New Nursing Program for Texas State University-San Marcos

A nursing program at Texas State University-San Marcos has been discussed since the creation of the School/College of Health Professions in the early 1970s. Texas State submitted requests for a bachelor’s degree program in nursing were to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in the late '70s and early '80s. The requests were denied due to the perception that existing programs could handle the need. Now, some 30 years later, the nursing shortage is critical and community leaders, educators, healthcare executives, and legislators are giving specific attention to strategies responding to the need for RNs to meet the growing healthcare needs of Texas residents.

In 2003, Central Texas community leaders, healthcare executives and elected officials contacted Texas State to discuss the nursing shortage and to make a commitment to support and seek funding for a nursing program at Texas State. Through the efforts of The Texas State University System, Texas State’s administration, state legislators and healthcare donors, Texas State undertook an ambitious plan to develop a school of nursing to offer a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. The College hired an associate dean to refine the Nursing Program in September 2008 and two associate professor faculty were hired in June 2008. An additional eight faculty will be employed beginning fall 2009 to prepare for the admission of students in fall 2010. Adjunct clinical nursing faculty will be hired at that time to assist with the required student clinical/field experiences in various healthcare service settings. The faculty are responsible for arranging the various clinical rotations of students at healthcare facilities and preparing for curriculum delivery both in the classrooms and in the simulation and basic skills labs.

The nursing building, funded by $36 million in tuition revenue bonds, is a 77,740-gross square-foot, three-story building with the creative design based on on-site visits to recently built nursing facilities. Construction of the new nursing building at the Round Rock Higher Education Center (RRHEC) will be completed and the program prepared to admit the first class of 100 juniors in fall 2010. The building supports the innovative curriculum in a variety of clinical practice and simulation labs with the most current equipment and manikins, wireless capability, a variety of classrooms and seminar rooms, as well as spacious student and faculty areas. The curriculum is designed to promote learning and research, and to make maximum use of the facility’s resources. The building is designed to accommodate future expansion in programs, including research, and enrollments as resources allow. For additional resources and support the students and faculty will have access to the RRHEC Avery building, which provides on-site library, technical support, student services, food service, classrooms and student/faculty areas.

Start-up funding for operations and implementation is provided by the Texas Legislature through a state line item of $2 million, and through the gift of $6 million from the St. David’s Community Health Foundation. Scott and White Medical Center and Central Texas Medical Center have designated specific gifts in support of the nursing program. Texas State will contribute by allocating new university faculty/program funds until formula funding is received.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program will be organizationally placed in the School of Nursing, which is a new academic unit within the College of Health Professions. The college currently prepares undergraduate and graduate students in the disciplines of clinical laboratory science, communication disorders, health administration, health information management, physical therapy, radiation therapy, and respiratory care.

The proposed generic BSN curriculum is 130 hours, which includes 65 hours of Texas State core curricular and pre-requisite courses, and 65 hours of nursing courses. Students will spend their first four academic semesters completing the core and pre-requisite courses, and then proceed to spend five semesters, including one summer semester, completing the nursing requirements. The curriculum is designed to accommodate the latest teaching technologies and learning strategies to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed for professional nursing practice in the 21st century. In addition to the extensive practice and simulation laboratory training, clinical experience will be provided in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, ambulatory centers and clinics, residential programs, public school entities, and other healthcare-related settings. Diversity in admission of students to reflect the communities and populations served is a goal of the faculty. Student retention initiatives will be undertaken to help students overcome academic challenges, thereby maximizing the perseverance and graduation rates.

The program is applying for approval by the Texas Board of Nursing concurrently with that of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. It has received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). An application for accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) will be submitted in fall 2009, with full accreditation planned in time for the first class to graduate in spring 2012.

For more information, contact the School of Nursing, Texas State University, 1555 University Drive, Suite 462, Round Rock, TX 78665-8017, or call 512-716-2900.