Sul Ross offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as an RN to BSN completion program for nurses who have completed the pre-license level and subsequent RN licensure.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program serves the Big Bend Region and is designed to prepare nursing professionals who are ready to lead for a better and healthier future of members of the communities in the rural border regions of Texas. The outcomes of pre-licensure BSN track are directed toward developing professional nursing knowledge and skills, with a focus on holistic, patient-centered care, and promoting health and well-being to individuals in remote, rural border communities. The nursing program is an integrated, concept-based curriculum that is delivered through in-person, online-learning, simulation laboratories and clinical learning environments within the remote rural Texas-Mexico border region. This unique program focuses on the development of competent entry level nursing care consistent with evidence-informed clinical decision-making practice; the health of individuals, families, communities and populations; legal and ethical issues in health care; the assumption of leadership and management roles; and desire and curiosity for life-long learning. The BSN program’s learning activities and projects are designed to provide a strong foundation for professional nursing practice and future, professional endeavors. Classroom, on-line, laboratory, and clinically based learning experiences engage and stimulate students to accomplish course and program objectives outcomes. Students engage in a variety of clinical learning experiences with patients in hospitals, clinics, primary-care-provider offices, home health agencies, and varied community health facilities. A well-equipped skills and simulation laboratory provide the opportunity for nursing students to develop required nursing and patient interaction skills prior to engaging in clinical learning opportunities with patients. State and national standards are reflected in learning activities for each course. Graduates are prepared to be generalists who will demonstrate the entry level professional nursing skills.
The RN to BSN completion program is designed to prepare nursing graduates who will demonstrate the highest of professional nursing skills. It will allow nurses who have completed the pre-license level and subsequent RN licensure to advance their professional qualifications while continuing to live and work within or outside of the region. This on-line program focuses on access to and use of evidence in clinical decision making; the delivery of expert nursing care consistent with evidence-based practice; the health of individuals, families, communities and populations; legal and ethical issues in health care; and the assumption of increasing leadership and management roles. The curriculum is designed to provide flexibility in student progression. Requirements can be completed in one year while students are working full- or part-time. Courses scheduled during the fall and spring semesters are eight weeks in length, thus allowing students to take four courses in a long semester, if desired. Summer courses remain at ten-weeks, which extend over the two five-week semesters. BSN education provides increased employment opportunities and a natural progression to graduate school and expanded roles in education, administration, and advanced practice, including nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), nurse midwifery (CNM), clinical nurse leader (CNL), and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).
Nursing faculty members teaching in the Department of Nursing are listed in alphabetical order since many of the faculty teach in both the BSN and RN to BSN tracks. Emails are listed for faculty contact. Additional information about each faculty member can be found in the University Directory.
| Dr. Austin Frederick
210.575.6833 austin.frederick@sulross.edu |
Laura Gesick
– lgesick@gmail.com |
| Dr. Geraldine Goosen
830.931.4371 ggoosen@sulross.edu |
Dr. Tara Haskins
432.837.8171 tlh19pc@sulross.edu |
| Dr. Anne Mary Hanley
– mary.hanley@sulross.edu |
Rolando Lira
830.703.1583 rolando.lira@sulross.edu |
| Dr. Lora Lee Lockhart
512.699.6055 lora.lockhart@sulross.edu |
Angelica Martinez
– axm19bq@sulross.edu |
| Wilma Mason
830.776.8692 wxc14cy@sulross.edu |
Violita McDonald
432.290.0036 – |
| Dr. Melissa McElroy
– melissa.mcelroy@sulross.edu |
Kelly McNeely
737.255.2600 – |
| Dr. Rosa Perez
830.776.6777 rosa.perez@sulross.edu |
Dr. Michele Wilson
512.789.4933 michele.wilson@sulross.edu |
Nursing Program Handbooks:
Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas offers a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program/track to this remote area of the Texas-Mexico border. Program graduates possess the potential for evidence-informed clinical judgment, ethical comportment, assessment skills, direct patient care, nursing leadership, and management potential in a community setting as they assume leadership roles on the health-care team.
Detailed Admission Requirements can be found here.
Successful completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a major step toward opening doors for employment in the health care systems as well as providing the foundation for progressive growth and development in the profession of nursing. During the past decade hospitals with Magnet Certification and other health care institutions require the BSN for new employees. This led to an increase in nursing students seeking a BSN as their pre-licensure educational programs and a greater number of RN’s seeking a BSN through RN to BSN education. Research findings and results from patient surveys support the premise that nurses with BSN preparation perform at a high level of excellence.
This BSN track at Sul Ross State University was planned and developed with much attention toward improving health care in the Big Bend/Frontier Region. Addressing requirements from SRSU as well as rules and regulations from State and National governing agencies prepares the BSN graduate with nursing excellence in management, leadership, clinical practice, education, research, and community service in a rural/border environment. This comprehensive preparation facilitates excellence in practice in urban as well as rural communities.
Frequently, learning activities in the BSN track spark a desire and vision toward seeking a higher level of education at the master’s level and even beyond to doctoral preparation. Advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioners in all clinical fields, clinical nurse specialists, nurse educators and/or administrators, nurse midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetist are common fields to achieve at the graduate level which leads to challenging types of nursing practice, including private practice. Nurse practitioners are rapidly populating the field of primary care providers across the country. Personal and professional satisfaction attained from practicing at the BSN level or moving forward to health-related opportunities is exciting to envision and achieve.
During the past year, the world has expanded its appreciation for the knowledge and skill demonstrated by all health care professionals as we moved through the horrific COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing over-crowded health care facilities on TV sparks a profound admiration for all front-line workers as they perform the daily tasks required to serve individuals with health care needs. The Department of Nursing at Sul Ross State University provides the opportunity for students to “Hitch Their Aspirations to a Star”. We welcome you!
Degree Plans
CCNE Public Disclosure Statement for Nursing Education Programs
The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Sul Ross State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
All undergraduates must be advised in order to register/enroll in courses in a future term.
Academic Advisors provide students with schedule planning and degree checklists, identify academic support structures (tutoring) for at-risk students, help new students transition from other institutions, and assist students in deciding on a major. Academic Advisors also provide students with one-on-one instruction on how to use Lobo Online which is the student’s portal to academic and administrative services at Sul Ross State University.
Advisors accept student inquiries by appointment (Zoom, Teams, and Skype), over the phone, or as walk-ins. Students must be advised before registration and they must receive their advisor’s final approval of schedules and official degree plans.
Visit Academic Advising to learn more.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Year 1
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
ENG 1302
3 credit hours
ENG 1301
3 credit hours
HIST 1302
3 credit hours
HIST 1301
3 credit hours
MATH 1314
3 credit hours
PSY 1302
3 credit hours
PS 2306
3 credit hours
CHEM 1311/1312
3 credit hours
BIOL 2301 & Physiology Lab
4 credit hours
PS 2305
3 credit hours
–
–
Total: 16 sch
Total: 16 sch
Year 2
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Visual/Perf. Arts
3 credit hours
PHIL 1301
3 credit hours
COMM 1310/1311
3 credit hours
BIO 1340
3 credit hours
BIOL 2302 & Physiology II Lab
4 credit hours
MATH 1342
3 credit hours
ENG 2315
3 credit hours
PSY 2314
3 credit hours
–
–
BIOL 2321 & Microbio lab
4 credit hours
Total: 13 sch
Total: 16 sch
Summer Sessions prior to Year 3
Session I
Session II
NUR 3311
3 credit hours
NUR 3314
3 credit hours
Total: 3 sch
Total: 3 sch
Year 3
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
NUR 3201
2 credit hours
NUR 3220
3 credit hours
NUR 3304
3 credit hours
NUR 3310
3 credit hours
NUR 3312 & Lab
3 credit hours
NUR 3341 & Lab
4 credit hours
NUR 3540 + Lab & Clinical
5 credit hours
NUR 3413 & lab
4 credit hours
Total: 13 sch
Total: 14 sch
Year 4
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
NUR 4321
3 credit hours
NUR 4322
2 credit hours
NUR 4414 & Lab
4 credit hours
NUR 4305 & Clinical
3 credit hours
NUR 4542-Clinical
5 credit hours
NUR 4415 & Lab
4 credit hours
–
–
NUR 4544-Clinical
5 credit hours
Total: 12 sch
Total: 14 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 120
CCNE Public Disclosure Statement for Nursing Education Programs
The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Sul Ross State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
All undergraduates must be advised in order to register/enroll in courses in a future term.
Academic Advisors provide students with schedule planning and degree checklists, identify academic support structures (tutoring) for at-risk students, help new students transition from other institutions, and assist students in deciding on a major. Academic Advisors also provide students with one-on-one instruction on how to use Lobo Online which is the student’s portal to academic and administrative services at Sul Ross State University.
Advisors accept student inquiries by appointment (Zoom, Teams, and Skype), over the phone, or as walk-ins. Students must be advised before registration and they must receive their advisor’s final approval of schedules and official degree plans.
Visit Academic Advising to learn more.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Year 1
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
ENG 1301
3 credit hours
ENG 1302
3 credit hours
MATH 1342
3 credit hours
MATH 1314
3 credit hours
HIST 1301
3 credit hours
HIST 1302
3 credit hours
BIOL 2301 + 2101
4 credit hours
PSY 1302
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
3 credit hours
BIOL 2302 + 2102
4 credit hours
Total: 14 sch
Total: 16 sch
Year 2
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
PS 2305
3 credit hours
BIOL 2321 + 2121
4 credit hours
CHEM 1311
3 credit hours
PS 2306
3 credit hours
Creative Arts Core Req
3 credit hours
PSY 2314
3 credit hours
ENG 2315
3 credit hours
PHIL 1301
3 credit hours
COMM 1310/1311
3 credit hours
BIOL 2320
3 credit hours
Total: 15 sch
Total: 16 sch
Summer Semester
_
NUR 3311
3 credit hours
_
_
NUR 3314
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 6 sch
_
Year 3
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
NUR 3201
2 credit hours
NUR 3310
3 credit hours
NUR 3304
3 credit hours
NUR 3413
3 credit hours
NUR 3312 & Lab
3 credit hours
NUR 3441 & Lab
4 credit hours
NUR 3540 + Lab & Clinical
5 credit hours
NUR 3320
3 credit hours
Total: 13 sch
Total: 14 sch
Year 4
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
NUR 4321
3 credit hours
NUR 4222
2 credit hours
NUR 4414 & Lab
4 credit hours
NUR 4415 & Lab
4 credit hours
NUR 4542-Clinical
5 credit hours
NUR 4544-Clinical
5 credit hours
–
–
NUR 4305
3 credit hours
Total: 12 sch
Total: 14 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 120
