the nursing program. In certain cases, not even this level of work can be sustained because of intensive clinical practice requirements. A recommended strategy is for students to initially reduce their work schedules when admitted to the program, and then adjust this amount over time as is necessary and manageable.

Students should consider attending school part-time if you must work while you are attending school.  Talk with a faculty advisor to develop the part-time option in the nursing program.

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Nationally, 8% of students enrolled in nursing programs are male.  At Tarleton, approximately 8% of our nursing student population is male.

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Yes.  NUR 120 Survey of Nursing Science is taken before official entrance into the nursing program.  NUR 120 is the first course in the curriculum and serves as the applicant pool for the program.

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The nation is experiencing a critical nursing shortage. Therefore, the employment markets are more competitive.  Almost all of our graduates already have secured positions well before graduation.

Most hospitals are paying $35,000-$40,000 to new R.N. graduates. This is based on shifts, agency, geography, and clinical area of choice. Many also have sign-on bonus and other perks such as the option to pay a monthly amount toward student loans.

Most agencies have orientation, preceptorships, and internships for those graduates who will contract (or have already contracted) to work with them after graduation.

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