South Plains College Nursing Program Review

South Plains College (SPC) has over 9,000 full-time students and over 5,000 students enrolled in non-credit continuing education or workforce development programs per year. South Plains College is comprised of four campuses serving a 15-county area in West Texas. Most people refer to South Plains College as Levelland, but the campuses include Levelland, SPC Reese Center, Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, and SPS Plainview Extension Center. Byron Martin and Plainview offer distance learning via TV and the Internet.

South Plains College has two nursing programs; Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), and Vocational Nursing.

Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)

The Associate Degree in nursing is a two-year program, which consists of 71 credits. Upon graduation, students will have received the Associate of Applied Science degree and can then take the State Board Exam for Registered Nurse Licensure (NCLEX-RN). In order to apply for the Associate Degree Nursing program applicants must take the Nursing Entrance Test (TEAS) and score a 58.7% on the Reading portion and the Math portion, in order to be excused from the Nursing Math Class. Students must then submit an official transcript from his or her previous high school and/or colleges and include TEAS test results. All science courses must have been completed within the last 10 years and have to submit a criminal background check. Deadline for application is September for Spring 2012 admission and March for Fall 2012 admission.

Vocational Nursing Program

The Vocational Nursing Program at South Plains College is taught at the Levelland Campus, the South Plains college Reese Center and the Plainview Extension Center. Students can also learning via distance learning at Muleshoe Campus and Denver City Campus, and an instructor is on site to help develop skills. Students of the Vocational Nursing Program learn through clinical experience at health care facilities in the area. The curriculum is 12 months long and students must obtain a minimum “C” grade in all coursework. The graduate can then write the State Board Licensure exam.

Entrance requirements for the LVN program require students to complete the LVN Accuplacer entrance exam. Students are not allowed to take the THEA, ASSET or COMPASS tests to apply for the Vocational Nursing Program. Students must first apply to South Plains College, and then after he or she has completed the test, college transcripts must be submitted. In order to apply, students must also submit immunization records, CPR certification and a criminal background check.

Levelland Campus Licensed Vocational Nurse to Registered Nurse (LVN to RN) Transition Program

If students have previous nursing education and hold a Licensed Vocational Nursing certificate, they will be able to apply for advance placement and transition from Licensed Vocational Nurse to Registered Nurse through the LVN-RN Transition program offered at South Plains College’s Levelland campus. Registered Nurses work in various healthcare environments including; hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, physicians’ offices, schools and many more. All of the nursing programs at South Plains College are conducted with a combination of in-class lectures, laboratory work and clinical practice in healthcare environments.

Contact:
South Plains College
1401 S. College Avenue,
Levelland, TX 79336,
Phone: (806) 894-9611