Nursing A.A.S.

• Submit an NLC application by using the applytexas.org and verify you are applying for the semester that you will be enrolling in. The student must also maintain full enrollment at NLC. The student is responsible for any associated application fees.
• If you have been away from the college for more than one year you will have to reapply for admission to NLC.
• Meet NLC admission requirements in the Alamo Colleges District (ACD) as outlined in the official college catalog at alamo.edu.
• Have earned either a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)
• Comply with Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements and grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better by the application deadline.
• Submit a copy of official transcript (s) of all colleges or universities previously attended outside of the ACD with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Transfer credits will not be accepted for any course with a grade below a “C.” Submit documents to the NLC Admissions and Records Office during the application period. Additional information about the admission and registration process can be found on the college website at https://www.alamo.edu/nlc/admissions--aid/

• Applicants must submit an online application
• Applicants will not be able to update their application once it is submitted.
• All prerequisites must be completed prior to applying to the program.
• A minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher is required.
• All science general education courses must be completed within five (5) years of the application.
• Transfer Credits-An applicant seeking recognition of previously earned nursing program credits at another college or university requires review for admission by nursing administration. Transfer credit is granted for nursing programs accredited by the Texas BON.
• Applicants will be sent a “conditional letter of acceptance” via the students ACES email account.
• Only completed applications will be reviewed.
• Individuals applying to the nursing program must be 18 years or older.

Submit Application

All prerequisites must be completed prior to application submission with a required grade of “C” or higher.

Prerequisites:

• BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II
• PSYC 2301 General Psychology
• BIOL 2420 Microbiology for Nursing and Allied Health

The first grade received for each general education course listed above will be awarded points as follows:

Cumulative GPA points will be awarded based on the overall GPA as follows:

ATI TEAS

All applicants must take the ATI TEAS standardized pre-admission assessment exam in person.  

Applicants are responsible for the cost of the examination and/or preparation materials. Additional testing information and study materials may be found on https://atitesting.com/teas

All the following criteria must be met:

1. ATI TEAS scores are to be submitted by the application deadline.
2. The ATI TEAS score shall not be more than 1 year old.
3. Minimum of one (1) point per content area is required.
4. A minimum of 4 points must be achieved to be considered for admission.

_{*The retake policy is 14 days between attempts.}

Healthcare work experience is not required for admission to the nursing program; however, it provides applicants with the chance to enhance their application and earn additional points. Examples of healthcare experience include the following: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Patient Care Technician (PCT), Medical Assistant (MA), Certified Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomist, Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN/LPN), or other Board-Certified healthcare/patient care professionals.

Proof of certification must be provided and subject to verification before points are awarded.

The student is expected to display sufficient physical, emotional, and mental health capacity to provide a safe and effective environment for the patient/client. In adherence to the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) fitness to practice test Health Services, 22 Texas Administrative Code Rule 213.29:

1. Each individual who seeks to practice nursing in Texas must possess current fitness to practice. This requirement includes all individuals seeking to obtain or retain a license or privilege to practice nursing in Texas and applies in all eligibility and disciplinary matters. Each individual has a duty to self-evaluate to ensure that he/she is fit to practice before providing nursing care.
2. An individual's fitness to practice will be determined by evaluating the individual's ability to consistently comply with the requirements of the Nursing Practice Act, the Board's rules and regulations, and generally accepted standards of nursing practice. An individual's fitness to practice may be subject to Board review due to an individual's substance use disorder; possession, abuse, or misuse of alcohol or drugs, prescribed or otherwise; or physical or mental health condition. This is not an exhaustive list. If an individual exhibits any conduct that may prevent him/her from practicing nursing with reasonable skill and safety, the Board will review the individual's conduct to determine if he/she possesses current fitness to practice.

Practicing nurses and student nurses are held to the highest standards of integrity and must be able to adapt to changing environments, overcome adversity, and display flexibility to perform safe patient-centered care. Performance requirements are the basic activities a student must complete independently. Students will be assessed in the classroom, skills lab, and clinical sites. Students must demonstrate the functional abilities required from the program's entrance throughout completion.

1. Intellectual Requirements: Critical thinking is an integral part of clinical judgment needed to provide safe patient care. Students will be responsible for reading, writing, measuring, calculating, understanding logic and reasoning, analyzing information through the application process demonstrated in the classroom and clinical settings.
2. Observational skills: Students must be able to observe patient's signs and symptoms of disease and responses to treatment to include but, not limited to visual acuity, auditory/auscultation (heart, bowel, respiratory, and lung sounds), olfaction (odors), and tactition (touch/palpation of body regions).
3. Psychomotor skills: Students must be able to demonstrate both gross and fine motor movements when providing general nursing care to the patient. These may include but, not limited to preparing and administering medications, comprehensive health assessments, assisting with ambulation or transfers, providing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) measures in a life-threatening emergency.
4. Communication Requirements: Students must be able to display effective verbal or nonverbal communication with the patient, family members, and members of the healthcare team in a timely manner. These may include face-to-face conversations, presentations, reading, writing, posture, clothing, and facial expressions.
5. Emotional and Behavioral Requirements: Students are expected to exercise good judgment and function effectively under tension to complete tasks in a physically and emotionally demanding dynamic environment. Students are expected to demonstrate compassion, empathy, and concern for others while developing effective relationships with the patient, family, and healthcare team. 

• Castle Branch

Create a CastleBranch (CB) account and the student will be responsible for any associated fees. This CB compliance account will manage and organize your required drug screening, health/immunization records, and other applicable documents for admission.

• Drug Screen

Students must provide proof of a negative drug screen to be enrolled in the program.

• Criminal Background Check

Provide documentation of negative criminal background check (CBC). The nursing program will submit the New/Accepted student roster to the Texas BON. Students will receive an email from Morphotrust/Identogo with their UE ID number and instructions for scheduling an appointment.

Applicants whose CBC comes back clear will receive a blue card within fifteen (15) business days and must upload the results to their Castle Branch account. Upon receipt of the blue card, the offer of admission will be considered final once all admission requirements have been met. Applicants whose CBC has not been cleared will be notified by the Texas BON and asked to submit a Petition for a “Declaratory Order (DO)” for formal disclosure on any eligibility issues.

The applicant will not be admitted into the Nursing Program if CBC has not been cleared in compliance with the Texas BON and affiliated clinical agency requirements. The applicant may reapply at the next application period when a background check has been cleared by the Texas BON.

Frequently asked questions regarding background checks may be found at the Texas BON website. https://www.bon.texas.gov/faq_new_and_accept_student_STUDENT2.asp.html

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) card

Submit a current CPR card by the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) for Healthcare Providers. Students must provide a signed copy (front and back) of the card by the start of the first-class date. Certification must be renewed every 2 years. The card must not expire before the end of the first semester of the nursing program.

• Personal healthcare insurance coverage

All nursing students must provide proof of health/medical insurance such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Spouse/Parent/Employer Coverage/Insurance.

• Copy of photo identification

Copy of current driver’s license, state identification, social security card for verification purposes with signature (required by some clinical affiliated agencies and state licensing board).

• Immunization Documentation

The applicant must submit up-to-date immunizations to complete the enrollment process as required by the Department of Health Services for all students enrolled in health-related higher education courses which will involve direct patient contact with potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids in educational, medical, or dental care facilities Health Services, 25 Texas Administrative Code Rule 97.64. Students must have all the following vaccinations before they may engage in the course activities.

**Students who are unable to receive an immunization must obtain a written statement from their provider, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant documenting the reason. Students must be aware they may not be able to attend clinical sites based on the site's rules and regulations and this may affect their enrollment status in the program.

• NLC in Nursing student identification card