The Nursing Department offers a generic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, designed to prepare students for licensure and professional practice.  General education courses comprise a liberal education foundation upon which professional education builds to prepare students as broadly educated citizens capable of critical thinking.  Nursing is an integrative profession, which is built upon supporting arts and sciences and uses concepts, models, and theories from the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences as foundation for specialized nursing knowledge and the practice of nursing science.

Nursing courses provide knowledge in physical and emotional assessment, theoretical foundations of human behavior, health promotion, illness prevention, and health restoration.  Skill in utilizing this knowledge is taught through high fidelity simulation laboratory experiences as well as faculty-planned learning experiences in clinical facilities.  BSN graduates are eligible to apply to the Texas Board of Nursing to take the National Council Licensure Examination.  After successfully completing this examination, the graduate is issued a license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of Texas.

The Nursing Department subscribes to the mission of Texas A&M University-Commerce to "discover and disseminate knowledge for leadership and service."  The mission and philosophy for the Nursing Department serve as a foundation for the development, administration, and implementation of the nursing program, integrating the concepts of caring, critical thinking, life-long learning, and professionalism throughout the curriculum.  The Nursing Department facilitates the development of competent practitioners with critical thinking skills to meet the diverse and evolving health care needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities.  The leadership and services provided by baccalaureate-prepared Registered Nurses is an essential component of health care for vulnerable, underserved, and culturally diverse groups in rural Northeast Texas.  The BSN program provides a foundation for graduate study.

Nursing Department Mission

The mission of the Nursing Department subscribes to the mission of the University and the College of Education and Health Services.  The Nursing Department facilitates the development of competent practitioners prepared for leadership and service to meet the diverse and evolving health care needs of rural Northeast Texas.

Nursing Department Vision
Texas A&M University-Commerce Nursing Department will be recognized as a center of excellence in nursing education that prepares professionals to practice in a dynamic healthcare environment and serve a diverse community.

The BSN program graduate will be able to:

1. Perform health protection and promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, illness care, rehabilitation, and end of life care as an advocate and advisor within an evidence based framework in a variety of rural settings.
2. Synthesize knowledge, skills, and technology from the established practice and science of nursing, the biological sciences, and the humanities in the care of clients.
3. Demonstrate sensitivity to clients with diverse personal, socio-cultural, and environmental characteristics.
4. Use effective communication skills and information technology to convey interpersonal and health care information.
5. Demonstrate activities that promote self-awareness, self-growth, professional role development, ethical accountability, and legal responsibility in the practice of nursing.

Admission Criteria and Essential Eligibility Requirements

Admission Criteria

1. Meet A&M-Commerce admission requirements and Nursing Department essential eligibility requirements.
2. Have a minimum 2.5 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.
3. Complete all support courses with a grade of “C” or better in each course.
4. Have a 3.0 GPA on support courses: Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Chemistry, Microbiology, Statistics, and Human Development (Life Span).
5. Take the HESI Admission Assessment Exam (A2) with the following components: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Grammar, Basic Math Skills, Anatomy and Physiology, Learning Style, Personality Profile, and Decision-Making Skills.

       The Learning Style, Personality Profile, and Decision-Making Skills components must be taken, but are not included in application scoring. The HESI A2 is available through the A&M-Commerce Student Testing Center and may be repeated only one time for each admission cycle. The most recent score will be utilized.

1. International students whose primary language is other than English will be required have a score of 550 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS in order to apply for admission. Scores should not be more than two years old, but may be reviewed on an individual basis.
2. Submit application by the published deadline.

Once a student has been notified of conditional admission, the student will be instructed how to:

1. Provide proof of current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers through the American Heart Association.
2. Provide documentation verifying absence of active tuberculosis.
3. Provide documentation verifying current immunization or immunity status for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, and varicella.
4. Obtain a criminal background check through The Texas Board of Nursing.

Successful completion of these activities will allow the student to be given full admission status by the Student Development Committee.

Essential Eligibility Requirements

The following table illustrates the essential eligibility requirements for participation in the Nursing Department and examples of necessary activities (not all inclusive) which should be used to assist each applicant in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary.

Essential Eligibility Requirements

Essential Functions	Examples of Necessary Activities
Critical thinking abilities sufficient for clinical judgment.	Identify cause/effect relationships in clinical situations; develop nursing care plans.
Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds	Establish rapport with patients/clients and colleagues.
Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.	Explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, document and interpret nursing actions and patient/client responses.
Abilities sufficient to move from room to room and to maneuver in small places.	Move around in patients’ rooms, work spaces, treatment areas, and administer cardio-pulmonary procedures
Abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.	Calibrate and use equipment; position patient/clients.
Abilities sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.	Ability to hear monitor alarms, emergency signals, all ausculatory sounds, and cries for help.
Abilities sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.	Observe patient/client responses.
Abilities sufficient for physical assessment.	Perform palpitation;, auscultation, percussion and observational functions of physical examination and/or those related to therapeutic intervention, e.g. insertion of a catheter.

ADA guidelines apply to all qualified disabled persons.  A qualified disabled 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 Resources and Services.

Core Curriculum Courses
See the Core Curriculum Requirements		42
Required Prerequisite Courses
Visual/Performing Arts
ENG 1301	College Reading & Writing *
ENG 1302	Written Argument/Research *
HIST 1301	History of the United States through Reconstruction *
HIST 1302	History of the United States Since Reconstruction *
PSCI 2305	United States Government and Politics *
PSCI 2306	Texas Government and Politics
PSY 2301	Introduction to Psychology *
COMS 1315	Fundamentals of Public Speaking *
or COMS 1321	Business/Professional Speaking
BSC 2401	Hum Anatomy/Physiology I *
BSC 2402	Hum Anatomy/Physiology II *
MATH 1314	College Algebra *
PHIL 360	General Ethics *
CHEM 1305	Introductory Chemistry I ((Must take CHEM lab)) *
CHEM 1105	Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I	1
Required Support Courses
PSY 322	Lifespan Development	3
BIOL 2420	General Microbiology	4
MATH 453	Essentials of Statistics **	3
or MATH 1342	Elementary Statistical Methods
or PSY 302	Statistics and Research Design I
Additional Hours from Science Options in the Core		2
HHPH 331	Nutrition	3
Required courses in the major
NURS 3211	Clinical Skills Foundation	2
NURS 3213	Therapeutic Communication	2
NURS 3311	Pathophysiology	3
NURS 3312	Principles of Pharmacology	3
NURS 3414	Health Assessment	4
NURS 3620	Fundamentals of Nursing Care	6
NURS 4540	Nursing Care of Mental Health Clients	5
NURS 4342	Nursing Research	3
NURS 3630	Nursing Care of Adults I	6
NURS 4840	Nursing for Childbearing & Childrearing Families	8
NURS 4650	Nursing Care of Adults II	6
NURS 4560	Rural and Community Health Nursing	5
NURS 4561	Leadership in Professional Nursing	5
NURS 4162	NCLEX-RN Preparatory Course	1
NURS 3332	Professional Nursing Issues	3
Total Hours		120

*

This course can be use to satisfy the Core Curriculum Requirements.

A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in all Nursing Major courses required for this major. Complete the six (6) key nursing support courses (Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Chemistry, Microbiology, Statistics, and Human Development -Life Span) by time of admission with a “C” or better in each course.and a support course GPA of 3.0.  Must have completed four support courses prior to application.

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Pre-Nursing

Admission to the pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is a competitive process.  Prior to applying for admissions to the nursing program, students must complete the pre-nursing courses.  Students enrolled in pre-nursing courses choose either Pre-Nursing Public Health or Pre-Nursing Human Services as a major. After accepting the BSN admissions offer, students change their major to Nursing. At this time, students are admitted twice yearly in the Fall and Spring semesters.  The timeline for applications can be found on the Nursing Department website.  Applications for the program are weighted and ranked according to criteria such as overall GPA, GPA on the four science courses, statistics and Lifespan Development, a written narrative, and TEAS scores. The number of students admitted is dependent upon several factors:  faculty numbers, classroom space, and clinical facility space.   Students not selected for the BSN program may re-apply in subsequent years or may continue as a Public Health or Human Service major.

Required Courses
ENG 1301	College Reading & Writing *	3
ENG 1302	Written Argument/Research *	3
MATH 1314	College Algebra *	3
BSC 2401	Hum Anatomy/Physiology I *	4
BSC 2402	Hum Anatomy/Physiology II *	4
HIST 1301	History of the United States through Reconstruction *	3
HIST 1302	History of the United States Since Reconstruction *	3
PSCI 2305	United States Government and Politics	3
PSCI 2306	Texas Government and Politics	3
PSY 2301	Introduction to Psychology *	3
PHIL 360	General Ethics *	3
or PSY 205	Applied Professional Ethics
COMS 1315	Fundamentals of Public Speaking	3
or COMS 1321	Business/Professional Speaking
CHEM 1305 & CHEM 1105	Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I *	4
Plus 3 sch Creative Arts *		3
Nursing Support
PSY 322	Lifespan Development	3
HHPH 331	Nutrition	3
MATH 1342	Elementary Statistical Methods	3
or PSY 302	Statistics and Research Design I
or MATH 453	Essentials of Statistics
BIOL 2420	General Microbiology	4
Total Hours		58