The nursing profession is part of the extremely high-demand healthcare field. In fact, it's exploding in Texas. Texas is home to the largest employers of nurses in the nation and demand continues to outpace the national average. Nursing is also changing. There's more use of technology with the advent of computers and tablets and more men are entering the field.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing. This is a transition program for current LVN licensees which will lead to an AAS degree in Nursing and the ability to take the National Council Licensure Examination which will classify you as a Registered Nurse. TSTC also offers a certification in Vocational Nursing. Upon completion of this program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination, you will be classified as a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Whichever you choose, careers are available in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, homes, or any other setting where nursing care is needed.
The HESI LVN Mobility Exam is now available at TSTC Testing Centers in West Texas (Abilene, Sweetwater, Brownwood, and Breckenridge), Ft. Bend, and Waco testing centers. Students desiring to apply for the ADN. Nursing Program in Sweetwater may schedule a testing time. The HESI LVN Mobility Exam will not be given by the TSTC ADN Nursing Program in Sweetwater, only at the testing centers.
The HESI Pre Entrance Exam for Current LVN’s seeking to enter the LVN to ADN Program in Harlingen, must take the HESI Pre entrance Exam. This can be scheduled by contacting the Testing Center in Harlingen and they will set a date for you. It will be given online, but the testing center will help you in making the arrangements.
Requirements to enter the Nursing Program differ from those of other programs; be sure to read the program requirements for the different nursing technologies before enrolling.
The nursing profession is a large part of the high-demand health care field. In the Vocational Nursing program, students participate in an innovative learning environment that helps develop their caregiving skills. Instruction consists of classroom, simulation learning labs, interactive online sessions, virtual clinicals and on-site health care clinicals. In the simulation learning lab, students practice the skills and techniques introduced in their classes, and they will be challenged to work through real-world scenarios. After time in the simulation learning labs, students move to clinical sites at hospitals, nursing homes and doctors’ offices where they experience the reality and pace of the nursing profession.
The Vocational Nursing program is a progressive learning program with each class built on knowledge from previous classes; therefore, it is necessary for the student to pass each class before moving on to the next level. In order to progress in the vocational nursing program, a student must make an average of 80 percent or higher in each nursing course with the exception of A&P I and II where a grade of 70 or higher is acceptable. Graduates of the Vocational Nursing program have many employment opportunities to consider, such as hospitals, nursing homes, home health care, doctors’ offices and insurance companies. Requirements to enter the nursing programs differ from those of other programs. Limited numbers of students are accepted. The admission rating scale and application packet criteria will be used to determine acceptance. See application packet for details. The Vocational Nursing application packet may be accessed below.
The Vocational Nursing program is available at the Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses.
West Texas (Breckenridge and Sweetwater) Vocational Nursing Program Requirements
NOTE: Packets are due Friday, March 26, 2020 at 5pm
Harlingen Vocational Nursing Program requirements
** New ** Updated application Date: March 8th and ends May 14th at 12pm via online submission.
** New ** Harlingen Vocational Nursing Information Sessions
** New ** Application online submission instructions
** New ** LVN ATI-TEAS Testing Information
Because this program may prepare you for an occupational license, click here to read additional information about HB1508 Occupational License Eligibility.
Sweetwater Associate Degree in Nursing Application Packet
Sweetwater Associate Degree in Nursing Informational Sessions
Harlingen Nursing Associate Degree Program Advisory Packet
Harlingen Associates Degree in Nursing Information Session