NCLEX Pass Rates
2021 – 90%
2022 – 76.19 %
2023 – no testers

The Texas Southmost College Associate Degree Nursing Program received Full Approval from the Texas Board of Nursing on April 21, 2022.
Texas Board of Nursing
1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200
Austin, TX 75701
Phone: (512) 305-7400
Fax: (512) 305-7401

Differentiated Essential Competencies (DECs)
The TSC Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program prepares graduates to demonstrate the Differentiated Essential Competencies of Graduates of Texas Nursing Programs Evidenced by Knowledge, Clinical Judgements, and Behaviors (DECs). In nursing education, the DECs serve as guidelines and tools for curriculum development and revision, program benchmarking and evaluation, and statewide standards to ensure graduates will enter the practice as competent nurses. The DECs are incorporated into every course in the ADN program to ensure uniformity and continuity of the standards.

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program has established its admissions policies in accordance with institutional policy, the Texas Board of Nursing Minimum Standard, and program-based policies. Admission into the ADN Program is selective and screened through a selection process. Applications will only be considered if the application and all required materials are received by the application deadline. Students should consult the TSC webpage or the Nursing Department for application deadlines for each semester.

Application deadlines will be strictly adhered to:

Fall Admission – May 25th
Spring Admission – September 1st
Summer Admission (LVN to RN) – January 15th

Candidates for admission are required to:

1. Apply to TSC and meet the general TSC admission requirements (available in the TSC Office of the registrar). TSC Enrollment Checklist
2. Complete TEAS 7 entrance exam.  The TEAS 7 entrance exam is a standardized exam to assess skill level in Reading, Math, Science, and Language.
3. Testing is conducted on set dates. TEAS 7 exams may be taken twice per calendar year. If repeating the TEAS entrance exams, a 30-day window is required between exams
4. Students are admitted to the TSC ADN program on provisional status, pending completion of a physical exam, immunizations, and Texas BON fingerprinting/Background check.

Admission requirements include:

1. On the TEAS entrance exam, students must achieve a minimum of 60 on the overall Composite score, and a minimum of 60 on the following individual sections: Reading, Math, and Science. Students must achieve a minimum of 50 on the English & Language Use section.
2. TEAS entrance requirement must have been completed within 12 months of the application deadline
3. Overall GPA of 2.5 from all completed college courses applicable to the nursing degree plan.  Only grades of “C” or higher are accepted.
4. Completed application to the Associate Degree Nursing Program in its entirety. An application must be submitted for each application cycle. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be on file in the Admission and Records Office and the nursing office office
5. Completion of pre-requisites BIOL 2301, BIOL 2012, MATH 1342, BIOL 2302, BIOL 2012 with a “C” or better.
6. LVN applicants for applying for the LVN to RN cohort must turn in their LVN license and proof of current employment in direct patient care.
7. Complete Essential Physical Competency form.

 

Please refer to the TSC ADN Admission Checklist and include it with your completed application.

Applicants are notified of program acceptance decisions by email. Requirements after acceptance into the TSC ADN program are:

1. Submit a document received from the Texas Board of Nursing indicating clearance following their background check (i.e., blue card or outcome letter)
2. Mandatory attendance to the Nursing Department Bootcamp orientation at the scheduled day and time (this information is provided in the acceptance letter)
3. Submit proof of required immunizations, PPD (TB) test or chest x-ray (if the history of positive TB skin test), Pre-entrance Medical Form, current CPR for Health Care Providers (American Red Cross or American Heart Association). See the Immunization Record in the application. If immunizations cannot be completed by the enrollment date, students will need to re-apply for the following admission cycle (Hepatitis B takes six months to complete the series)
4. Consent to both the Castle Branch background check and the Texas Board of Nursing criminal background check, which must be completed prior to admission
5. Consent to a drug test at a time determined by the Program Director
6. Provide a copy of health insurance prior to clinical rotations (these documents will be uploaded in Castle Branch following the mandatory orientation)

*All documents submitted become the property of the College upon receipt. All information contained in the application is to be true and correct. Any misrepresentation of the facts will make the applicant ineligible for admission.

Effective September 1, 2017, HB 1508, 85th Leg., R.S. (2017), amended Chapter 53 of the Texas Occupations Code to add Subchapter E relating to notice to applicants to and enrollees in certain educational programs regarding the consequences of a criminal conviction on eligibility for an occupational license.

Pursuant to Chapter 53, Subchapter E, of the Texas Occupations Code, please be advised that Texas Southmost College offers programs that lead to an occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001. Licensing authorities may have guidelines concerning prior criminal convictions that would make an individual ineligible for the issuance of a given license. If you are enrolled in a program that may prepare an individual for an occupational license and/or if you later decide to change to a program that prepares you for an occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001, in accordance with state law, please be advised of the following:

1. An individual who has been convicted of an offense may be ineligible for issuance of an occupational license upon completion of the educational program;
2. Each licensing authority that may issue an occupational license to an individual who completes an educational program must establish guidelines that state the reasons a particular crime is considered to relate to a particular license and any other criterion that affects the decisions of the licensing authority.
3. Local or county licensing authorities may issue additional guidelines related to criminal history. Applicants should contact their respective local or county licensing authority for more details.
4. A person may request a criminal history evaluation letter regarding personal eligibility for a license issued by a licensing authority under Texas Occupations Code 53.102.

Note that the provisions of Chapter 53 of the Texas Occupations Code relating to the consequences of criminal conviction do not apply to licenses granted by the Supreme Court of Texas, law enforcement officers (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1701), emergency medical services personnel (Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 773), or persons licensed by the Texas Medical Board, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Dental Examiners, or the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners that have been convicted of a felony under Chapter 481 or 483 or Section 485.003 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. If you are seeking one of these licenses, please be aware that other law provisions may apply to the consequences of a criminal conviction.

All applicants to and enrollees of Texas Southmost College are encouraged to review all applicable eligibility requirements for the respective occupational license. Questions related to eligibility requirements should be directed to the applicable licensing authority.

All students applying for the Associate Degree Nursing or Vocational Nursing Program must take and meet the minimum requirements of the ATI TEAS 7 entrance exam. If applying for the ADN program, students should not take the entrance exam packet until the prerequisites are complete and you are ready to apply to the program. Vocational Nursing Applicants may schedule their entrance exam at any time.To register for the ATI TEAS exam, students must call the Testing Center at 956-295-3660 to get information. Seating is limited on scheduled ATI TEAS exam days. The cost for both the ATI TEAS is $75. The Admission Assessment Exams may be taken twice during the calendar year; however, there is a 30-day waiting period between exams.

Results from the Admission Assessment Exams can be obtained in your student ATI account.

Examinees must report to the computer lab assigned on their scheduled test date. There are no refunds for a missed appointment.

Students MUST bring their TSC student ID card and one other form of ID to be admitted to the testing area for the Admission Assessment Exams.

The most recent TEAS scores will be recorded in the entrance grid. If a student repeats the TEAS exam, the entire TEAS admission exam must be repeated.

The ATI TEAS entrance exam is designed to assess prospective nursing students’ academic and personal readiness. Entrance into the Nursing program will rank students based on their Reading, Math, Science, and English & Language use, as well as the overall exam score.

The ATI TEAS 7 exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions (20 items are unscored) and is to be completed in 209 minutes or 3.5 hours. The Reading section contains 45 questions in 55 minutes, Mathematics contains 38 questions in 57 minutes, Science contains 50 questions in 60 minutes, and the English & Language Usage contains 37 questions in 37 minutes. Students must complete each section of the ATI TEAS exam and reach the program’s entrance benchmarks to be considered for entrance. Please see the Admission Requirements tab to review the program’s required benchmark scoring

Acceptance into the nursing program is provisional based on the Texas Board of Nursing FBI criminal background check. Upon acceptance into the ADN nursing program, students will be instructed to complete the FAST pass process to obtain fingerprints, Texas DPS, and the FBI background check process. Students must follow the eligibility guidelines set by the Board of Nursing. Please review the “Eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN Examination” in the information packet to answer these questions. You must provide a written explanation if you answer “yes” to any of the following questions.

1. Have you ever had any disciplinary action on a nursing license or a privilege to practice in any state, country, or province?
2. Do you have an investigation or complaint pending on a nursing license or a privilege to practice in any state, country, or province?
3. Have you, in the last five years*, been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug?
4. For any criminal offense*, including those pending appeal, have you Been arrested and have a pending criminal charge? Been convicted of a misdemeanor? Been convicted of a felony? Pled nolo contendre, no contest, or guilty? Received deferred adjudication? Been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty? Been sentenced to serve jail, prison time, or court-ordered confinement? Been granted pre-trial diversion? Been cited or charged with any violation of the law? Been subject to a court-martial, Article 15 violation, or received any form of military judgment/punishment/action? (You only exclude Class C misdemeanor traffic violations or offenses previously disclosed to the Texas Board of Nursing on an initial or renewal application.)

NOTE: Expunged and Sealed Offenses: While expunged or sealed offenses, arrests, tickets, or citations need not be disclosed, it is your responsibility to ensure the offense, arrest, ticket, or citation has, in fact, been expunged or sealed. You should submit a copy of the Court Order expunging or sealing the record in question to our office with your application. Non-disclosure of relevant offenses raises questions related to truthfulness and character. (See 22 TAC §213.27)

NOTE: Orders of Non-Disclosure: Pursuant to Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.142(b), if you have criminal matters subject to an order of non-disclosure, you are not required to reveal those criminal matters. However, a criminal matter subject to an order of non-disclosure may become a character and fitness issue. Pursuant to Gov’t Code chapter 411, the Texas Nursing Board is entitled to access criminal history record information subject to an order of non-disclosure. Suppose the Board discovers a criminal matter that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure. In that case, even if you properly did not reveal that matter, the Board may require you to provide information about any conduct that raises character and fitness issues.

5. Have you ever had any licensing (other than a nursing license) or regulatory authority in any state, jurisdiction, country, or province revoked, annulled, canceled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew or otherwise discipline any other professional or occupational license, certificate, nurse aide registration or multistate privilege to practice that you held?

6. Are you currently suffering from any condition for which you are not being appropriately treated that impairs your judgment or would otherwise adversely affect your ability to practice nursing competently, ethically, and professionally?

7. *Are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury or governmental agency investigation?
8. *Are you currently a participant in an alternative to discipline, diversion, or a peer assistance program? (This includes all confidential programs) NOTE: Any positive response will remain confidential and not subject to public disclosure unless required by law.
9. Have you ever been granted the authority to practice nursing in any country, state, province, or territory? NOTE: This does not apply to any nursing license(s) issued by another US state or territory, excluding Puerto Rico. If you were licensed in Puerto Rico, you should be answering yes.

*Pursuant to the Texas Occupations Code §301.207, information, including diagnosis and treatment, regarding an individual’s physical or mental condition, intemperate use of drugs or alcohol, or chemical dependency, and information regarding an individual’s criminal history is confidential to the same extent that information collected as part of an investigation is confidential under the Texas Occupations Code §301.466.

Tuition and Fees
Estimated Tuition and Fees for the Traditional 2-year ADN program include all courses, lab fees, program testing fees, required software fees, and NCLEX fees totaling approximately $15,000 for the whole program. This total includes all pre- and co-requisite courses in the degree plan. Visit the Cost of Attendance page for additional information regarding the estimated costs of attending TSC.

Visit the Cost of Attendance page for additional information regarding the estimated costs of attending TSC.

Operating System: 32-bit and 64-bit Versions of Windows 10.
CPU Processor: 1.86Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo or greater
RAM: highest recommended for the operating system or 2GB
Hard Drive: highest recommended for the operating system or 1GB of available space
working USB port is required

Surface Pro, Surface Books, and Surface Laptops are supported (Non-Pro Surface devices are NOT supported)
Must be running a supported Operating System (See PC Requirements)
External Keyboard (USB or Bluetooth) required.
Hard Drive: Minimum of 1GB available space.
a working USB port is required

Mac Users
Supported Operating Systems: OS X 10.12 (Sierra), OS X 10.13 (High Sierra), and OS X 10.14 (Mojave). Only genuine versions of Mac Operating Systems are supported.
CPU: Intel processor
RAM: 2GB
Hard Drive: 1GB or higher available space
A working USB port is required (Newer devices may require an adaptor)
The server version of Mac OS X is not supported

Students entering the TSC ADN program are required to fill out an Essential Physical Competency Standards worksheet. Students must continue to successfully demonstrate/perform the following activities as a required component to continue in the program.

1. Extended walking and standing daily – clinical practice requires an average of 1 hour intermittent sitting, 4 hours intermittent standing, and 3 hours intermittent walking in an average 8-hour work period.
2. Ability to grasp, push, and/or pull.
3. Ability to squat, kneel, bend, reach, and twist – clinical practice requires completing these activities 50% of the time.
4. Carrying and moving equipment – nurses frequently lift/carry up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 100 pounds.

Other essential competencies identified for nursing care include:

1. A vision that allows detecting physical change and seeing color.
2. Hearing that allows responding to physical and verbal cues.
3. Sense of touch that allows for assessment and palpation.
4. Critical thinking.
5. Interpersonal and communication skills

Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who request academic adjustments to a class must notify the Disability Services Office at the beginning or prior to the start of the semester so that appropriate accommodations may be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting academic adjustments must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Services counselor. For more information, see the TSC student handbook Disability Services Office.

Students who are granted accommodations related to testing performance must utilize this service if he/she plan to apply these accommodations to the NCLEX-RN. Typically, these accommodations include longer test times and a less distracted environment. Upon scheduling your NCLEX, please refer to the Texas Board of Nursing and the NCSBN website for forms required for NCLEX accommodations.

Q. Is the Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) program accredited?
A. Yes, in January of 2018, Texas Southmost College received initial accreditation from the Texas Board of Nursing to offer an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program.

Q. Upon completion of the ADN program, will other colleges or universities accept my nursing course for admission into a BSN degree program?
A. Yes, students graduating with an ADN at Texas Southmost College graduate from an accredited college and nursing program. Therefore, students will be able to transfer to a higher institution of learning into an RN to BSN program.

Q. Do I have to be an LVN or CNA to apply for the ADN program?
A. No, you do not have to be an LVN or CNA to apply for the traditional track ADN program. We offer an LVN to RN track for currently licensed and working LVNs. However, LVNs and CNAs are welcome to apply to the traditional ADN track.

Q. What is the difference between pre-requisite and co-requisite courses?
A. Pre-requisite courses must be completed prior to applying to the ADN program. These courses include BIOL 2301/2101 Anatomy & Physiology I with the lab, BIOL 2302/2102 Anatomy & Physiology II with the lab, and MATH 1342 Elementary Statistics. Co-requisite courses may be taken along with the nursing program; however, students who complete these courses before submitting their application will earn points based on the grade earned in these courses. The co-requisite courses include PSYC 2301 General Psychology, ENGL 1301 Composition I, BIOL 2320/2120 Microbiology for non-science Majors with a lab, and a Language, Philosophy, & Culture/Creative Arts Elective.

Q. Can I substitute College Algebra for Elementary Statistics?
A. If you took College Algebra PRIOR to 2019, yes – a course substitution will be granted.

Q. How can I study for the entrance HESI exams?
A. The Testing Center webpage has listed some excellent study materials for the HESI A2 and Critical Thinking Exams to prepare for the LVN to ADN entrance exam and the recommended study supplies of NCLEX-PN books or apps.

Q. What happens after I turn in my application?
A. Applicants will be ranked according to the point system posted for the ADN program under Admission Requirements and reviewed by the selection committee. Qualified students will be offered conditional acceptance into the ADN program. Upon acceptance of their conditional offer, students will be required to attend an orientation session to learn about the remaining steps to fulfill before the first day of class. This process includes a required background check, a Texas Board of Nursing fingerprint process, a drug test, immunization tracking, a CPR card, and a physical exam.

Q. Can I work while enrolled in the ADN program?
A. The ADN program is a full-time program. Class times vary, but some will begin as early as 6:00 am on clinical days and end as late as 7:00 pm. Classes will meet generally Monday – Thursday; however, Fridays are reserved for open lab practice and remediation testing. Students will spend an average of 20-30 hours each week in class and an additional 20-30 hours of study time each week.