Odessa College Nursing Program Review

Odessa College (OC) was founded in 1946 and offers 45 associate degree programs and 70 certificate options to 6,000 students. Classes are available at Odessa College’s main campus in Odessa, as well as Pecos, Andres and Monahans. Students can also take classes online through OC Global. Odessa College also offers university parallel courses for students interested in completing four-year degrees at universities.

Odessa College offers an Associate Degree Nursing program, and a Vocational Nursing program.

Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN)

At Odessa College’s Associate Degree Nursing Program, the college believes that the client is the central point of the nursing profession. The faculty train students to work with individuals and families and treat patients with dignity and respect.

The Associate Degree Nursing program at Odessa College is based on the client, the environment, caring, nursing, nursing education and health. The course teaches the nurse to work as a Provider of Care, Coordinator of Care, and Member of a Profession.

The curriculum at Odessa College’s Associate Degree in Nursing program allows graduates to work under the supervision of healthcare providers and after successfully completing the NCLEX-RN licensing examination, the graduate then becomes a Registered Nurse. There are two track options in the ADN program. Both tracks require students to complete non-nursing requirements, however, generic students who are not licensed as a licensed vocational nurse.

Odessa College also offers a transition option for the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).

Applicants must apply to the program through the Odessa College admissions department by downloading the link or going to the college’s admissions office. The admission deadline is May 20 for fall admission and September 20 for spring admission. The application deadline for transition students is May 1. Applicants are accepted based on their GPA and five prerequisite courses, as well as their score on the nursing entrance exam. Applicants must be high school graduates and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants must also provide proof of immunizations, a CPR certificate and proof of health and accident insurance. In order to graduate, students must pass all coursework with a “C” grade.

The Nursing Curriculum requires students to take several non-nursing courses prior to admission. Two pre-requisite nursing courses are Pharmacology and Health Assessment and students have to have passed Biology prior to taking these courses.

Students must also pass a criminal background check and drug testing check after being admitted into the nursing program.

The Texas Board of Nursing approves all candidates for licensure.

Graduates of Odessa College’s ADN program must write an EXIT exam required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Graduates of the nursing program, who become Licensed Vocational Nurses, can work in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, home health care nurses, rehabilitation hospitals, mental health hospitals and hospice care.

After completing an associate degree in nursing, students can go on to complete a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) at university to obtain an RN or BSN degree. Nurses can also earn master’s degrees as well as doctorate degrees.

Contact:
Odessa College
201 W. University
Odessa, TX 79764
432-335-6400