Howard College Nursing Program Review

Howard College (HC) educated its first students in 1946 in what had been the hospital of the former Army Air Force Bombardier School in Big Spring. A few years later the college was moved to its current location in the southeast part of town.

The college currently has four campuses, including the main one in Big Springs, Lamesa, San Angelo, and the Southwest College Institute for the Deaf (SWCID). HC also offers classes for incarcerated students in facilities provided by the Big Springs Federal Correctional Institution and the Eden Detention Center. HC serves 13 counties in West Texas, an area covering 13,000 square miles, and enrolls over 4000 students each semester.

Nursing Programs

Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) – Registered Nurse (RN)

This is a two year program designed to train beginning nurses to care for patients. Students who successfully complete this program will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree, and will be eligible to take the RN licensing exam and become a professional nurse. This program is only offered at the Big Spring campus. During the second year of this program, students will take their lecture classes online.

To be able to apply for this program, students must be admitted to the college, complete the prerequisite courses with a grade of at least a C, submit a copy of their Certified Nurse’s Aide (CNA) certificate or transcript, take the TEAS V entrance exam, have a background check, and be up to date on immunizations.

The prerequisites for this program are taking the CNA course, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Freshman Composition I, and Microbiology. Students will also need to take Business Computer Applications before they may begin their online courses during their second year.

Students may also take the general education courses required for the degree prior to entering the ADN program.

Admission to this program is competitive. Students will be assigned points based on their grades in the prerequisite courses, their TEAS scores, and be ranked based on their total points.

HC has articulation agreements with two West Texas universities. After graduation, students may choose to transfer to one of them and continue their nursing education.

Accelerated (Transition) ADN Program

This is a 12 month program for those who have gone through the vocational nursing program, and who want to become RNs. This program is only offered at the Big Spring campus. Students are admitted to this program in the Summer I semester. All of the lecture courses for this program are taken online.

To apply to the program, students will need to be admitted to the college, show an official transcript showing grades of C or better for all prerequisites, provide their transcripts from their vocational nursing education, take the TEAS V exam, have a background check, and have up to date immunizations.

The prerequisites for this program are Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Nutrition, Lifespan/Growth and Development, and Business Computer Applications.

Vocational Nursing

This is a 12 month program that prepares students to provide care to patients under the supervision of an RN or physician. This program is offered at the Big Spring and San Angelo campuses. Students that finish this program will receive a Certificate of Vocational Nursing, and will be allowed to take the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) state exam.

To be able to apply to the program, students must be admitted to the college, take the pre-THEA reading exam, take the prerequisite classes with a C grade or better, take the PSB Aptitude Exam for Practical Nursing, show proof of immunizations, and have a background check.

The prerequisites for this program are to be a licensed CNA, and take Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Nutrition, and Lifespan/Growth and Development. It is also recommended that students take Microbiology prior to starting the program, due to potential scheduling conflicts.

Certified Nurse Aide

Completion of this program is required before students may apply to the ADN or vocational nursing programs.

Students applying to this program must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English. They must also have a background check, a social security card, driver’s license, and shot records showing current immunizations.

This course is 90 hours, and may be taken in the daytime or in the evenings. Classes are offered at the Big Spring campus.

Contact:
Howard College
1001 Birdwell Lane,
Big Spring, TX 79720