Admission to the Graduate Programs in Nursing Practice

Admission Criteria

DNP-FNP Post-Baccalaurete Program

Admission to the DNP-FNP program is a competitive process and is based upon a holistic review of an applicant’s unique experiences and traditional measures of academic achievement. Applicants seeking priority status must submit applications by the date published on the program website to be considered for full admission to the program the following semester. Late applications may be considered if: a.) space is available in the program; and, b.) the application is complete and the applicant meets all expected academic requirements:

A registered nurse with:
- A baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by a federally recognized nurse education accrediting body;
- An Associate degree in nursing and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (additional coursework or evaluation of knowledge and skills may be required to demonstrate baccalaureate nursing competencies;
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in upper division major courses and 2.8 overall;
Successful completion with grades of “B” or higher in undergraduate Basic Statistics and Research courses;
An unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state where clinical practicum experiences will be conducted (students licensed in states other than Texas and its compact states are advised that additional requirements for approval to complete clinical practica may be imposed by the state); and,
One year of experience in nursing practice.

Applicants may be considered for Conditional Admission on an individual basis if they do not meet the following requirements for Full Admission status:

minimum GPA requirements of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in upper division major courses and 2.8 overall,
and/or,
successful completion with a grade of “B” or higher in undergraduate Basic Statistics and Research;

To move from Conditional to Full admission status, a GPA of at least 3.0 must be earned in the first semester (minimum of 6 credit hours) of the program. If the GPA at the end of the first semester of the program is not at least 3.0, the student is withdrawn from the program and is not eligible to re-apply.

DNP Post-Master's Completion Program

Admission to the DNP Post-Master's Completion program is based upon a holistic review of an applicant’s unique experiences and traditional measures of academic achievement. Applicants seeking admission must submit applications by the dates published on the program website to be considered for full admission to the program the following term. Late applications may be considered if: a.) space is available in the program; and, b.) the application is complete and the applicant meets all expected academic requirements.

Applicants must be an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with:

A master's degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by a federally recognized nurse education accrediting body;
A current and unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the United States;
A current and unencumbered license/certificate, approval as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the United States;
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in master's level courses;
Successful completion with grades of "B" or higher in master's level Statistics and Research courses;
One year of experience in advanced nursing practice.

Applicants may be considered for Conditional Admission on an individual basis if they do not meet the following requirements for Full Admission status:

minimum GPA requirements of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in upper division major courses and 2.8 overall, and/or;
successful completion with a grade of "B" or higher in undergraduate basic Statistics and Research;
other criteria may be considered for conditional admission on an individual basis.

To move from Conditional to Full Admission status, a GPA of at least 3.0 must be earned in the first semester (minimum of 6 credit hours) of the program. If the GPA at the end of the first semester of the program is not at least 3.0, the student is withdrawn from the program and is not eligible to reapply.

MSN-FNP Program

Admission to the MSN-FNP program is based upon a holistic review of an applicant’s unique experiences and traditional measures of academic achievement. Applicants seeking admission must submit applications by the dates published on the program website to be considered for full admission to the program the following term. Late applications may be considered if: a.) space is available in the program; and, b.) the application is complete and the applicant meets all expected academic requirements.

Applicants must be a Registered Nurse with:

A baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by a federally recognized nurse education accrediting body;
An Associate degree in nursing and a baccalaureate degree in a related field (additional coursework or evaluation of knowledge and skills may be required to demonstrate baccalaureate nursing competencies);
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in upper division major courses and a 2.8 overall;
An unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state where clinical practicum experiences will be conducted (students licensed in states other than Texas and its compact states are advised that additional requirements for approval to complete the clinical practica may be imposed by the state) and;
One year of experience in nursing practice.

Applicants may be considered for Conditional Admission on an individual basis if they do not meet the following requirements for Full Admission status:

minimum GPA requirements of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in upper division major courses and 2.8 overall, and/or;
successful completion with a grade of "B" or higher in undergraduate basic Statistics and Research;
other criteria may be considered for conditional admission on an individual basis.

FNP Certificate Program

Admission to the FNP Certificate program is based upon a holistic review of an applicant’s unique experiences and traditional measures of academic achievement. Applicants seeking admission must submit applications by the dates published on the program website to be considered for full admission to the program the following term. Late applications may be considered if: a.) space is available in the program; and, b.) the application is complete and the applicant meets all expected academic requirements.

Applicants must be a Registered Nurse with:

A master's degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by a federally recognized nurse education accrediting body;
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in master's level courses;
An unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state where clinical practicum experiences will be conducted (students licensed in states other than Texas and its compact states are advised that additional requirements for approval to complete the clinical practica may be imposed by the state) and;
One year of experience in nursing practice.

Applicants may be considered for Conditional Admission on an individual basis if they do not meet the following requirements for Full Admission status:

minimum GPA requirements of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in upper division major courses and 2.8 overall, and/or;
successful completion with a grade of "B" or higher in undergraduate basic Statistics and Research;
other criteria may be considered for conditional admission on an individual basis.

Application

The application for admission can be found online at http://www.txwes.edu. In addition, the following documents are required:

Official transcripts sent from each college/university attended (including hospital school of nursing, if appropriate)
A resume or curriculum vita that includes, at minimum, academic, work, and community service experiences;
Evidence of on-going education through continuing education or additional certifications;
Three professional or academic references that provide support for (at a minimum) the applicant’s
- commitment to high-quality patient care;
- respect for human dignity;
- capacity for learning complex material and skills; and,
- demonstrated effectiveness as an interprofessional team member;

An interview (face-to-face or live video conference depending on applicant’s choice) is also required to ensure the applicant's understanding of the program and to provide initial advising by faculty. The applicant should be able to demonstrates the ability to communicate a clear philosophy of primary care in a professional manner.

Admission Status

Admission to all programs is determined by the DNP Graduate Committee. Applicants are offered full admission, conditional admission, or are denied admission. Applicants may appeal an admission decision to the Dean of the School of Health Professions in writing. Denied applicants may re-apply the following year. No guarantee is made regarding full admission for those who re-apply.

Students who stop-out of the program for one semester may re-enroll without re-applying to the program if there is no encumbrance on the nursing license. The student must notify the DNP Graduate Committee in writing of their intent to re-enroll. If the student has stopped-out for more than one year, a modified re-application process is required by writing a letter to the DNP Graduate Committee and by demonstrating an unencumbered license. Other information may be required by the committee under special circumstances.

Accepted Candidates Complete Credentialing

Accepted candidates who confirm their intention to enroll in the program through e-mail and payment of the deposit will be required to submit additional documents related to credentialing for clinical practica prior to enrollment in the first semester of courses. These documents include:

Clear criminal background check
Clear and current drug screen (within one month prior to enrollment in first semester of courses)
Most recent immunization records showing up-to-date immunizations
Current BLS certification
Current TB test results

Accepted candidates will receive instructions related to the credentialing requirement process and will be able to monitor their progress on Radius Self Service Center as documents are received and processed. Students who have not completed these requirements may not enroll in courses.

Progression Requirements for the Graduate Programs in Nursing Practice

To progress in the graduate nursing practice programs, students must:

Maintain an unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse;
Maintain a 3.0 GPA. One course grade of “C” is allowed in the required courses. The course must be repeated and a grade of “B” or higher must be earned in the second attempt. Students who do not maintain a GPA of 3.0 are dismissed from the program.
Maintain a clear criminal background check, drug screens, required immunizations, and BLS certification prior to engaging in clinical practica (refer to the Background checks, Drug Screens, and Immunizations section).
Engage in consistent professional conduct. Unprofessional conduct and unethical, unsafe, or illegal practices by licensed Registered Nurses in the State of Texas and its compact states are subject to peer review as required by Texas Administrative Code Title 22, Part 11, Chapter 217 Rule §217.19(d). Procedures for Incident-Based Peer Review (IBPR) provide for compliance with “due process” and “good faith” in the peer review process through the School of Health Professions Nursing Peer-Review Committee. Reporting to the Texas Board of Nursing may be mandatory and other requirements to protect the safety of the public will be implemented by program officials, including possible dismissal from the program.
Maintain a clear drug screen (randomly conducted by the program at the programs cost during clinical phases of the program).
- a positive drug screen may lead to dismissal or leave of absence from the program, required reporting to the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners (which can result in encumbering or revocation of nursing license), participation in required treatment and rehabilitation programs, or other reasonable action necessary to protect the public and the student from harm.
Maintain mental health capacities that do not impair behavior, judgment, or ability to function in school or work as defined by the Texas Board of Nursing. Treatment for alcohol and/or drug addiction are considered part of mental health capacity and may lead to a required leave of absence or dismissal from the program.
Maintain respectful, professional relationships with clinical partners providing sites for clinical/practicum experiences.