13. School of Nursing
- Dolores Sands, PhD, RN, Dean
- Alexa Stuifbergen, PhD, RN, Associate Dean
- Patricia A. Carter, PhD, RN, Assistant Dean
- Gayle M. Timmerman, PhD, RN, Assistant Dean
- Gayle J. Acton, PhD, RN, Assistant Dean
General Information
History
The University of Texas School of Nursing, established in Galveston in 1890 as the John Sealy Hospital Training School for Nurses, is one of the oldest schools of nursing in the Southwest. It was originally organized as an independent school under a Board of Lady Managers. In 1896 it was transferred to the University of Texas and became the School of Nursing, a division of the Medical Branch, with the diploma granted by the University. In addition to the diploma course, a curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing was established in 1923 in cooperation with the College of Arts and Sciences of the Main University in Austin. In 1932 the School of Nursing was renamed the John Sealy College of Nursing. The degree program was transferred to the college in 1943.
With the financial support of the Texas Graduate Nursing Association, graduate courses in nursing were first offered in 1930 in the Department of Physical and Health Education at the Main University. In 1940 a complete curriculum was established leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education. Support for the program was given by the Texas Graduate Nurses Association in the form of a scholarship fund for Texas nurses. In 1945 the curriculum was transferred to the Medical Branch administration, bringing the John Sealy College of Nursing and the new Department of Nursing Education together to form the School of Nursing with its own dean. In September, 1949, a curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing was established for graduates of diploma programs.
Funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation provided for a program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing with a major in nursing administration, first offered in 1952. Participating in the program of the Southern Regional Education Board for graduate education in nursing, the School of Nursing offered additional specialization in 1955. At that time the name of the school was changed to the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing.
The last class of students enrolled in the diploma program was admitted to the School of Nursing in 1957; since that time the school has offered a single program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
In the fall of 1960, the University of Texas at Austin became an extension campus of the School of Nursing, which was still located in Galveston, and nursing courses were offered on the Austin campus for the first time. The School of Nursing was reorganized in 1967 as The University of Texas Nursing School (System-wide) and administrative offices were moved to Austin. The school was renamed The University of Texas System School of Nursing in 1972. Junior- and senior-level nursing courses were offered in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, and San Antonio; in Austin, El Paso, or Fort Worth, a student could enroll for four years, taking liberal arts courses prior to being admitted to the nursing curriculum. A program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in nursing was initiated in 1974.
On March 26, 1976, the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System voted to reorganize the schools of nursing in the system and to place each school under the administration of the president of the health science center or academic institution nearest it. On September 1, 1976, the School of Nursing at Austin became a part of the University of Texas at Austin.
Facilities
The 99,815-square-foot, five-story Nursing School building houses administrative, faculty, staff, and research offices, as well as large and small classrooms and seminar and conference rooms. Also located in the building are the Cain Center for Nursing Research, the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Populations, and the Learning Center, with an audiovisual library and a staff who provide technical assistance for clinical simulation, instructional design, and production.
Learning experiences in the health field are numerous and varied. The School of Nursing has ongoing clinical placement agreements with more than two hundred agencies. These include the Austin State Hospital, University Medical Center at Brackenridge, St. David's Medical Center, Seton Medical Center Austin, and Seton Shoal Creek Hospital. Other community settings used for student field experiences include nursing homes, neighborhood health centers, day-care centers, state and local health departments, physicians' offices, and clinics.
Nursing faculty members conduct research on a wide variety of topics. Since 2002, the School of Nursing has been ranked among the top ten institutions in research funding received from the National Institutes of Health.
Financial Assistance Available through the School of Nursing
Application forms for the following scholarships are available from the University Office of Student Financial Services and from the School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1700 Red River Street, Austin TX 78701-1499. The School of Nursing Scholarship Committee selects the recipients for nursing scholarships.
Endowed Scholarships
The Rita Willner Atlas Endowed Presidential Scholarship provides support for undergraduate and graduate students. At the donor's request, recipients of the awards are designated Rita Willner Atlas Scholars or Rita Willner Atlas Fellows.
The Betty J. Bomar Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing provides scholarship support to an outstanding student pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care. Financial need is a priority in selecting the recipient.
The Dr. Louis Edward and Virginia Steele Brenz Scholarship provides support to graduate and undergraduate students.
The Edith Blanche Jennings Burns, RN, Endowed Scholarship in Nursing provides support to a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student. The recipient must show excellent promise for a career in nursing and must have a grade point average of at least 2.50 if he or she has been a college or university student. Preference is given first to graduates of Moran High School, Shackelford County, Texas, and then to South Carolina residents, with preference to residents of Lancaster County. If such a recipient cannot be found, a resident of Travis County, Texas, who also graduated from a Travis County high school, is preferred. Financial need is considered.
The Carol Diane Cave Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing is awarded annually to an undergraduate student pursuing a career in nursing. The student must be a Texas resident in the professional nursing sequence and must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.30.
The Joe and Tana Christie Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing is awarded annually to an outstanding upper-division or graduate student pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care outside a hospital setting for people with AIDS or other terminal illnesses. The recipient must have a grade point average of at least 3.50.
The Fred J. and Jann Curry Endowed Scholarship provides awards to deserving nursing students.
The Mitzi I. Nuhn Dreher Endowed Presidential Scholarship provides an award to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student. Preference is given to students who participate in a broad range of extracurricular activities or professional nursing organizations.
The Endowment for Excellence provides scholarship support to graduate nursing students, with preference given to those planning to pursue a career in cardiovascular study and research.
The School of Nursing Faculty-Staff Endowed Presidential Scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student. Preference is given to residents of Texas. The award is made to a nursing student who has shown academic achievement by maintaining a 3.00 or better grade point average, who has shown interest in the community through a record of community involvement, and who has shown a special dedication to nursing by participating in nursing organizations.
The Eugene R. Fant Endowed Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to nursing and pre-nursing students with financial need.
The Girling Health Care Undergraduate Scholarship in Nursing is awarded to undergraduate students in the ADN-BSN program with an interest in home health nursing.
The Kathryn Gurley Scholarship Endowment provides scholarships for students at all levels. There is no grade point average requirement.
The Alda R. Hilliard, RN, Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care.
The Jens Jacobsen Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Nursing provides support for nursing students. Financial need and merit are strong considerations in the selection of recipients; preference is given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Lee Hage and Joseph D. Jamail Endowed Scholarship in Nursing provides support to students of average academic merit who show promise of success in their chosen field and who demonstrate evidence of financial need.
The Mary Gibbs Jones Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing provides awards to full-time nursing students. Financial need is emphasized in the selection of recipients.
The Kristi Kana Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing is awarded to a full-time undergraduate or graduate nursing student in good academic standing with demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to students involved in community activities for the good of others.
The Dorothy C. Luther Scholarship in Nursing provides support to deserving graduate students in the School of Nursing.
The Lillie S. Matthews Endowed Scholarship provides scholarships for students in the School of Nursing.
The Lucy May Maxey Scholarship Fund in Nursing provides scholarships to nursing students with an interest in the treatment of cancer.
The Nancy Francis and William Arnold McMinn Endowed Presidential Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care. The student must be a Texas resident in the professional nursing sequence and must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.30.
The Florence Nightingale Memorial Scholarship provides scholarships to deserving undergraduate students in the School of Nursing.
The Carol Miller Norwood Endowed Presidential Scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in nursing. The recipient must demonstrate financial need, participation in extracurricular activities, and academic motivation.
The Endowed Fellowship in Nursing Systems awards fellowships to deserving graduate students enrolled in the nursing systems concentration.
The PCA Health Plans Endowed Presidential Scholarship provides awards to incoming freshmen on the basis of academic merit. Preference is given to students who are graduates of the Austin Independent School District and then to students from the counties served by PCA Health Plans. Extracurricular activities and interests are also considered.
The S. Allison Starr Pendergras Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Nursing is awarded to an undergraduate and a graduate student with a grade point average of at least 2.50. Financial need is a priority in selecting the recipients.
The Ella Kate and Wallace Ralston Nursing Students Scholarship Fund provides assistance for a number of students each year.
The Louis W. Rase and Sophie Braun Rase Nursing Scholarship Fund provides an award annually to a nursing student who demonstrates outstanding scholarship. The recipient is chosen on the basis of grade point average and must rank in the top 10 percent of his or her class.
The Alice R. Redland Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing is awarded to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student planning to pursue a career in gerontological nursing.
The Dolores and Arthur Sands Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing provides scholarship support for promising graduate students pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care. Financial need is a priority in the selection of the recipient.
The M. Elizabeth Sands, MD, and Arthur T. Sands, MD, PhD, Endowed Scholarship in Nursing provides an award to a graduate or undergraduate nursing student planning to pursue a career in oncology.
The Santa Rosa Children's Hospital Scholarship Fund in Memory of Taylor Andrew Marceau provides an award to a nursing student who has demonstrated financial need, exemplary moral character, and good academic standing. Preference is given to students who intend to practice in the field of pediatric nursing. At the donor's request, recipients are designated Santa Rosa Scholars.
The Susanne Spencer Skaggs Endowed Scholarship in Nursing provides support to graduate and undergraduate nursing students.
The Leila Tannous Memorial Endowed Scholarship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate or undergraduate students pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care.
The Texas Graduate Nurses Association Scholarship provides awards to registered nurses, either undergraduates in public health nursing or graduate students.
The Travis County Medical Auxiliary and Society Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing is awarded to a full-time junior or senior with a grade point average of at least 3.30 and with excellent promise for a career in nursing. Preference is given to Travis County high school graduates.
The Margaretta Turpin Endowed Scholarship in Nursing provides scholarship assistance to outstanding undergraduate students pursuing a degree in nursing and a career providing quality health care. Special consideration is given to students pursuing the study of geriatric care.
The Jennifer Tyson Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing provides support to outstanding future nurses who are committed to promoting the health and well-being of children and adults. Financial need is a priority in the selection of the recipient.
The Carlo and Angeline Visco Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a promising student pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care. The recipient must be a full-time student with a grade point average of at least 3.00.
The Marlene H. Weitzel, PhD, RN, Endowed Student Scholarship in Nursing recognizes and supports promising students pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care. Financial need is a priority in the selection of the recipient.
The Norma White, RN, Endowed Scholarship provides support to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student who has a grade point average of at least 2.50. Financial need is a priority in selecting the recipient.
The Lola B. Wright Foundation Centennial Scholarship enables the School of Nursing to assist several students each year with individual financial aid.
The Carolyn J. and John H. Young Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Nursing provides support to an outstanding graduate student identified by the School of Nursing as having outstanding potential to contribute to the field of nursing.
Nonendowed Scholarships
The Mabel Wandelt Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate RN student.
The John Murray Hardship Fund is reserved for students experiencing a financial hardship.
Other scholarships are frequently available through the generosity of groups such as the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing Alumni Association and several nursing student organizations. Information is available in the Student Affairs Office each semester.
Other Financial Aid Programs
ROTC Nursing Scholarships
To be eligible for an ROTC scholarship, an applicant must be a United States citizen and must be less than twenty-five years old on June 30 of the calendar year during which commissioning is scheduled.
Air Force ROTC Nursing Scholarships. These scholarships provide for payment of tuition and fees and for textbooks and a monthly allowance during the school year. For additional information, contact The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Air Force Science, 1 University Station C3600, Austin TX 78712.
Army ROTC Nursing Scholarships. These scholarships provide for payment of tuition and fees, a flat rate for textbooks, and a monthly allowance during the school year. Students must attend the Nursing Advanced Camp during the summer between the junior and senior years and work individually with a licensed BSN preceptor. Students may apply to the dean for independent study credit; applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. For additional information, contact The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Military Science, 1 University Station C3606, Austin TX 78712.
Vocational rehabilitation
The Texas Rehabilitation Commission offers assistance in payment of tuition to students who have certain disabling conditions, provided their vocational objectives are approved by a commission counselor. Services are also available to help students with disabilities become employable. Application should be made to the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, P O Box 7638, Austin TX 78713-7638.
Student Organizations
Undergraduate students, including prenursing students, are eligible for membership in the University of Texas Nursing Students Association. Through the association, nursing students are represented on campus committees and in campus activities involving all students. The local association is affiliated with the Texas Nursing Students' Association and the National Student Nurse Association.
Qualified students in the School of Nursing are also eligible for membership in Epsilon Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing.
Admission and Registration
Admission to the University
Admission and readmission of undergraduate students to the University is the responsibility of the director of admissions. Information about admission to the University is given in General Information.
Preprofessional Sequence
Students who wish to major in nursing begin their studies by taking prerequisite course requirements as prenursing majors. Prenursing majors must also be advised by the School of Nursing every semester. During their final semester of preprofessional sequence coursework, they may apply for admission to the professional sequence in nursing.
Admission to the Professional Sequence in Nursing
Admission to the School of Nursing upper-division professional sequence is competitive. Students may apply for admission when they are enrolled in the last semester of required prerequisite coursework. The student must have a grade of at least C in each prerequisite course and a grade point average of at least 2.50. Students admitted to the professional sequence usually exceed this minimum requirement significantly, with higher grade point averages in all University courses, in prerequisite courses, and in the science and pharmacology courses in the preprofessional sequence.
The application includes the application form and personal statement, three letters of reference, a transcript from every other college or university the student has attended, and a high school transcript. Admission decisions are based on (1) the strength of the student's academic background, with special consideration given to his or her grade point average in the required natural science courses and in courses taken at the University; (2) the number of hours the student has taken at the University; (3) the number of repeated courses; and (4) the student's achievements and accomplishments, with emphasis on volunteer work and activities in health care.
Students from Other Institutions
All students who wish to transfer to the University from another institution must apply to the University Office of Admissions for transfer admission as described in General Information.
Preprofessional Sequence
A student who plans to enter the preprofessional sequence in nursing should consult an academic adviser in the School of Nursing as early as possible for advising and transcript review. Students are encouraged to consult an adviser before applying for admission to the University.
Professional Sequence
A student who wishes to transfer into the professional sequence from another nursing school must make an appointment with the School of Nursing Office of Student Affairs for academic advising and transcript review. Students are encouraged to consult an adviser before applying for admission to the University. In addition to meeting the regular University admission requirements, the student must apply for admission to the School of Nursing. He or she must submit an official transcript from each institution attended, recommendations from faculty members at the previous nursing school, and course information for all completed nursing courses.
Transfer students must meet the same requirements as University students seeking admission to the professional sequence; however, they are considered for admission to the School of Nursing only if they are admitted to the University.
Registration
General Information gives information about registration, adding and dropping courses, transfer from one division of the University to another, and auditing a course. The Course Schedule, published before registration each semester and summer session, includes registration instructions, advising locations, and the times, places, and instructors of classes. The Course Schedule and General Information are published on the registrar's Web site. The printed General Information is sold at campus-area bookstores.
Academic Advising
All prenursing and nursing students must come to the School of Nursing before registration each semester for academic advising. Prenursing students are assigned to academic advisers on staff in the Office of Student Affairs. Appointments are recommended. Nursing students in the professional sequence are provided group academic advising and one-on-one career advising by nursing faculty members.
Academic Policies and Procedures
Student Responsibility
- It is the student's responsibility to be informed of general and special notices posted in the School of Nursing building and on the listserv.
- The student must make arrangements for the completion of all work, including makeup examinations and requirements for removal of conditional and incomplete grades.
- Because the curriculum is demanding, students are urged to limit work hours while in the program. A student's combined employment and semester-hour load (including clinical laboratory hours) should not exceed forty hours a week in either a long-session semester or a summer term. During the final month of the last semester of the program, students are enrolled in a full-time preceptorship and are unable to have outside employment.
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Students may be employed in area hospitals and clinics as nursing assistants, performing functions for which they have been trained by the employing institution and for which the institution has a clearly discernible policy, either in writing or by precedent, defining the scope of these functions. It is illegal for unlicensed students to practice as professional nurses.
Students should be aware that (1) the School of Nursing assumes no responsibility for their activities as employees of an agency; (2) they are personally responsible and liable for any activity they participate in while employed; (3) professional liability insurance purchased by students is valid only in their student role, not in their employment role; (4) individuals who practice illegally may jeopardize their future careers, since those who are convicted of violating the Nurse Practice Act may not be eligible to write state board examinations and subsequently to be licensed.
Students employed in an agency are personally and professionally responsible for engaging only in those activities that fall within their job descriptions as nonlicensed workers (such as aides). They have a responsibility to refuse to participate in activities that they have not been legally licensed to perform, such as giving medications and assuming total responsibility for a nursing unit.
- Students should be familiar with the Student Standards of Conduct given in subchapter 11-800, Appendix C, "Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities," General Information, as well as the University's Honor Code and the School of Nursing's Code of Honor. Upon admission to the professional sequence, students are expected to read and sign a pledge to abide by the Code of Honor.
School of Nursing Code of Honor
The profession of nursing has a legacy of public respect and trust. We provide specialized care for the health needs of individuals and the community with integrity, honesty, compassion, and state-of-the-art knowledge and skills. Learning and practicing responsible and ethical professional behavior is a vital part of professional education.
As a student in The University of Texas at Austin's School of Nursing, I pledge myself to be honest in all of my student activities including, but not limited to, all of my scholastic work and interactions with patients, members of the community, faculty, and peers. Futhermore, I will not use any substance prior to or during my interaction with patients that could alter my judgment or ability to render safe care: this includes but is not limited to any use of alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription or over-the-counter drugs that may impair my mental and/or physical abilities required to perform safe patient care. I will disclose to my instructor any violations of the above standards of conduct.
Standards of Nursing Performance and Progress
A student must earn a grade of at least C in each nursing course for the course to be counted toward degree requirements. Concurrent or sequential enrollment is required as stated in each course description.
If the student is not on scholastic probation at the University, permission may be granted to repeat a required nursing course in which he or she failed to earn a grade of C or better. To receive credit, the student must repeat the course at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. The semester in which a course is repeated is at the discretion of the dean and is dependent on the space available.
A student may repeat a nursing course only once. If the student does not earn a grade of at least C upon repeating the course, he or she cannot continue in the School of Nursing. If, while repeating the course, the student drops the course or withdraws from the University at a time when the student's performance in the course is considered to be inferior to that required for a grade of C, he or she may not reenroll in the course or continue in the School of Nursing.
No more than two nursing courses may be repeated.
A student may not repeat for credit a course in which a grade of C or better was awarded.
As a prerequisite to medication administration in clinical nursing courses, students are required to pass a medications and calculations test with a grade of at least 90. Calculators may not be used in any medication examination.
Patient safety is a critical element in every clinical course. Clinical errors related to patient care may interfere with a student's progression in the course and in the program.
Medical Clearance Requirements
Clinical experiences for nursing students are provided in hospitals and other health care facilities with which the School of Nursing is affiliated. A number of these facilities require that nursing students assigned to them have evidence of immunity to certain diseases. Students must provide the School of Nursing with evidence of compliance with immunization requirements before they begin upper-division coursework.
Background Checks
Students are required to submit to criminal background checks before enrolling in the upper-division sequence. Information about the process is available on the School of Nursing Web site. Students with concerns about eligibility are urged to seek official determination from the Texas Board of Nursing.
CPR and First Aid Requirements
Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid are required for participation in clinical nursing courses. The CPR course must include training in infant, child, adult, one-person, two-person, and obstructed airway resuscitation. The basic first aid certification must be acquired from the American Heart Association (Heartsaver First Aid) or from a local emergency medical services agency (National Safety Council First Aid). Students must provide the School of Nursing with evidence of current certification before they begin upper-division coursework.
Health and Hospitalization Insurance
Students are strongly encouraged to purchase health insurance. The cost of personal health care, including care required as the result of clinical practicum experiences, is not covered by either the University, the School of Nursing, or clinical agencies. Information about low-cost group health insurance is available through University Health Services.
Professional Liability Insurance
Professional liability insurance is required of all students enrolled in the professional sequence in the School of Nursing. Each student must pay the insurance premium at the Office of Student Affairs before he or she begins upper-division coursework. All student policies expire on the date of graduation.
Compliance Requirement
All students must complete online orientation and facilities training before they enroll in clinical courses. The training modules are available online.
Uniforms and Other Expenses
Students must purchase uniforms, shoes, name pin, identification patch, and other supplies before taking the first clinical nursing course. Specific requirements and information about suggested equipment are distributed before the beginning of the first semester of the professional sequence.
Transportation
Upper-division clinical courses require students to go to various clinical facilities and community sites at varied hours. Students must have their own transportation.
Honors
University Honors
The designation University Honors, awarded at the end of each long-session semester, gives official recognition and commendation to students whose grades for the semester indicate distinguished academic accomplishment. Both the quality and the quantity of work done are considered. Criteria for University Honors are given in chapter 1.
Graduation with University Honors
Students who, upon graduation, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement are eligible to graduate with University Honors. Criteria for graduation with University Honors are given in chapter 1.
Dean's Honor List
Each semester the Dean's Honor List recognizes superior scholastic achievement by students enrolled in nursing prerequisite courses or in the professional sequence of nursing courses. Prenursing students must complete fifteen semester hours in residence on the letter-grade basis and earn at least fifty-two grade points, with no grade below a C for the semester. Students enrolled in the professional sequence of nursing courses are required to earn forty-eight grade points when enrolled in twelve semester hours and sixty grade points when enrolled in fifteen semester hours.
Nursing Honors Program
The Nursing Honors Program is designed to enhance the educational experience of high-achieving undergraduate nursing majors by focusing on the development of scholarship. Students must apply to this competitive honors program, which begins in the sophomore year. Admission to the program requires approval of the Honors Program Committee. Acceptance into the honors program confers automatic acceptance into the nursing professional sequence, if the student maintains competitive overall and science grade point averages.
Students in the program must complete Nursing 311H, 117H, 264H, and 377H. These courses provide students with enhanced mentorship experiences. Students must also complete an honors project with a focus on research, ethics, or leadership. The statement "Special Honors in Nursing" appears on the transcript of each student who completes the honors program.
Sigma Theta Tau International
Epsilon Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing, was chartered at the University on May 16, 1980; before that time, membership in Sigma Theta Tau on the Austin campus was conferred through Alpha Delta Chapter, chartered at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1963. Epsilon Theta Chapter presents scholarly programs each semester; program meetings are open to anyone interested in the program topic. An annual meeting, at which new members are inducted, is held in May.
Membership in Sigma Theta Tau is an honor conferred by active chapters on students who demonstrate academic excellence and on nursing leaders who advance the scientific base of the profession. The society recognizes superior achievement in many areas, facilitates the development of leadership qualities, fosters high professional standards, encourages creative work, and strengthens commitment to the ideals of nursing.
Each year qualified students in the undergraduate and graduate programs may apply for consideration for membership. Invitations to membership are extended to students who are in the top 35 percent of their graduating class. Undergraduates must have a grade point average of at least 3.00; graduate students must have a grade point average of at least 3.50. Qualified community nursing leaders may also be invited to membership. Applications for membership in Epsilon Theta Chapter are available from the Office of Student Affairs in the School of Nursing.
At the induction ceremony each spring, Epsilon Theta Chapter announces its awards, grants, and scholarship recipients. A scholarship is awarded to an upper-division nursing student who has demonstrated leadership potential and outstanding scholastic achievement. The chapter also awards start-up grants annually to Epsilon Theta Chapter members and/or students to fund research projects.
Sigma Theta Tau International, with active chapters on more than four hundred campuses in the United States and in several other countries, offers opportunities for involvement at the chapter, regional, national, and international levels. Programs are offered each year in different parts of the United States under joint sponsorship of chapters and Sigma Theta Tau International. International research congresses are held in cooperation with scholarly nursing organizations in other countries; these programs focus on scholarly topics of relevance to the advancement of nursing knowledge and to the improvement of public health. Research grants are awarded annually by Sigma Theta Tau International as well as by Epsilon Theta and other chapters.
Credit by Examination
The faculty believes that each educational experience should build on previous achievements to encourage fulfillment of each student's potential. Therefore, all students and registered nurses are urged to seek advice on arranging a logical sequence of work. The faculty subscribes to the principle that a candidate's competence should be validated and that credit should be awarded on the basis of satisfactory achievement on examinations as well as in the classroom. Twenty-four of the last thirty semester hours of credit presented for the degree must be earned in residence, rather than by examination, correspondence, or transfer.
An examination for credit may not be taken in a course in which the student is enrolled, which the student has completed, or which the student has dropped with either a passing or a failing grade.
University policies regarding credit by examination are given in General Information.
Graduation
Special Requirements of the School of Nursing
All students must fulfill the general requirements for graduation given in chapter 1. Students in the School of Nursing must also fulfill the following requirements:
- All University students must have a grade point average of at least 2.00 to graduate. In the School of Nursing, students must also have a grade point average of at least 2.00 in the coursework used to fulfill the upper-division requirement.
- A candidate must complete the prescribed curriculum and must meet all other requirements of the School of Nursing.
- A student must supply the School of Nursing with transcripts of courses taken outside the school as the courses are completed.
Degree Audit
A degree audit is prepared in the dean's office when the student begins the junior year of nursing courses. The student is then notified of the courses he or she must take and the requirements he or she must fulfill to receive the degree. The degree audit is normally done according to the catalog in effect when the student was admitted to the School of Nursing, but the student may choose to have it done according to any catalog under which he or she is eligible to graduate. Rules on graduation under a particular catalog are given in chapter 1.
In advising and in registering students, the dean and advisers try to prevent errors. Avoidance of errors is the main purpose of the degree audit, but it remains the responsibility of the student to fulfill all catalog requirements.
Graduation Application Form
In the long-session semester or summer session in which the degree is to be awarded, the candidate must be registered at the University and must file a Graduation Application Form in the School of Nursing Office of Student Affairs. The form must be filed by the deadline to apply for an undergraduate degree, which is given in the official academic calendar.
Licensure as a Professional Nurse
Each student seeking licensure as a professional nurse must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The Texas Board of Nursing, which determines eligibility to take the NCLEX, has identified certain circumstances that may render a candidate ineligible for state licensure as a registered nurse. A student's answers to the following questions may determine eligibility.
- Have you been convicted, adjudged guilty by a court, plead guilty, no contest or nolo contendere to any crime in any state, territory, or country, whether or not a sentence was imposed, including any pending criminal charges or unresolved arrests (excluding minor traffic violations)? This includes expunged offenses and deferred adjudications with or without prejudice of guilt. Please note that DUIs, DWIs, and PIs must be reported and are not considered minor traffic violations. (One-time minor in possession (MIP) or minor in consumption (MIC) violations do not need to be disclosed. However, if you have two or more MIPs or MICs, you must answer "yes" to this question.)
- Do you have any criminal charges pending, including unresolved arrests?
- Has any licensing authority refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, cancelled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, or refused to renew a professional license, certificate, or multistate privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded, or otherwise disciplined you?
- Within the past five years have you been addicted to and/or treated for use of alcohol or any other drug?
- Within the past five years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder?
Criminal background checks, including fingerprinting, are a required part of the application process for licensure in Texas. Students who have concerns about this requirement are encouraged to seek confirmation of their eligibility for licensure prior to considering a career in nursing. Consult the Texas Board of Nursing Web site or call (512) 305-7400 for further information.
Degrees
Programs in the School of Nursing
The School of Nursing offers an undergraduate program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing and graduate programs leading to the Master of Science in Nursing degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in nursing. The undergraduate program is designed for students who wish to enter the profession of nursing. Students who have earned an associate's degree or a diploma in nursing and wish to obtain the baccalaureate degree may apply to the accelerated track, the ADN-BSN program. The master's and doctoral degree programs are designed to prepare professionals for advanced clinical practice and research in nursing.
The baccalaureate program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Purpose of the School of Nursing
The purpose of the School of Nursing is to contribute to the teaching, research, and service missions of the University of Texas at Austin through
- Preparing generalists in professional nursing practice at the baccalaureate level.
- Preparing specialists at the graduate level in nursing to assume roles in practice, administration, education, and research.
- Promoting excellence in nursing scholarship.
- Contributing to the body of nursing knowledge.
- Offering educational, consultative, and other health care services to the community.
Objectives of the Bachelor's Degree Program
The graduate of the baccalaureate program in nursing is expected to
- Use critical thinking to integrate knowledge from nursing, biological and behavioral sciences, and the humanities in planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care.
- Use critical thinking and clinical judgment within a problem-solving process to meet the health care needs of individuals, families, aggregates, and communities in a variety of settings.
- Accept responsibility and accountability for one's own actions as a health care professional.
- Participate in the delivery of health care through case management, interdisciplinary collaboration, delegation, coordination, and consultation.
- Participate in nursing and interdisciplinary efforts to improve the delivery of high-quality health care to diverse individuals, families, aggregates, and communities.
- Demonstrate core professional values to complement continued personal and professional growth.
- Practice nursing according to professional and ethical standards.
- Critically appraise and apply research findings to demonstrate evidence-based nursing practice.
- Examine health policy and its effects on individuals, families, aggregates, communities, and health agencies.
- Integrate the appropriate use of information and health care technology in nursing practice, administration, education, and research.
Applicability of Certain Courses
ROTC Courses
The dean has the authority to substitute an equivalent air force science, military science, or naval science course or courses for a course or courses prescribed by the School of Nursing and to make adjustments to compensate for any differences in semester hour value. The total number of semester hours required for the degree remains unchanged.
Correspondence and Extension Courses
Credit earned by correspondence or extension from the University or elsewhere will be counted toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree if approved by either the assistant dean for student affairs or the assistant dean for undergraduate programs. A student planning to meet preprofessional course requirements with correspondence or extension courses should consult the Office of Student Affairs to ensure enrollment in appropriate courses. Credit for professional sequence courses may not be earned by correspondence or extension.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
This program consists of 127 to 128 semester hours of coursework: sixty-six to sixty-seven hours of prerequisite courses (the preprofessional sequence) taken at the University of Texas at Austin or another accredited college or university, followed by sixty-one hours of upper-division nursing courses (the professional sequence) taken at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. Upon completion of the program, students are awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and have fulfilled the prescribed course of study and clinical practice required to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for licensure as a registered nurse.
Foreign Language Requirement
Students may fulfill the foreign language component of the University's basic education requirements by completing two years of a single foreign language in high school, by earning an appropriate score on one of the placement examinations administered by the University, or by completing two semesters of college coursework in a single foreign language in addition to the degree requirements given below. If the foreign language requirement will be fulfilled by transfer credit, credit by examination, or extension or correspondence courses, it must be fulfilled before the first semester of the student's senior year. Nursing 354 may not be counted toward the foreign language requirement. For students who take college coursework to complete the foreign language requirement, Spanish is recommended.
Writing Requirement
All students must complete two courses with a substantial writing component or a writing flag; these courses are identified in the Course Schedule. At least one of the courses must be upper-division. Courses used to fulfill the writing requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements.
Preprofessional Sequence
Students must complete the sixty-six or sixty-seven semester hours of coursework (preprofessional sequence) listed below. Completion usually requires two and one-half academic years (or four semesters and one summer session). All courses must be completed before the student enrolls in upper-division courses in nursing.
| courses | sem hrs |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences | |
| Physiology and functional anatomy: Biology 416K, 416L | 8 |
| Biology: Biology 311C | 3 |
| Microbiology: Biology 226N | 2 |
| Chemistry: Chemistry 313N | 3 |
| Mathematics 301, 302, 303D, or 305G | 3 |
| Nutrition 306 | 3 |
| Liberal Arts | |
| Rhetoric and Writing 306, English 316K | 6 |
| United States government, including Texas government: Government 310L, 312L | 6 |
| Growth and development: Human Development and Family Sciences 313 and 113L, or Psychology 304 | 3 or 4 |
| United States history: History 315K, 315L | 6 |
| Introductory psychology: Psychology 301 | 3 |
| Fine arts elective | 3 |
| Nursing | |
| Nursing 310, Communication in Health Care Settings | 3 |
| Nursing 311, Ethics of Health Care | 3 |
| Nursing 264, Nursing Research | 2 |
| Other Courses | |
| First-year signature course: Undergraduate Studies 302 or 303 | 3 |
| Introductory statistics: Educational Psychology 371, Mathematics 316, Psychology 317, Statistics and Scientific Computation 303, 304, 305, or 306 | 3 |
| Introductory pharmacology: Pharmacy 338 | 3 |
| total 66 or 67 | |
Professional Sequence
The final sixty-one semester hours of coursework in nursing are completed after the student has achieved upper-division standing and has been admitted into the School of Nursing professional sequence. These hours consist of the courses listed below and Nursing 347, Specialized Topics in Nursing, which many students choose to take in the summer. In order to meet prerequisites, students must take most of the courses in the professional sequence in the indicated semester. Courses that may be taken at any point in the professional sequence are Nursing 323, Genetics in Health Care, Nursing 347, Specialized Topics in Nursing, and Nursing 354, Spanish for Health Care Professionals.
| courses | sem hrs |
|---|---|
| First Semester | |
| N 224, Health Assessment Skills | 2 |
| N 325, Adult Health Nursing I | 3 |
| N 325P, Adult Health Nursing I (Practicum) | 3 |
| N 226, Mental Health Aspects of Health Care | 2 |
| N 227, Conceptual Bases of Aging | 2 |
| N 127P, Clinical Nursing Skills I (Practicum) | 1 |
| N 354, Spanish for Health Care Professionals | 3 |
| total 16 | |
| Second Semester | |
| N 455, Adult Health Nursing II | 4 |
| N 355P, Adult Health Nursing II (Practicum) | 3 |
| N 356, Mental Health Nursing across the Life Span | 3 |
| N 356P, Problems in Mental Health Nursing (Practicum) | 3 |
| N 157P, Clinical Nursing Skills II (Practicum) | 1 |
| total 14 | |
| Third Semester | |
| N 323, Genetics in Health Care | 3 |
| N 265, Nursing Care of Childbearing Families | 2 |
| N 365P, Nursing Care of Childbearing Families (Practicum) | 3 |
| N 266, Nursing Care of Children and Their Families | 2 |
| N 366P, Nursing Care of Children and Their Families (Practicum) | 3 |
| N 377, Leadership and Management of Nursing Care | 3 |
| total 16 | |
| Fourth Semester | |
| N 275, Public Health Nursing | 2 |
| N 375P, Public Health Nursing (Practicum) | 3 |
| N 377P, Clinical Care Management (Practicum) | 3 |
| N 278, Synthesis of Nursing Knowledge | 2 |
| N 279P, Capstone Preceptorship | 2 |
| total 12 | |
BSN for Registered Nurses
The Accelerated Track, designed for registered nurses with associate's degrees or diplomas in nursing, builds on individuals' backgrounds while offering preparation in areas such as public health nursing, genetics, decision making, leadership, and management. The BSN degree provides the basis for graduate preparation at the MSN and PhD levels.
Students should call the ADN-BSN/MSN adviser at (512) 232-4780 for an appointment before registering for prerequisite courses for help in planning a program of study.