Catalog and Student Handbook 2023–2024 > Degree and Certificate Programs > Nurse Education

Nurse Education

Department of Nurse Education: (361) 698-2860

Nursing, Field of Study

The Department of Nurse Education (DNE) faculty values lifelong learning by offering multiple-entry points into the program (Multiple Entry/Exit Program, or MEEP). The DNE statement of purpose is to provide an accredited curriculum that facilitates students’ educational and career choices and encourages life-long learning and encourages progression to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing. The DMC DNE faculty is committed to removing barriers to academic progression and making pathways seamless, building on previous knowledge and competencies already achieved. Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet educational requirements to sit for the specified National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN).

Associate of Arts Degree Nurse Education (Suggested Transfer Plan)

The AA Nurse Education degree plan is for students who plan to transfer and pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Currently the DNE has articulation agreements with several universities that agree to provide a seamless transfer to their Bachelor of Science Nursing programs (see list of universities on the Nurse Education Department section of the Del Mar College website (https://www.delmar.edu/offices/nursing/index.html).

In addition, all nursing majors will use the AA Nurse Education Degree plan to meet the transfer requirements and/or complete the general education courses required of their selected program track as listed below.

Program Tracks

Vocational Nurse Education, Certificate

Students can select the Vocational Nurse Education (VN) Certificate Plan that requires the completion of four (4) semesters. A graduate of the program that earns a Vocational Nurse Certificate is eligible to take the NCLEX-PN exam for licensure. Once the student receives their LVN license and completes the general education course required of the AAS degree plan if eligible can request continuation in the Nursing program to successfully complete the fifth (5) semester of the AAS degree and be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

Registered Nurse Education, AAS

The Associate of Applied Science Degree plan requires the student to successfully complete all five (5) semesters of the education plan to be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The student who follows the Associate Applied Science Degree plan can take an LVN exit option. The student must successfully complete the fourth (4) semester with two (2) additional VNSG courses to be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN licensure exam.

Registered Nurse Education - LVN/Paramedic to RN Transition, AAS

Graduates from other vocational nursing programs who are licensed and complete the prerequisite courses are eligible to apply for the LVN/Paramedic to RN Transition track. Students who completed the DMC Vocational Nurse Education Certificate plan prior to 2009 must apply to the LVN to RN Transition track.

General Admission Guidelines

Admission requirements and selection criteria for application to the nursing program can be reviewed in the Registered Nurse Education Admissions Document (PDF) (https://www.delmar.edu/degrees/nursing-education/_resources/registered-nurse-admission-info.pdf).

The following are required prior to applying to the program:

• All applicants must be Del Mar College students and meet general admission requirements of the College.
• Completion and minimum required scores on standardized ATI® TEAS Exam. Please refer to the ATI TEAS Guidance Document (PDF) (https://delmar.edu/degrees/nursing-education/_resources/ati-teas-guide-march23-accessible.pdf) for additional guidelines and fees. Please refer to the ATI TEAS section of the Del Mar College website (https://www.delmar.edu/degrees/nursing-education/ati-teas.html) for the latest schedule of exam dates.
• Students are no longer required to repeat BIOL 2402 (Anatomy and Physiology II) if the course is beyond 5 years of application to the Nursing Program.
• A grade of "C" or higher is required in all of the following general education prerequisite courses. These prerequisites must be completed prior to submission of application to the nursing program or upon submission of the application:
  • ENGL 1301
  • BIOL 2401
  • BIOL 2402
  • PSYC 2301
• A grade of "C" or higher is required in all of the following general education co-requisite courses. These co-requisites can be completed prior to admission or concurrent with nursing courses upon admission:
  • SPCH 1311, SPCH 1315, or SPCH 1321
  • PHIL 2306
  • BIOL 2420 (Note: CHEM 1406 is a prerequisite to BIOL 2420 per the Natural Science Department)
• Students pursuing the AAS Registered Nurse Education degree plan must take Chemistry 1406N for CEUs (Continuing Education Units) prior to the corequisite BIOL 2420 (Microbiology and Clinical Pathology) to comply with program requirements. The Chemistry 1406N CEU course may not meet the criteria for financial aid assistance; please check with the Financial Aid Office. If the student chooses to have the Chemistry 1406N CEU course converted to semester credit hours a petition to record credit form must be completed by student.
• Program Grade Point Average (PGPA) of 2.5.
• Due to our selective admission criteria, the most recent grade and not the highest grade is used in the calculation for the PGPA.

Students must apply to the nursing program online at Nursing CAS (http://www.nursingcas.org). The following documentation verifying immunizations must accompany the online application submission:

1. Hepatitis B Vaccine: Students are required to have completed the Hepatitis B vaccine series prior to the start of nursing school. Please keep in mind that this series may take up to 6 months to complete.
2. Tetanus-diphtheria Vaccine: One dose of a tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) is required within the last ten years. The booster dose may be in the form of a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis containing vaccine (Tdap).
3. Varicella Vaccine: Students are required to have received one dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine on or after the student's first birthday or, if the first dose was administered on or after the student's thirteenth birthday, two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine are required. If a student previously had the Varicella (chickenpox) disease, the student will need to complete and submit the form Documenting History of Illness: Varicella (Chickenpox) (PDF) (https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/docs/C-9.pdf) to the nursing office.
4. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccines: If a student has their immunization record and this record reflects two doses of MMR vaccine then the student is in compliance with all of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella requirements. If a student does not have two documented doses of MMR they will need to ensure that they meet the minimum requirement:
   1. Measles: Students born on or after January 1, 1957, must show acceptable evidence of vaccination of two doses of a measles- containing vaccine administered since January 1, 1968 (preferably MMR vaccine).
   2. Mumps: Students born on or after January 1, 1957, must show acceptable evidence of vaccination of one dose of a mumps vaccine. Serological lab showing proof of immunity is acceptable.
   3. Rubella: Students must show acceptable evidence of one dose of rubella vaccine.

Upon conditional acceptance to program student must submit the following:

• Health Screening on a standard departmental physical examination form to provide evidence of good physical and mental health. Failure to reveal prior or present physical or emotional illness will place a student as subject to dismissal. While information will be held in confidence there are certain circumstances that, for the student’s protection as well as others, make health information disclosure a necessity.
• Negative PPD or chest X-ray with the last 12 months.
  • Students with a positive PPD and a negative chest X-ray on admission into the program must complete a TB screening questionnaire annually while enrolled in the program.
  • Students whose responses indicate possibility of TB infection must submit documentation of medical evaluation and treatment, if applicable.
  • Students with a negative PPD on admission who convert to positive while enrolled in the program must submit documentation of medical evaluation and treatment.
• Other acceptable blood tests for documentation of TB health status include QuantiFERON®–TB Gold In–Tube test (QFT-GIT) and T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot)
• Positive Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRA): A positive test result suggests that TB infection is likely. Additional testing is necessary and includes checking for signs and symptoms suggestive of TB disease, a chest x-ray, and, when indicated, examination of sputum or other clinical samples for the presence of TB.
• Negative IGRA: A negative test suggests that infection by TB bacteria is not likely. No additional testing is necessary.
• A Negative PPD, or other acceptable test documenting negative TB health status, is required yearly thereafter by each student while enrolled in the program.
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course completion card from American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider or American Red Cross Professional Rescuer. The CPR card expiration date must fall beyond the last day of clinical for the semester.
• Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon satisfactory Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check (completed through the Texas Board of Nursing)
  • The Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) may require an applicant to complete a declaratory order if the background check is not clear or there are questions surrounding a mental illness or chemical dependency. This process may take up to six months to a year, and students must have a clearance from the TBON before enrolling in nursing courses.
  • Prospective applicants who question their eligibility are encouraged to contact the Texas Board of Nursing or program to further discuss their situation on the Texas Board of Nursing website (https://www.bon.texas.gov) or at (512) 305-7400.
• Students are required to pass a random drug screen prior to the beginning of clinical rotations. Details on the drug screen will be provided after students are accepted to the nursing program.

Progression Requirements

Students enrolled in the program must be in good standing:

• Maintain a PGPA of 2.0.
• Successfully complete all concurrent nursing courses and general education course co-requisites by the semester indicated on the AAS-RN, AAS-LVN/Paramedic to RN Transition or LVN Certificate degree plan:
  • SPCH 1311, SPCH 1315, or SPCH 1321
  • PHIL 2306
  • BIOL 2420
• Students will be required to take standardized comprehensive competency exams throughout the nursing program. Failure to achieve satisfactory scores in the final level of the program will delay graduation.
• A student may be readmitted into the nursing program one time only.

The program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (www.bon.state.tx.us). The Associate of Applied Science degrees are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) (https://www.acenursing.org). Accredited information is available through

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 | Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000