Covenant School of Nursing Program Review
The Covenant School of Nursing (CSN, CSON) was founded in 1918 as the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. Covenant has graduated over 3700 students in the past 90+ years, and is the oldest nursing school in the South Plains area of Texas.
The School of Nursing is affiliated with Covenant Health System, a comprehensive health organization serving West Texas and East New Mexico, an area covering 62 counties with a population of 1.2 million.
Students at Covenant have the opportunity to join the Texas Nursing Students Association (TNSA) and the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) while attending school. Both of these organizations foster networking and mentoring in the field of nursing, and provide aimed at improving health care in the state and the nation.
Nursing Programs
Pre-Nursing Status
Before students may enter the diploma program at the School of Nursing, they must complete prerequisite classes at an accredited university or college. These courses are English I and II, or English I and either Speech or Spanish, Chemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Introduction to Psychology, Nutrition, US History I, Microbiology, Human Growth and Development, US Government, and an Elective.
Students must earn at least a C grade in each of these classes, and their GPA must be at least 2.5.
Diploma Program
Applicants to the nursing program must take the TEAS pre-entrance exam, and submit an application with an autobiography, official transcript from high school or equivalent, official college transcripts, entrance exam scores, and five references. Students may have to have an interview with the nursing careers counselor.
Applicants are admitted into the program starting in January and in August. If they aren’t selected, they will be placed on an alternate list.
The diploma program takes 76 weeks to finish. Upon successful completion of the program, students will earn a Diploma in Nursing and be allowed to take the Registered Nurse (RN) licensing exam (NCLEX).
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) to RN Advanced Credit Program
This program is for LVNs who wish to earn their Diploma in Nursing and become licensed RNs. Depending on their ATI testing scores, students may have their curriculum shortened from 76 weeks to 38 to 57 weeks. Students with a prior GPA of less than 3.0 will be required to complete at least 57 weeks, regardless of their ATI score.
Students interested in this program will need to meet the requirements for the Diploma program, including the pre-entrance testing and prerequisite courses required. Students must also have graduated from an accredited LVN program and be currently licensed. If they graduated within the last two years, there is no work experience required. Otherwise, they must have at least one year of LVN work experience within the last three to five years.
Transfer Students
Students wishing to transfer into the Covenant Nursing Program must meet the same requirements as for the Diploma program. They also need a letter from their old school stating they were in good standing, as well as documentation of the courses they have taken.
Transfer students are required to complete one semester of classes at Covenant before their prior nursing courses are transferred, and they must complete at least 38 weeks of the program in order to be eligible for the Diploma.
Partnership with Lubbock Christian University (LCU)
Graduates of Covenant’s diploma program are able to take advantage of a streamlined transfer process to LCU, where they may earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Students must first pass the NCLEX and become employed as a nurse to enter the program. They must also have taken Stats, Genetics, Bible, and Intro to BSN in a summer semester during their diploma program.
Generally, students will start at LCU within three months of graduating from Covenant. Once they enter LCU, they will take two semesters of courses designed to fit into a working nurse’s schedule. Students that complete these courses will earn their BSN degree.
Shadowing
Anyone who thinks they may be interested in a career in nursing, but isn’t certain, may make arrangements to shadow a nurse at Covenant Health System. This opportunity to observe a real patient care setting is designed to help in the decision-making process for adults and high school students.
Other Healthcare Related Programs
In addition to the School of Nursing, Covenant also has a School of Radiology and a School of Surgical Technology. The Covenant Medical Library is also available to nursing students, as well as physicians, nurses, and staff.
Contact:
Covenant School of Nursing
Covenant Health Systems,
2002 W. Loop 289 Suite 120,
Lubbock, Texas 79407-1704
