Nursing
Program Level:
Degrees
Program Type:
Face-to-Face
Department:
Career and Technical
Institute:
Health & Biosciences
College:
PAC
| January 25, 2024 Palo Alto College received Texas Board of Nursing Initial Approval. |
What is the Nursing Program?
The Registered Nursing Program is a full-time, face-to-face program. Students will learn patient care skills in a state-of-the art high fidelity simulation lab and clinical skills labs. The high fidelity and clinical skills labs will prepare nursing students for competent, hands-on practice in a safe learning environment. Palo Alto College’s nursing students will have the opportunity to experience hands-on patient care at two of San Antonio’s outstanding hospital systems during clinical rotations.
Students will develop the knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment for safe, compassionate, entry-level practice to serve a diverse population in four main nursing roles:
- Member of the Profession
- Provider of Patient-Centered Care
- Patient Safety Advocate
- Member of the Health Care Team
Students will earn a 60-hour Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and will then be eligible to take the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam, followed by the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. After passing both exams, the graduate earns a Registered Nursing license.
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Palo Alto College will offer a Registered Nursing Program at the Southside Education and Training Center (SETC). The SETC is located on Highway 281 South, adjacent to Southside High School, at 1760 Martinez Losoya Road. |
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Nursing Program Highlights
You will learn to care for various patients across the lifespan including medical-surgical, maternal, newborn, pediatric, geriatric, and mental health patients. Your learning experience will be enriched by experienced, compassionate faculty committed to educating nursing students and embodying the nursing program’s core SCIENCE values of:
- Safety
- Compassion
- Integrity
- Excellence
- Non-judgmental behavior
- Curiosity
- Equity
Students will acquire nursing skills through instruction in state-of-the-art laboratories and a high-fidelity simulation lab. Hands-on patient care clinics will be scheduled in area acute care hospitals, prioritizing compassionate care and the student learning experience.
Nursing Career Areas & Employment Positions
Registered nurses may work in various settings including hospitals, clinics, schools, doctors’ offices, home health, palliative care, and hospice.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Labor Market Information, locally, statewide, and nationally, registered nursing is considered a high-demand, high-wage occupation with a future of continued growth. According to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, Nurse Supply and Demand Projections 2015-2030, the Texas demand for Registered Nurses will increase by almost 54% within the next six years while the supply of Registered Nurses will only increase by about 35%. The estimated demand for Registered Nurses will exceed the supply in Texas by nearly 20%.
Projected Employment for Registered Nurses for the Years 2020 - 2030
| Employment Sector | Jobs in 2020 | Projected Jobs in 2030 | Rate of Job Growth | Average Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamo Area Labor Market | 17,748 | 21,194 | 19% | $36.99 |
| Texas Labor Market | 186,821 | 219,435 | 15% | $38.04 |
| National Labor Market | 3,130,600 | 5,084,600 | 62% | $37.17 |
| General Education | Course | Name | SCH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites Courses | BIOL 2401 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 2402 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 | |
| BIOL 2420 | Microbiology for Nursing and Allied Health | 4 | |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
The Fall 2024 application is now closed. Fall 2025 updates coming soon.
Upon review of applications, the Nursing Department staff will rank and conditionally accept 30 students and select 10 conditional alternate students, after the application deadline. Applicants who are conditionally accepted or conditional alternates will receive an email with next steps and deadlines. Should any Texas Board of Nursing or clinical partner requirement changes occur, conditionally accepted and conditional alternate applicants will be notified. All tasks must be accomplished by the assigned deadline. No exceptions.
For an applicant’s status to change from conditional to accepted, all of the following must occur:
- Evidence of background clearance per a Texas Board of Nursing Blue Card or a Texas Board of Nursing Declaratory Order Letter stating the applicant is deemed eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.
- Complete the Castle Branch/Bridges registration, background check and receive confirmation of a negative background
- A negative drug screen
Should a conditionally accepted applicant fail to meet background clearance or drug screening clearance or fail to submit either of these items before the deadline, the applicant will be removed from the conditionally accepted list. The first conditional alternate applicant who meets the criteria will move to accepted student status.
Application Information
The top qualified 30 applicants will be selected for Cohort One. Meeting minimum enrollment criteria will not guarantee acceptance.
Criteria for selection will include GPA, TEAS scores, prerequisite completion, and a Letter of Intent. Please contact Academic Advising for additional requirements such as immunizations, background checks, etc.
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Contact Information
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Donna Wallis Director |
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Rebecca Murillo Coordinator |
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Maria Viesca Advising Team Lead |
Rio Grande, Room 106A |