Tarleton State University Nursing School Review

Tarleton State University (TSU) was established in 1899 as a private college and previously known as John Tarleton College. In 1917, Tarleton College became part of the Texas A&M University System and then in 1959 the school began offering four-year degrees. In 1973, Trenton College became a university. Trenton University’s main campus is in Stephenville, Texas – an hour from Forth Worth.

Nursing Programs

The Tarleton State University nursing program was established in 1976 and has graduated over 1,250 students. Tarleton University offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN), which allows graduates to apply to write the NCLEX-RN exam and become a registered nurse. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing also offers a transition course for students interested in entering the BSN program as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). The BSN program also allows students to work 12-hour shifts consecutively before graduation, so that they are familiar with nursing hours and schedules. The BSN degree also allows students to enter from a Generic point, rather than as an already trained Licensed Vocational Nurse. Registered Nurses work in a variety of healthcare organizations, including; hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices, nursing homes and many more various healthcare institutions.

All nursing courses must be taken one after the other. It takes five semesters for the generic student to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and six semesters if an individual needs to take the pre-nursing course. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program takes a Licensed Vocational Nurse four semesters to complete.Generic students are required to complete 46 hours of credits before he or she can apply to the BSN program. LVN to BSN students must have completed a majority of the pre-requisite non-nursing courses before he or she can apply.

The School of Nursing offers hands-on patient experience under faculty direction in the second year of the program at hospitals, physician offices, and clinics in the neighboring areas and often quite a long commute is expected. The BSN program is composed of a combination of in-class lectures, laboratory work and clinical practice, giving students a complete understanding of the profession of nursing.

Admission for BSN Program and LVN to BSN Program

Tarleton University’s School of Nursing uses a points based system to admit applicants. Individuals applying to the School of Nursing must submit application materials and a TEAS score, and then their number of points will rank them in order.Students must apply between December 1st to March 1st for the Fall semester and between June 1st and September 1st for the Spring semester.

Other admission requirements include over a 2.75 GPA in pre-requisite English and Science courses and an above average TEAS score. Students must also have a minimum of a “C” grade on all prerequisite courses, prior to application. Applicants must also submit to a criminal background check by the Texas Board of Nursing.

The School of Nursing accepts 60 generic students each Fall and Spring semester and 20 LVN to BSN students in the Fall semester. As of 2009, Tarleton University’s nursing school no longer accepts RN to BSN students.

Contact:
Tarleton University
1333 W. Washington
Stephenville, TX 76402