Nursing - Traditional, A.A.S.

Major Code: 8021

The Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN)

Nursing is a care-oriented profession requiring a well-educated nurse. The curriculum of the Odessa College associate degree nursing program prepares graduates to assume beginning staff positions under supervision as a member of the profession, as a provider of patient-centered care, as a patient safety advocate, and as a member of the health care team. Upon successful completion of the licensing examination, NCLEX-RN^®, the graduate becomes a registered nurse.

Odessa College offers both traditional and LVN-RN transition tracks to obtain the Associate Degree in Applied Science for Nursing. Both tracks require the same non-nursing courses to complete the degree. Transition students must currently hold a license to practice nursing as an LVN in the state of Texas. Traditional and transition students receive clinical education in various hospitals, health care agencies and community organizations.

Mission 

The mission of the Odessa College Nursing Program is to lead the way in preparing nursing students for practice in a multicultural community within a diverse and changing health care environment; advance the practice of nursing; and provide quality and comprehensive health care in a competent, caring and compassionate manner. 

Approval and Accreditation 

The Odessa College associate degree nursing program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), located at 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460, Austin, Texas, 78701; phone 512-305-7400, Texas Board of Nursing

The nursing curriculum plan is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

The Associate Degree nursing program at Odessa College at the Odessa and Andrews Campus’ located in Odessa, Texas and Andrews, Texas is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. 

–View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at: ACEN Accredited Nursing Programs

Transition Track for the LVN

The transition student receives advanced placement credit for RNSG 1513 - Foundations for Nursing Practice, RNSG 1360 - Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (formerly:Clinical- Basic), RNSG 1441 - Common Concepts of Adult Health and RNSG 1261 - Clinical - Registered Nurse. In their first semester, transition students begin by taking Adaptation to the role of the professional nurse, (RNSG 2207) to prepare for the role of RN. Courses continue sequentially through the year, spring, summer and fall semesters, with graduation in the following December. This program is delivered in a hybrid format.

Application Deadline for Program Admission

Students must apply through the admissions department to Odessa College in order to take classes. Students must also apply to the nursing program by downloading the application from the program web page.

ADN Traditional Program Admission Deadlines:

• [Fall Start] - open from May 1 – June 1

ADN Transition Program Admission Deadline:

• [Spring Start] - open from October 1 – October 20
• [Summer Start] - open from March 1- March 20 

Letters of acceptance are sent in a timely manner after each deadline. The number of students admitted each semester may vary according to faculty staffing and clinical resources.

Prerequisites for Admission

Odessa College’s Associate Degree Nursing program is a selective entry program and students will be ranked according to the current admissions criteria,  available at the Program Website.

Applicants for the Associate Degree Nursing program must satisfy minimum criteria in order to be eligible for consideration.

The applicant is required to meet all the following:

• Enrolled at Odessa College as a Credit Student
• Background and immunization clearance (through third-party vendor)
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required
• Submit all previous college/university transcripts (transliteration of all foreign coursework required) prior to ranking. When a student has course work from colleges outside of OC, overall GPA for ranking purposes will only be based on highest score achieved for Nursing or Nursing Prerequisite Courses.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• TEAS testing requirements: 
  • Overall score- minimum of 58.7  to submit application for consideration. 
  • Reading- minimum score of 69.9 to submit application for consideration. 
  • Math- minimum score of 63.3 to submit application for consideration.
• Completion of a “C” of better for all Degree plan Pre-requisites
  • Choose one of the following: 
  • *The courses required as prerequisites for program admission into the traditional program are the following:
    • PSYC 1300- Learning Systems Framework 
    • BIOL 2401 - Anatomy & Physiology I *
    • BIOL 2402 - Anatomy & Physiology II *

Choose one of the following: 

• HUMA 1305 - Introduction to Mexican-American Studies   
• HUMA 2319 - American Minority Studies 
• HUMA 2323 - World Cultures 
  • *A&P course must be current within 3 years of admission.
  • *All pre-requisites must be taken prior to application into the ADN (traditional) program.
• CNA (certified nurse assistant) training is offered through the Odessa College Continuing Education Department. Active CNA is encouraged and will count for two (2) points towards admission, but is not mandatory.
• Immunizations are required. A complete immunization record must be on file and submitted to the Nursing Department by application deadline. Starting for the Summer of 2021 cohorts and moving forward all accepted students will be required to have their COVID vaccinations. 
• Be currently trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, professional rescuer module. CPR must remain current during the two year program. Provide documentation of training to the nursing office prior to the application deadline, or proof of enrollment in the CPR course offered on campus within three weeks of acceptance. Online CPR training does not meet the requirement for initial training or renewal.
• After program admission and before starting classes, proof of health and accident insurance is required. May be purchased with registration.

Other Program Requirements

Students must comply with all school and nursing program policies. Program policies are delineated in the Nursing Student Handbook which is available on the nursing department’s Web site.

• Health and accident insurance must be maintained throughout the program, proof is required before the start of classes. 
• After acceptance to the program, new students will be given instructions for applying for a fingerprint analysis and background check by the State of Texas and the FBI. The fingerprint analysis and background check must be conducted by procedures set forth by the Board of Nurse Examiners and Odessa College. Any other fingerprint analysis will not be accepted.
  • License Eligibility is determined by the Texas Board of Nursing. TO determine your eligibility for licensing visit the Texas Board of Nursing website, link found HERE

Disclaimers

Clinical agencies can establish more stringent standards, if they so desire and can conduct additional background checks for their facility.

If the background check is positive for certain offenses, the clinical agency may not permit the student to participate in clinical experiences at their facility. These circumstances would require dismissal of the student from the nursing program due to inability to meet clinical objectives.

• The student must pass a physical examination and urine drug screen in order to participate in the nursing program. Urine drug screening must be conducted by the company specified by the nursing program. Information related to registration for the drug screen will be provided by the nursing program once the student has been accepted. Drug testing is performed periodically during the nursing program and is at the student’s expense. Drug testing must be negative in order to remain in the nursing program.
• The nursing program utilizes the Comprehensive Assessment and Review Program (CARP), a product of Assessment Technologies, Inc. (ATI) in every semester. Students have access to learning materials online. Comprehensive testing, both proctored and non proctored, occurs in various courses in the curriculum. Students are responsible for all fees associated with CARP.

Requirements for Graduation

The nursing program’s grading scale for all RNSG courses is different from that of the general college with a grade of “C” awarded for numeric grades of 75-79. To be eligible for graduation, the nursing student must have completed each of the prescribed courses in the degree plan with a minimum grade of “C.” The candidate for graduation must score satisfactorily on a complete the NCLEX-RN^® review course and other program requirements, satisfy all college financial obligations, complete a degree application in the Records Office by the specified deadline, and return any borrowed school property.

• See current Nursing Handbook for Program Completion Requirements HERE

Licensing as a Registered Nurse

Requirements to take the licensing examination to become an RN include the application process for approval by the BON, payment of fees to the BON and to the authorized NCLEX-RN^® testing center, graduation from the nursing program, and graduation certification by the program director. Be advised that the Texas BON requires fingerprint identification to screen all applicants for licensure. The fingerprints are analyzed by the state of Texas and the FBI, and there must be clearance on the background check by the BON prior to being allowed to take the licensing examination. Licensure eligibility may also be denied if the applicant has a history of certain mental illnesses, a history of drug addiction, or has had action on a professional license by the body granting the license. These and other issues may prevent an applicant from being allowed to test. Contact the nursing department or the Texas BON directly if you have questions about eligibility.