What should you know about online nursing programs in Texas? First, nursing programs can’t be completed fully online. Rather, look for a program with a combination of online classes and in-person learning experiences. Choosing an accelerated BSN program in Texas like ours at CTX helps you earn your degree quickly.
If you are considering becoming a registered nurse (RN), Texas is a great place to attend school and work as a nurse. Some nursing education is delivered online.
Below, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about online nursing programs in Texas.
Can You Earn an RN Degree Online?
It is not possible to attain a nursing degree 100% online. It is possible, though, to enroll in a program that includes online coursework instead of the traditional university lecture format. As with any nursing program, you will also participate in hands-on labs and clinicals. This is referred to as hybrid.
Why Should You Consider Hybrid Online Nursing Programs in Texas?
Online/hands-on hybrid nursing education like the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track at Concordia University Texas can provide a quality nursing education more quickly. We also allow for a greater number of students each year by offering three start dates — January, May, and August.
How Do Online-Based ABSN Programs Work?
Traditional nursing programs use in-person lectures to teach foundational nursing topics. A hybrid track like Concordia Texas’s ABSN uses an online learning management system (LMS) to deliver the material. This enables the use of interactive media and decreases the number of classrooms needed, thereby making room for more students. Delivering this content online also allows students to adjust when and where they study according to their preferences.
See the differences between a traditional and accelerated BSN.
At Concordia University Texas, our intuitive online courses are taught by many of the same distinguished faculty who teach our campus-based nursing degrees. In addition to assigned textbook readings, students complete nursing theory coursework online through an e-learning platform that lets you:
- Listen to, view, read, and interact with coursework materials
- Submit assignments
- Discuss coursework with other students using an online forum
- Stay organized using its calendar function
What is accelerated nursing school like at CTX? Here’s your guide to the ABSN program.
What Does a Hybrid Curriculum Include?
In addition to its online learning component, the hybrid learning model includes skills and simulation labs as well as a variety of clinical rotations with area healthcare organizations.
Skills Labs
In skills labs, you will learn to take blood pressure, insert catheters, start IVs, place nasogastric tubes, and more. You will practice some of these skills on task trainers and full-body medical manikins, while you’ll practice others, like vital signs and physical assessments, with classmates under the supervision of an instructor.
Simulation Labs
Simulation labs are designed to feel like a real-life healthcare environment without the fear of harming an actual patient. You will learn to complete basic examinations and care for patients with more complex needs.
Manikins in the simulation labs are more sophisticated than those used in skills labs. You will likely care for a manikin that breathes, blinks, talks, has heart sounds, and displays other capabilities. They can even simulate symptoms and conditions you will encounter in a real healthcare setting.
After each simulation lab, you will debrief with your classmates and instructor to learn how you can improve in the future.
Clinical Rotations
During your clinical rotations, you will work alongside experienced faculty to gain experience in various real-world healthcare settings. You’ll experience diverse patient care settings, ranging from outpatient clinics to community health centers to hospitals. You will first observe nurses interacting with patients; then you will learn to care for those patients yourself.
Nursing specialties where you’ll rotate can include:
- Acute care
- Adult health
- Intensive care
- Long-term care
- Mental health
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
Additionally, Concordia Texas’s ABSN track clinicals expose you to and allow you to network with potential employers in the Austin and Dallas areas.
What Are the Benefits of an Online Nursing Program in Texas?
Becoming a nurse in Texas is an excellent decision for many reasons. Let’s look specifically at the nursing employment outlook in the state of Texas.
Healthcare industry jobs are plentiful. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas ranks second of all the states for employment of registered nurses. That means you’ll likely have many job options after graduation.
Another benefit of pursuing nursing in Texas is that it is a nurse compact state. This means nurses earning licensure in Texas can use their license to work in any of the other nurse compact states. This makes careers like travel nursing or telehealth nursing much simpler.
Learn more about how compact nursing licenses work.
As a nurse, you can expect to make a comfortable living. The BLS reports the state’s annual average wage for a registered nurse in May 2023 was $90,210.
Why Should You Live and Study in Texas?
Choosing Texas for your nursing education and career means you get to enjoy living in an incredible state with a rich culture, natural beauty, and family values.
Our ABSN track has locations in Dallas as well as Austin, and our students enjoy both vibrant cities.
Austin Highlights
- Texas State Capitol building
- Many parks and places to reconnect with nature, such as the McKinney Falls State Park
- Museums and history centers, including the Blanton Museum of Art
- Amazing cuisine, including Tex-Mex, Asian, European, and more
- Barton Springs Pool: a year-round natural swimming hole
Dallas Highlights
- Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
- Museums including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science
- Dallas World Aquarium
- World-class cuisine, including Tex-Mex, barbecue, and ethnic foods
- Dallas Zoo, home to more than 2,000 animals
Now that you know the perks of choosing a nursing program in Texas, let’s look at why you should consider the ABSN track at Concordia Texas.
Why Should You Choose Concordia Texas’s ABSN for Your Nursing Education?
If you are considering earning a BSN through an accredited online nursing program in Texas, know that online learning is not new to us. Our ABSN track for non-nurses has included a blend of online coursework and hands-on labs and clinicals since its inception, making ours among the best online nursing tracks in Texas.
What are the steps to become an RN? Here’s the pathway to earning a BSN through an accelerated nursing program.
Let Your Nursing Journey Begin at Concordia Texas
If you decide to pursue an online nursing program in Texas, you can earn a BSN from Concordia University Texas in as few as 16 months. We take your previous education into account, allowing you to graduate sooner. If you have at least 60 non-nursing college credits or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible for the Concordia Texas ABSN track.
Now that you know about the rewards of pursuing an online nursing program in Texas, reach out to one of our admissions counselors today. They can answer any questions you might have and walk you through the application process.