Odessa College

Nursing -Traditional

Program Details & Enrollment Information

Learn everything you need to know about the program and how to take the first step toward enrollment.

Program Overview

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

Skills you will gain

Accountability
Advocacy
Calculations
Clinical Experience
Collaboration
Communications
Conflict Management
Critical Thinking
Cytology
Decision Making
Deficits
Dosage Calculation
Economics
Evaluation Of Care
Evidence-Based Practice
Finance
Histology
Informatics
Information Systems
Integration
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Knowledge Base
Leadership
Learning Development
Learning Strategies
Legal Systems
Legislation
Lifelong Learning
Management
Medical Terminology
Medication Administration
Mental Health
National Council Licensure Examination
Nervous Systems
Nursing
Nursing Care
Nursing Informatics
Nursing Practices
Nursing Process
Organizational Skills
Patient Advocacy
Patient Safety
Pharmacology
Planning
Prioritization
Problem Solving
Professionalism
Psychology
Psychopathology
Quality Improvement
Research
Safety Standards
Social Structure
Socioeconomics
Study Skills
Supervision
Teamwork
Technology Research
Therapeutic Interventions
Time Management
Verbal Communication Skills

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.

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.

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