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The Lone Star College offers a multiple entry/exit program of study in Associate Degree Nursing. The ADN Basic Track and the LVN/LP to ADN Transition Track lead to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing and eligibility to take the RN State Licensure Examination. The Basic Track Nursing Program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (Texas BON) and is accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, http://www.acenursing.org.
Basic Track: Beginning nursing students are admitted in July/August of each year to pursue four sequential semesters of nursing courses. Classes include lecture, lab, and clinical. Attendance requirements are 4-5 days per week.
HEALTH AND IMMUNIZATION STATUS
Students must be physically and emotionally able to meet all program requirements including the rendering of safe nursing care in the clinical setting. These abilities involve lifting, moving, bathing, and transferring patients in and out of bed, calculating medications, and being able to communicate clearly and effectively with patients and members of the healthcare team. Nursing care involves exposure to patients with infectious and blood-borne diseases. After admission into the program, students must submit a record of current immunizations required by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The DSHS is now requiring a completed Hepatitis B series prior to direct patient contact. Students must have a physical exam and a current CPR certificate designed for health care providers prior to the first day of clinical. The physical examination certifies that students are physically and emotionally capable of performing the duties of a nurse.
Students in the nursing program are strongly encouraged to carry a personal health policy. The College and clinical facilities are not responsible for any claims for expenses that result from an action of a student in the clinical setting. Although the clinical facilities provide access to acute emergency care in the event of an accident or injury to a student, the student is responsible for all expenses incurred.
PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE
All nursing students are required to carry professional liability insurance. Fees collected at the time of registration cover the cost of a college student blanket policy with a major insurance carrier.
PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS
To remain in good standing and progress within the nursing curriculum, students must maintain a “C” (75%) or higher in EACH COURSE in the nursing degree plan and maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0 in the college.
A standardized test will be given at the end of the first year, and students who do not make an acceptable score will be required to remediate to improve their chances of success in the program.
A student must pass all concurrent nursing courses in a single semester to progress to the next semester. A student who fails or withdraws from one or more concurrent nursing courses must repeat all concurrent nursing courses for that semester if readmitted to the program. Grades earned in concurrent nursing courses in the original semester will be recorded.
CLEAR CRIMINAL HISTORY (BON)
Applicants who have a criminal history, mental illness, or chemical dependency of any kind must apply to and resolve it with the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) by completing a Declaratory Order prior to the beginning of the program.
Important Changes in Texas Board of Nursing Background Check and Declatory Order Process
The process for filing a Declaratory Order (DO) with the Texas Board of Nursing has changed. Students can no longer file a DO in advance. All prospective applicants who were fingerprinted PRIOR to 2010 will be required by the Texas Board of Nursing to redo their fingerprints. Here is the process for filing a DO:
- Any student with a positive criminal background, history of mental illness within the last five years, or chemical dependency within the last five years must contact the Director of Nursing at the campus of their first choice.
- The Director of Nursing will email the student a FERPA form
- Students will download, sign, and email the form back to the Director.
- The signed FERPA form provides Directors with the permission to send personal information to the TBON (address, DOB, SS#) for the initial background check.
- After Lone Star College submits your name on a roster, the TBON will send you an initial outcome letter detailing the next steps in the DO process. Students are advised to gather official legal/medical documents that may be requested by the TBON to expedite the process.
- Students should allow 30 days for the TBON to respond after the initial review.
In-depth reviews are conducted by the Enforcement Department of the TBON and the cost to the student is $150. Students can expect to receive an outcome letter approximately 90 days after an in-depth review.
READMISSION POLICY
Readmission is not automatic; it is based on remediation of problem areas and space available in the program. Students may only be readmitted to the program one time. If readmitted, the student must enroll in all concurrent nursing courses and is required to adhere to CURRENT nursing program policies. Students who are unsuccessful in any first semester nursing course must reapply to the program. Readmission into the associate degree nursing program must occur within two years of non-completion.
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STUDENT CONDUCT
Applicants to the nursing program and student nurses are expected to conduct themselves professionally at all times. Applicants who become disruptive may jeopardize their applications from being considered or their student status and may face disciplinary action as stated in the Lone Star College student handbook and college catalog. In the event that a violation of policy is also a violation of State or Federal law, the College may proceed with disciplinary processes.
lone star college nursing program prerequisites
Important Notice
Effective Fall 2016 for all Health Occupations programs, math placement scores on TSIA, SAT, ACT, STAAR, and TAKS tests will be valid for a period of five (5) years from the date of testing.
Required HESI Scores:
- Effective January 1, 2021, a minimum score of 80 (750 for Critical Thinking) on EACH section of the HESI exam for Basic Track and Transition applicants is required before applying to the program.
- In order to apply for any LSC VN program, the student must attain a minimum of 70 (700 for Critical Thinking) on EACH section of the HESI exam.
HESI A2 entrance exam scores are valid for one year, beginning the day after it was taken.
Please NOTE: If you have taken the HESI outside of Lone Star College, official scores must be sent directly from Elsevier/Evolve to the nursing program of your first choice campus and received one week prior to the application deadline. Official scores must be submitted from Elsevier/Evolve.
Pre-Admission Requirements
- Clear Criminal History (BON)
- HESI Test
- Hepatitis B
- Program Prerequisites
- FERPA
- Bacterial Meningitis (HIB) immunization
Selection Criteria for all Programs
There are different application periods for the different nursing programs throughout the year. Admission to a program is based on the total number of points an applicant earns based on the scoring sheet for each program. Students are ranked according to their scores. Students with high scores are accepted into a program or placed on an alternate list. Accepted students and alternates will be notified of their admission status by Lone Star College email.
As space becomes available, students on the alternate list will receive an acceptance email. Emails of non-acceptance will be sent to those who were not accepted into a nursing program. Applicants who were not accepted into a program can reapply to a nursing program during the application period. No waiting list will be kept.
Health Occupation Programs Admissions Policy dictates that programs do not consider applications from prospective students not at least 18 years old at the time of the program application’s deadline—except that LSC-Tomball may honor a current contractual obligation with Klein ISD requiring the admission of students below the age of 18 years old. Any applicant that willfully misrepresents material information on the application will not be accepted or conditionally remain in a Health Occupation Program.
Apply
Basic Track Nursing program at LSC-CyFair, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris and LSC-Tomball will be accepting applications Monday January 4, 2021 at 8:00am through Friday, April 16, 2021 at 4:00pm. The HESI deadline is Friday, April 9, 2021. This is an Electronic Application. How to Apply (Apply)
Basic Track Nursing program at LSC-CyFair and LSC-Kingwood will be accepting applications Monday, June 7, 2021 at 8:00am through Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 4:00pm. The HESI deadline is Thursday, August 19, 2021. This is an Electronic Application How to Apply (Apply)
Transition Nursing program at LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball will be accepting applications Monday, January 4, 2021 at 8:00am through Friday, April 9, 2021 at 4:00pm. The HESI deadline is Thursday, April 1, 2021. This is an Electronic Application How to Apply
Transition Nursing program at LSC-Kingwood will be accepting applications Monday, March 1, 2021 at 8:00 am through Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 4:00pm. The HESI deadline is Thursday, May 20, 2021. This is an Electronic Application How to Apply (Apply)
Vocational Nursing at LSC-CyFair will be accepting applications Monday, November 22, 2021 at 8:00am through Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 4:00pm. The HESI deadline is Thursday, February 10, 2022. How to Apply
Vocational Nursing at LSC-Kingwood and LSC-Montgomery will be accepting applications Monday, March 1, 2021 at 8:00am through Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 4:00pm. The HESI deadline is Thursday, May 20, 2021. This is an Electronic Application How to Apply (Apply)
Vocational Track at LSC-Tomball will be accepting applications Monday, May 31, 2021 at 8:00am through Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 4:00pm. The HESI deadline is Thursday, July 29, 2021. This is an Electronic Application. How to Apply (Apply)
General Information
Students applying to a nursing program are encouraged to attend an information session. Check the campus Nursing Departments for information session schedules.
In addition to the immunizations required by the Texas Department of State Health Services for all students seeking entry to a Health Occupations Program, students also may be required to obtain additional immunizations to satisfy clinical agency requirements. Some of these may be, but are not limited to
- the annual seasonal flu vaccination
- pneumococcal (“pneumonia”) vaccine
Students admitted to the Health Occupations programs are required to show proof of medical health insurance coverage and pass a drug screen as required by clinical affiliates.
Clear Criminal History (BON)
- Applicants who have a criminal history, mental illness, or chemical dependency of any kind must apply to and resolve it with the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) by completing a Declaratory Order prior to the beginning of the program.
Important Changes in Texas Board of Nursing Background Check and Declaratory Order Process
The process for filing a Declaratory Order (DO) with the Texas Board of Nursing has changed. Students can no longer file a DO in advance. All prospective applicants who were fingerprinted PRIOR to 2010 will be required by the Texas Board of Nursing to redo their fingerprints. Here is the process for filing a DO:
- Any student with a positive criminal background, history of mental illness within the last five years, or chemical dependency within the last five years must complete the process below.
- Download a FERPA form
- Sign and email the form back to the Director at the campus of their first choice. NOTE: The signed FERPA form provides Directors with the permission to send personal information to the TBON (address, DOB, SS#) for the initial background check.
- After Lone Star College submits your name on a roster, the TBON will send you an initial outcome letter detailing the next steps in the DO process. Students are advised to gather official legal/medical documents that may be requested by the TBON to expedite the process.
- Students should allow 30 days for the TBON to respond after the initial review.
In-depth reviews are conducted by the Enforcement Department of the TBON and the cost to the student is $150. Students can expect to receive an outcome letter approximately 90 days after an in-depth review.
Biology Course Information
If you have taken the required biology courses for any of our nursing programs, but took them more than 5 years prior to your application into nursing, please read our Biology Refresher Course Information. All transfer Biology courses for the nursing programs must be minimally 4 credit hours.
Creative Arts/Language, Philosophy & Culture Elective
Requirements for the Associate of Applied Science Degree include a minimum of 3 credits from the approved list in the current college catalog. See approved current Creative Arts/Language, Philosophy & Culture elective list.
Background & SSN Verification
All ACCEPTED students and ALTERNATES will be required to have:
- Background check (BON)
- Social Security Number verification
- Clinical facilities require Social Security Number (SSN) verification.
- Verification cost is the responsibility of the student.
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