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1. Does Galveston College Nursing Programs have more than one program start a year?

No, our programs only begin once every Summer semester (VN and Transition) and Fall semester (ADN). We do not have a Spring semester start.

2. What semester does the ADN/VN/Transition Program start?

The VN and Transition program begins in the Summer Semester (June). The ADN program begins in the Fall Semester (August).

3. When can I apply to the ADN/VN/Transition Program?

You may apply during the application period which is from January 6th to March 14th for the 2025-2026 school year. It is advised to start this process early.

4. What all is required to turn in an application for the Nursing Program?

• Applied for General Admission to Galveston College for the semester/year your program begins in or be a currently accepted student.
• Current Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider Level CPR card from the American Heart Association.
• Proof that the student has started their Hepatitis B immunization series
• Current TEAS scores (within 1 year of application date).
• Current official transcripts (from all schools) turned into Admissions Department. Unofficial transcripts are required with Nursing application.
• Meets required overall GPA and pre-requisite GPA for the program you are applying for.
• Enrolled or completed all pre-requisite courses for your chosen program.

5. Can I turn in an application after the date of the deadline?Applicants who turn in an application after the deadline will be reviewed on a case by case basis and will be marked “LATE”. Late applications will only be considered AFTER all on-time applications have been reviewed.

6. How does Galveston College decide acceptance into the Nursing Programs?

Students must first meet Galveston College general acceptance requirements. Students must then meet the ADN, Transition or VN Program requirements. Once the program requirements are met, acceptance is based on meeting the required GPA and TEAS scores, and is based on a point scale. Not all applicants will gain acceptance into the Nursing Programs as they are highly competitive.

7. Can I be accepted into the program with just the pre-requisite courses?

It is recommended that all non-nursing courses be complete or in progress to allow the students to concentrate on nursing course work.

8. How many students do you accept?

Generally, we accept about up to 60 ADN students, up to 20 VN students, and up to 16 Transition students.

9. Can I be enrolled in pre-requisite courses and still turn in an application?

Yes. You would be placed on a wait list until your final pre-requisite course grade has posted.

10. Is there a required GPA for acceptance into the Nursing programs?

Yes. For ADN you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all courses included in the ADN program curriculum (same for transition students). For VN you must have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 for all courses included in the VN program Curriculum.

11. What is the required entrance exam for the Nursing programs?

We require the ATI TEAS Test for the ADN and VN programs.Please see the www.atitesting.com site for more information.

12. When will I know the decision of my acceptance into the Nursing Program?

We have two rounds of acceptance letters. The first round will be sent no later than April 30^th. The second and final acceptance letter is sent out right after Spring grades have been posted in May. Students who receive waitlist letters during the first round will get a final decision (acceptance or non-acceptance) during the second series of letters.

13. Can I transfer pre-requisite or nursing courses from another college/university?

Varies case by case. Your previous college/university must be accredited by one of the following regional accrediting commissions:

• EH – New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of
  Higher Education
• M – Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
• NH – Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association
• NW – Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• SC – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
• WC – Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior
  Colleges and Universities
• WJ – Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for
  Community and Junior Colleges

If your school is not accredited by one of the commissions listed above, the credit will not be accepted at Galveston College. It will be determined first by the Admission’s Department whether courses will transfer. Other course acceptance may be decided by the Director of Nursing or the Nursing Admission and Progression Committee.

14. Can I transfer into Galveston College’s Nursing Program if I failed out of my current Nursing Program?

Students who fail any RNSG course with an attached clinical course at another college, and wish to transfer to a nursing program at Galveston College must apply for admission to the college and program. Acceptance to the program will be on a space available bases after meeting the criteria for admission. Students with a total of two failures in nursing courses may apply following a period of two (2) years. Transfer students must start at the original point of entry (1st semester or transition), if they apply after one year of failing at another institution. Transcripts may not reflect more than one “D” or “F” in any nursing course from another college or university.

15. Do any courses expire after a certain amount of time?

Yes. All science courses and the math requirement must be within 5 years of starting the program. Health Assessment and Pharmacology must be within 24 months of starting the program.

16. If I have a criminal background or something on my permanent record, can I be accepted into the Nursing Programs?

The Board of Nursing (BON) requires that the licensure eligibility for an applicant be determined prior to enrolling in a nursing program. An initial screening is done with Castle Branch. Next, once you apply to the program, the nursing program is required to send your name and social security number on a roster of new potential students to the BON. You will then receive an email and instructions from IdentoGO to schedule a fingerprint appointment. Based on the results of your criminal background check, the BON will notify you if you must submit a Declaratory Order to determine your eligibility to take the Licensure exam.

17. What is a Declaratory Order (DO)?

A petition for Declaratory Order is a formal disclosure to the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) of an outstanding eligibility issue that may prevent an applicant from taking the NCLEX Examination upon completion of a nursing program. The Declaratory Order process permits the Board to make decisions regarding a petitioner’s eligibility for licensure prior to entering or completing a nursing program.

18. When is a Declaratory Order with the Texas Board of Nursing necessary?

If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you must receive a Letter of Clearance from the Texas Board of Nursing before you can begin the Nursing Program.

• Been convicted of a misdemeanor?
• Been convicted of a felony?
• Pled nolo contendere, no contest, or guilty?
• Received deferred adjudication?
• Been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty?
• Been sentenced to serve jail or prison time? Court-ordered confinement?
• Been granted pre-trial diversion?
• Been arrested or have any pending criminal charges?
• Been cited or charged with any violation of the law?
• Been subject of a court-martial; Article 15 violation; or received any form of military judgment/punishment/action?
• Are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury or governmental agency
  investigation?
• Has ANY licensing authority refused to issue a license or ever revoked, annulled,canceled? Accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a license, certificate, or multi-state privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined you?
• Within the past five (5) years have you been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug?
• Within the past five (5) years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia, and/or psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder?

19. Is a Declaratory Order (DO) clearance letter required to turn in an application?

No. We accept applications as long as you can provide proof that your DO is in progress. You can do this by providing a copy of a Certified Mail receipt from the post office, Return Receipt showing a signature from someone at the Board that your DO has been received, or any correspondence between you and the Board by email.

20. How long will it take to receive my Declaratory Order Letter of Clearance once I have sent in my information to the Texas Board of Nursing? 

It can take several months to receive your letter.

21. Can the Galveston College Nursing Program help me to fill out/complete my Declaratory Order form?

No. The Nursing Program has no hand in the application or clearance of any Declaratory Order required by any student. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the form fully and correctly. If you have questions on how to do this, please contact the Texas Board of Nursing at:
512-305-7400 or at [email protected].

22. What is the approximate cost of the ADN/VN/Transition program?

In District (Galveston Island resident for at least 1 year) the prices are as of Fall 2016.
ADN $11,700
VN $7,650
Transition $10,400
Out of District (Texas resident for at least 1 year) prices are as of Fall 2016.
ADN $13,000
VN $8,650
Transition $11,400
*Cost includes: tuition, course fees, books, general supplies, nursing supplies and uniforms. All courses including pre-requisites. Please be aware the costs for the Nursing Programs are subject to change at any time.

23. After I am accepted into the Nursing Program when can I get immunizations from UTMB Student Health?

Students may receive immunizations or treatment at UTMB Student Health after the first day of class for the semester they are starting (Fall, Spring or Summer).

24. What is Galveston College’s pass rate for the ADN/VN program?

You can go to the Texas Board of Nursing web page at www.bon.texas.gov, type in the search box “Program Pass Rate,” you will see a link titled: “NCLEX – VN/PN Pass Rates for the Last 5 Years by Program” or “NCLEX – RN Pass Rates of Last 5 years by Program”. You can compare all local Nursing Programs in this link.

25. What is special about Galveston College’s Nursing Programs compared to others in Texas?

The relationship with the faculty. We have a small student to teacher ratio at Galveston College which allows faculty and students to build strong relationships.

The outstanding faculty and staff provide an excellent environment for learning the Arts & Science components of nursing. The faculty and staff are ready to help students meet their educational needs and expand their education in the future. The Department of Nursing partners with many excellent healthcare institutions and clinical sites to provide students resources to practice the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom and simulation laboratory.

Galveston College has a student-centered learning environment dedicated to helping develop professional nurses to serve their communities through educational programs in which students learn to provide high-quality healthcare. As a Galveston College nursing student you will be challenged to strive for excellence and professionalism in many diverse settings, both in theory and clinical courses.

• Vocational Nursing
• Associate Degree Nursing
• EMT-P to RN Transition
• LVN to RN Transition

See the most recent college catalog for additional information and course descriptions.

MISSION STATEMENT

In keeping with the mission of Galveston College, the Nursing Programs will provide a collaborative educational environment of the highest standards to prepare graduates committed to excellence in nursing practice in evolving health care settings serving local and global communities.

VISION STATEMENT

Graduates of the Galveston College Department of Nursing will provide excellence in compassionate, patient/client centered nursing care. Graduates will be lifelong learners while providing care locally, nationally, and globally.

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

We believe the purpose of the Nursing Department is to offer Nursing degree programs and certificates which combine professional and liberal arts education within the framework of the college.

The nursing curriculum is based on the belief that humankind has dignity and worth. Individuals have the ability to plan, invent, discover, and direct their own lives. They relate through physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual development. This includes the acquisition of values and beliefs which influence their decisions.

We believe the Nursing Department at Galveston College is an integral part of the college community and as such we are actively involved in meeting the needs of the local community. As nursing educators, we are in partnership with students during their enrollment in the Galveston College Associate Degree Nursing Program. This partnership is a vital link in the educational process. Students and faculty share the responsibility for identifying learning agendas.

As faculty the goal is to empower students to learn and to pursue lifelong learning throughout their nursing careers. We believe that adult learners in the community college setting bring a variety of life experiences to the classroom and the clinical areas. Students need to build on these life experiences to fully develop their nursing potential. We believe that students need to be involved in making educational choices and selecting options to best meet their needs. Our role as faculty is to facilitate the transition from empowered student to life-long learning professionals.

We believe nurses are actively involved in decision-making and coordinating care with the client and health care team. To this end, we believe the clinical reasoning skills of students must be finely cultivated throughout the educational process at Galveston College. As graduates they will become competent practitioners able to make knowledgeable decisions based on moral and ethical reasoning, and evidence-based research and be accountable for their practice in accordance with the Nursing Practice Act. As graduates they will be prepared to meet health care needs by providing direct client care in acute care and community settings. We believe that the nursing process is the basis for decision making and actively incorporate this concept into all nursing courses.

We believe the cornerstone to quality nursing education and the profession of nursing is caring. Nursing is rooted in caring, which has been described as “human acts and processes that provide assistance to another individual in order to meet an expressed, obvious or anticipated need” (Leininger, 1985, p.209). Caring requires that the nurse give presence and attention to the client. In caring situations, decisions “are made with rather than for the client.” (Leininger, 1992, p.32). Nurses are presented with complex situations which require the ability to negotiate “between alternative points of view, contradictory lines of reasoning, and realities of situational contingencies.” (Jones & Brown, 1991, p.532). In order to effectively provide caring, the nurse must be able to proficiently critically think. Nurses provide care in varied settings with diverse clients. We as educators care about students; we as nurses care about clients; we as faculty care about fellow colleagues; and, we as members of society care about the global community. We believe that nursing involves caring for clients from diverse demographic, socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We foster this caring attitude in classrooms, clinical practice, and in community involvement. We are committed to the ideal of caring nursing professionals who demonstrate this attitude towards themselves, peers, clients, and the community. We acknowledge that caring involves developing a sense of self-esteem in students. Enhanced self-esteem will foster self-caring attitudes. To this end we incorporate a caring philosophy into all courses in the nursing curriculum.

Communication is an essential element of nursing practice. Only through flexibility and open dialogue can faculty and students stay attuned to changing needs in partnerships and work to achieve client centered goals. As members of the health care team, the graduate must effectively collect and disseminate information pertinent to the client and the health care team.

We realize that nursing, nursing education, and health care is evolving. Nursing education can function as the catalyst for change in the profession and health care delivery system. We must focus students on the caring commitment of the nurse to the client, to the community, and to the profession to which they will become members.

See the most recent college catalog for additional information and course descriptions. For more information and degree plans, please contact us at (409) 944-1396 

The Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) Graduate

Upon graduation, the new graduate is prepared as a safe, beginning nurse generalist. Therefore, the ADN graduate will:

 

SLO #1. Provide safe, quality, evidence-based patient centered care in a variety of health care settings to diverse patients across the lifespan.

 

SLO #2. Employ the Nursing Process using critical thinking and clinical reasoning to manage patient care within a culture of caring.

 

SLO #3. Participate in collaborative relationships with members of the inter-professional team, the patient and the patient’s support persons.

 

SLO #4 Implement fiscally responsible quality and regulatory measures to improve patient care.

 

SLO #5 Use information technology and patient care technology to assess, communicate, educate, mitigate error and support decision-making.

 

SLO #6 Assimilate professional, legal and ethical guidelines in practice as a licensed professional nurse.

First-time Licensure Examination Pass Rate (NCLEX-RN)

Program Completion Rate

Graduate Job Placement (within one year of graduation)

ONLY ADN ACCREDITING BY:                                                                                           ACEN—Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3343 Peachtree Road NE Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000
Fax: (404) 975-5020
Website: www.acenursing.org

ADN & VN APPROVED BY:
The Texas Board of Nursing
333 Guadalupe Suite 3-460
Austin, Texas 78071-3944
Phone: (512) 305-7400
Website: www.bon.texas.gov