Associate Degree Nursing

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. The student will be able to Perform holistic health assessment of assigned patients independently.
  2. The student will Utilize clinical reasoning and clinical judgment in providing a patient-centered plan of care to patients, families, and the community with interprofessional collaboration.
  3. The student will Implement a Teaching Plan for patients, families, and the community based on cultural practices, beliefs, values, and social determinants of health.
  4. The student will Manage information technology to promote the safe delivery of care.
  5. The student will be able to Provide Evidence-Based nursing care within the legal and ethical framework of nursing practice to patients, families, and the community.

Advisory Committee Members

Kathy Dassler, MS, RN - Chief Nursing Officer, Rio Grande Regional Hospital  
Kennetha Foster, MSN, RN - System Chief Nursing Officer, South Texas Health System - McAllen Center
Nancy Garcia - MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CMOM, CMCO, Chief Nursing Officer, DHR Health
Cesar E. Guerra, RN - Chief Nursing Officer, Mission Regional Medical Center
Alfred Mascorro - Vice-President, Quality- Rio Grande Regional Hospital
Frank Tostado, RN - Director of Nursing Services - Legends- McAllen Transitional Care 
Romeo Valladares, RN- Administrator, Presidente Home Care, Inc.
Macario Villarreal, RN - Director of Nursing, Retama Manor

Associate Degree Nursing
Associate of Applied Science - Fall Admission

TSI Liable

Plan of Study Grid
Pre-requisitesCredit Hours
ENGL 1301 Composition I 1,2 3
BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I 2 4
BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II 2 4
RNSG 1209 Introduction to Nursing 3 2
 Credit Hours13
First Year
Fall
RNSG 1301 Pharmacology 3
RNSG 1513 Foundations for Nursing Practice 5
RNSG 1205 Nursing Skills I 2
RNSG 1262 Clinical I 2
 Credit Hours12
Spring
RNSG 1144 Nursing Skills II 1
RNSG 1341 Common Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2161 Clinical - Medical/Surgical (8 weeks) 1
RNSG 2213 Mental Health Nursing 2
RNSG 2162 Clinical - Mental Health (8 weeks) 1
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 2 3
 Credit Hours11
Second Year
Fall
RNSG 1412 Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family 4
RNSG 2260 Clinical - Pediatrics/Maternal/Infant (8 weeks) 2
RNSG 1343 Complex Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2361 Clinical - Complex Medical Surgical (8 weeks) 3
 Credit Hours12
Spring
Humanities Elective 2 3
RNSG 2331 Advanced Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2163 Clinical IV (12 weeks) 1
RNSG 2221 Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management 2
RNSG 2363 Clinical V (4 weeks) 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours60
1

May substitute ENGL 1302 Composition II - Rhetoric.

2

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement

3

Admission Assessment Exam (A2 test) composite scores of 75% or better in Math, Science and English required prior to registration for RNSG 1209 Introduction to Nursing.

Associate Degree Nursing
Associate of Applied Science - Spring Admission

TSI Liable

Plan of Study Grid
Pre-requisitesCredit Hours
ENGL 1301 Composition I 1,2 3
BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I 2 4
BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II 2 4
RNSG 1209 Introduction to Nursing 3 2
 Credit Hours13
First Year
Spring
RNSG 1301 Pharmacology 3
RNSG 1513 Foundations for Nursing Practice 5
RNSG 1205 Nursing Skills I 2
RNSG 1262 Clinical I 2
 Credit Hours12
Fall
RNSG 1144 Nursing Skills II 1
RNSG 1341 Common Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2161 Clinical - Medical/Surgical (8 weeks) 1
RNSG 2213 Mental Health Nursing 2
RNSG 2162 Clinical - Mental Health (8 weeks) 1
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 2 3
 Credit Hours11
Second Year
Spring
RNSG 1412 Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family 4
RNSG 2260 Clinical - Pediatrics/Maternal/Infant (8 weeks) 2
RNSG 1343 Complex Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2361 Clinical - Complex Medical Surgical (8 weeks) 3
 Credit Hours12
Fall
Humanities Elective 2 3
RNSG 2331 Advanced Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2163 Clinical IV (12 weeks) 1
RNSG 2221 Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management 2
RNSG 2363 Clinical V (4 weeks) 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours60
1

May substitute ENGL 1302 Composition II - Rhetoric.

2

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement

3

Admission Assessment Exam (A2 test) composite scores of 75% or better in Math, Science and English required prior to registration for RNSG 1209 Introduction to Nursing.

Associate Degree Nursing - 
Specialization: LVN/RN Transition Option Associate of Applied Science - Summer Admission

TSI Liable

Designed for the individual who is a licensed vocational nurse and who is interested in pursuing the Registered Nurse degree. Students who complete the LVN program must apply for acceptance to the Associate Degree Nursing program in order to be admitted as a student. Prospective Associate Degree Nursing students must meet all application requirements before being eligible to apply to the program. Meeting the specific application requirements is not a guarantee of program acceptance. This Selective program has a competitive entry selection process based on a competitive point system. A full description of the competitive entry point system is published in the Prospective Student Guide on the Associate Degree Nursing Program website.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Pre-requisitesCredit Hours
BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I 1 4
BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II 1 4
ENGL 1301 Composition I 1,2 3
Vocational Nursing Hours (Electives) 3 10
 Credit Hours21
Second Year
Summer
RNSG 1417 Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice I for Articulating Students 4
RNSG 1140 Professional Nursing Skills for Articulating Students 1
RNSG 1162 Transition Clinical (8 weeks) 1
RNSG 2213 Mental Health Nursing 2
RNSG 2162 Clinical - Mental Health (8 weeks) 1
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 1 3
RNSG 1301 Pharmacology 3
 Credit Hours15
Fall
RNSG 2361 Clinical - Complex Medical Surgical 3
RNSG 1412 Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family 4
RNSG 2260 Clinical - Pediatrics/Maternal/Infant 2
RNSG 1343 Complex Concepts of Adult Health 3
 Credit Hours12
Spring
Humanities Elective 1 3
RNSG 2331 Advanced Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2163 Clinical IV (12 weeks) 1
RNSG 2221 Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management 2
RNSG 2363 Clinical V (4 weeks) 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours60
1

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement

2

May substitute ENGL 1302 Composition II - Rhetoric

³ Vocational Nursing Hours (Electives)

Upon successful completion of RNSG 1417 Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice I for Articulating StudentsRNSG 1140 Professional Nursing Skills for Articulating Students and RNSG 1162 Transition Clinical, an escrow of 10 credit hours will be given for the following courses:

RNSG 1513Foundations for Nursing Practice5
RNSG 1205Nursing Skills I2
RNSG 1144Nursing Skills II1
RNSG 1262Clinical I2
Total Credit Hours10

Associate Degree Nursing - 
Specialization: LVN/RN Transition Option Associate of Applied Science - Spring Admission

TSI Liable

Designed for the individual who is a licensed vocational nurse and who is interested in pursuing the Registered Nurse degree. Students who complete the LVN program must apply for acceptance to the Associate Degree Nursing program. Prospective Associate Degree Nursing students must meet all application requirements before being eligible to apply to the program. Meeting the specific application requirements is not a guarantee of program acceptance. This Selective Program has a competitive entry selection process based on a competitive point system. A full description of the competitive entry point system is published in the Prospective Student Guide on the Associate Degree Nursing Program website.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Pre-requisitesCredit Hours
BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I 1 4
BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II 1 4
ENGL 1301 Composition I 1,2 3
Vocational Nursing Hours (Electives) 3 10
 Credit Hours21
Second Year
Spring
RNSG 1417 Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice I for Articulating Students 4
RNSG 1140 Professional Nursing Skills for Articulating Students 1
RNSG 1162 Transition Clinical (8 weeks) 1
RNSG 2213 Mental Health Nursing 2
RNSG 2162 Clinical - Mental Health (8 weeks) 1
RNSG 1301 Pharmacology 3
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 1 3
 Credit Hours15
Summer
RNSG 2361 Clinical - Complex Medical Surgical (8 weeks) 3
RNSG 1412 Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family 4
RNSG 2260 Clinical - Pediatrics/Maternal/Infant (8 weeks) 2
RNSG 1343 Complex Concepts of Adult Health 3
 Credit Hours12
Fall
Humanities Elective 1 3
RNSG 2331 Advanced Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2163 Clinical IV (12 weeks) 1
RNSG 2221 Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management 2
RNSG 2363 Clinical V (4 weeks) 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours60
1

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement

2

May substitute ENGL 1302 Composition II - Rhetoric

³ Vocational Nursing Hours (Electives)

Upon successful completion of RNSG 1417 Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice I for Articulating StudentsRNSG 1140 Professional Nursing Skills for Articulating Students and RNSG 1162 Transition Clinical, an escrow of 10 credit hours will be given for the following courses:

RNSG 1513Foundations for Nursing Practice5
RNSG 1205Nursing Skills I2
RNSG 1144Nursing Skills II1
RNSG 1262Clinical I2
Total Credit Hours10

Associate Degree Nursing - 
Specialization: EMT Paramedic to RN Track Associate of Applied Science - Fall Admission

TSI Liable

Designed for the individual who is a licensed Emergency Medical Technology (formally Paramedic) under either Texas or National Registry, and who is interested in pursuing the Registered Nurse degree. Students who complete the EMT-Paramedic program must apply for acceptance to the Associate Degree Nursing program. Prospective Associate Degree Nursing students must meet all application requirements before being eligible to apply to the program. Meeting the specific application requirements is not a guarantee of program acceptance. This Selective Program has a competitive entry selection process based on a competitive point system. A full description of the competitive entry point system is published in the Prospective Student Guide on the Associate Degree Nursing Program website.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Pre-requisitesCredit Hours
BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I 1 4
BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II 1 4
ENGL 1301 Composition I 1,2 3
Paramedic Nursing Hours (Electives) 3 10
 Credit Hours21
Fall
RNSG 1417 Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice I for Articulating Students 4
RNSG 1140 Professional Nursing Skills for Articulating Students 1
RNSG 1162 Transition Clinical (8 weeks) 1
RNSG 2213 Mental Health Nursing 2
RNSG 1301 Pharmacology 3
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 1 3
RNSG 2162 Clinical - Mental Health (8 weeks) 1
 Credit Hours15
Spring
RNSG 1412 Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family 4
RNSG 2260 Clinical - Pediatrics/Maternal/Infant (8 weeks) 2
RNSG 2361 Clinical - Complex Medical Surgical (8 weeks) 3
RNSG 1343 Complex Concepts of Adult Health 3
 Credit Hours12
Second Year
Fall
Humanities Elective 1 3
RNSG 2331 Advanced Concepts of Adult Health 3
RNSG 2163 Clinical IV (12 weeks) 1
RNSG 2221 Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management 2
RNSG 2363 Clinical V (4 weeks) 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours60
1

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement

2

May substitute ENGL 1302 Composition II - Rhetoric.

³ Paramedic Nursing Hours (Electives)

Upon successful completion of RNSG 1417 Concepts of Professional Nursing Practice I for Articulating StudentsRNSG 1140 Professional Nursing Skills for Articulating Students and RNSG 1162 Transition Clinical, an escrow of 10 credit hours will be given for the following courses:

RNSG 1513Foundations for Nursing Practice5
RNSG 1205Nursing Skills I2
RNSG 1144Nursing Skills II1
RNSG 1262Clinical I2
Total Credit Hours10