Associate Degree In Nursing

RN_stethoscopeAssociate Degree in Nursing

Ranger College offers a two-year RN Program with approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas State Board of Nursing (BON).

Ranger College has high-fidelity manikins (adult, child and baby), audio-visual recording capabilities and a debrief room. Our Nursing Program also has a Maternal-Neonatal simulator which allows students to experience normal, as well as complex birthing scenarios. The use of simulation enhances learning outcomes, allows patient safety and ethical concerns that often arise in the clinical setting to be addressed and prepares students to safely transition into their clinical practice.  Our simulation lab is state-of-the-art.

The Associate Degree in Nursing program is a four-semesters leading to the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree (AASN). Students who complete the AASN are prepared to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed registered nurse in Texas. This program is offered at the Brown County Campus in Early, Texas. For more information, you can email nursing@rangercollege.edu.

Reasons to Become a Licensed Nurse at Ranger College

Ranger College nursing programs had a 100% first-time pass rate on both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN in 2023.

  1. Personal and professional fulfilment in your role as a professional nurse
  2. Small class sizes and accessible faculty to support to your learning needs
  3. Exposure to a variety of healthcare settings for your clinical experiences
  4. Highly credentialed faculty to share their clinical expertise in the classes
  5. Preparation for success to reach your goal of becoming a licensed nurse 
  6. Readiness to advance to the next level and pursue a bachelor's in nursing
  7. Employment options to fulfill a high-demand workforce need in Texas
 
ADN Application

 

Start of the program
Each Fall Semester

Location
Brown County Center

Deadline: Complete ADN applications are due by May 15 at 5:00 Central Standard Time for the fall start.

 

See the Requirements for the ADN Program and Frequently Asked Questions below

  1. Apply to Ranger College. All guidelines for acceptance into Ranger College must be met, including Texas Success Initiative (TSI) completion. 

  2. Request two (2) Official Transcripts:
    • Send one transcript to:
          Ranger College Registrar's Office
           1240 College Circle
           Ranger, TX 76470
      Email: transcripts@rangercollege.edu

    • Send the second transcript to:
           Ranger ADN Nursing Program
            300 Early Blvd, Suite 105
            Early, TX 76802

  3. Complete the ADN Nursing Program Application. (See Program Requirements and Curriculum for the ADN Program)

  4. Admission Test for Nursing: The Test of Essential Academic Skill (TEAS) assesses entry-level academic readiness of nursing program applicants. A “PROFICIENT” level score is required for the program. The TEAS may be taken onlinevia remote proctoring, in-person at Ranger College, in-person at another approved institution of higher education, or in-person at an approved TEAS testing site. 
    Register here
    .
    To take the TEAS at the Brown County campus of Ranger College, choose “Ranger College” as the school and “Early, Texas” as the test location. The TEAS is proctored at the Early campus on most Thursday afternoons in the spring and summer semesters.

  5. Submit your completed application materials to the Nursing Department Office: 
         Ranger College, Heartland Mall
         300 Early Boulevard, Suite 105
         Early, TX 76802

* The Ranger College Department of Nursing will submit names to the Texas Board of Nursing on the new and accepted student roster AFTER the student has been through the selective admission review process, has been admitted to the program, and has accepted the invitation to enter the program. Students needing to seek Texas Board of Nursing clearance for criminal history prior to acceptance must file a declaratory order with the Texas Board of Nursing and must pay the fee required by Texas Board of Nursing. 
* After acceptance, a drug screening is required prior to the program. Ranger College Nursing Department will initiate this process.
* Current Immunizations/Vaccines/Other: Read our Vaccine Requirements.

Once accepted,  your Ranger email account will be set up by the Ranger College IT Dept. Visit Information Technology Services  to learn how to access your Ranger College email account. Students should login to your Ranger email account for correspondence with the Nursing Program. 

 ADN Program Requirements for Download and Print
 
Traditional ADN Program Requirements

Offered in Brown County ONLY  4 Semester Program (no summer ADN nursing courses)

Prerequisite Courses/Credit Hours

Prerequisite course grades of C or greater in each course, with cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on pre- requisite course work to be considered for acceptance:

ENG 1301

Composition I

3

BIOL 2401

Anatomy & Physiology I

4 (within 5 years)

PSYC 2301

General Psychology

3

 

 

 

 

Selective Admission Criteria

Nursing is a selective admission program. Applications to the program are considered via a point system that includes grade point average, grades in required courses, residence, and other criteria. Preference will be given to individuals residing in Brown, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, and Young counties. Applicants must apply and be accepted to Ranger College and must submit a separate application to the ADN Department.

The TEAS Version 7 Entrance Exam must be taken before the application deadline:

  • Starting in Fall 2022, applicants must successfully complete the ATI TEAS Version 7 entrance exam with a cumulative score of “Proficient” and 40.7% or higher in each content section: Reading, Math, Science, and English & Language The required cumulative and content scores must be achieved in a single attempt of the TEAS. If any of the applicant’s Anatomy & Physiology or Microbiology courses are older than five years at time of application, the TEAS 7 Science score must be 58.7% (Proficient) or higher.
  • The maximum number of attempts an applicant may take the TEAS is three times during an academic
  • The TEAS is offered at RC’s Brown County Center in Early, Texas, on selected Thursdays throughout the summer and academic year. Official TEAS scores must be sent to: nursing@rangercollege.edu.
  • The TEAS may be taken online via remote proctoring, in-person at Ranger College, in-person at another approved institution of higher education, or in-person at an approved TEAS testing site. .
    Register for the TEAS at: www.atitesting.com.  

Candidates may submit documentation of vaccines and other requirements with the application.

Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to beginning the program. A grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses, and a prerequisite cumulative prerequisite GPA of 2.5 or higher, is required to be considered for acceptance into the nursing program.

How to Apply

Requirements for initial application (subject to change) must be included in the application packet:

  1. Proof of high school graduation or completion of a This must be verified by an official high school transcript or an original GED transcript.
  2. Texas Success Initiative (TSI) scores that meet Ranger College requirements.
  3. Cumulative P.A. of 2.5 or better on pre-requisite course work, with a grade of C or higher in each prerequisite course.
  4. A completed application to Ranger College and a separate application to the ADN Department: (rangercollege.edu/academics/allied-health/aa-nursing)
  5. Two (2) letters of reference from non-family (Forms available on the website)
  6. Physical Exam (Form available on the website)
  7. Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology classes must be current within five years from the date of application. If any of the Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology classes are older than five years from the date of application, the applicant’s TEAS 7 Science Score must be 58.7% (Proficient) or higher. Otherwise, the applicant must retake the course(s) and achieve a C or higher, with a cumulative prerequisite GPA of 2.5 or higher.
  8. Proof of immunization status via official documentation from a healthcare clinic or The list of required immunizations is on the website and application and is subject to change based on clinical affiliation requirements.
  9. Proof of negative 2-step tuberculosis screening; OR one negative QuantiFERON gold test OR a chest x-ray within two years if the test is positive.
  10. Proof that Hepatitis B vaccine series will be complete prior to start of direct patient care; OR show serologic confirmation of immunity to the hepatitis B virus.
  11. Completion of all prerequisite courses or evidence of enrollment in the semester preceding intended start of program. (Students must earn a C or better for consideration.)
  12. Submission of application to the program and the required TEAS Version 7 scores on or before the annual deadline of May 15 for traditional ADN and October 1 for Bridge (LVN to RN) students. 
  13. Any degree plan corequisites taken before admission must be a C or If a corequisite course grade is a D or F, whether taken at Ranger College or another institution, the corequisite course must be retaken with a course grade of C or higher before being considered for admission to the ADN program.
  14. Applicants must be in good financial standing with Ranger College before being fully accepted into the program and registered for nursing courses. See the catalog section titled "Tuition and Fees, Overdue Financial Obligations” for more information.
  15. Interview with ADN Admissions Committee.

Students will be accepted based on criteria established by the selection committee and a point system. A satisfactory FBI criminal background check is required by the Board of Nursing prior to final admission to the program and a drug test will be required every semester during the program. Required notification: Criminal charges/activity occurring prior to or during your nursing program may affect your eligibility to be licensed following graduation. Refer to the Texas Board of Nursing website for licensure eligibility: www.bon.texas.gov/licensure_eligibility.asp.html

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Traditional ADN Program*

PREREQUISITE COURSES

Semester Hours

BIOL 2401

Anatomy & Physiology I

4

ENGL 1301

Composition I

3

PSYC 2301

General Psychology

3

 

Semester Total

10

TOTAL PREREQUISITE HOURS

10

Semester I

BIOL 2402

Anatomy & Physiology II

4

RNSG 1216

Professional Nursing Competencies

2

RNSG 1128

Introduction to Health Care Concepts

1

RNSG 1430

Health Care Concepts I

4

RNSG 1125

Professional Nursing Concepts I

1

RNSG 1161

Clinical-Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

1

Total Semester Hours

13

Semester II

PSYC 2314

Lifespan Growth and Development

3

BIOL 2420 or 2421

Microbiology for Non-Science Majors or Microbiology for Science Majors

4

RNSG 1533

Health Care Concepts II

5

RNSG 1126

Professional Nursing Concepts II

1

RNSG 2362

Clinical-Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

3

Total Semester Hours

16

Semester III

RNSG 1538

Health Care Concepts III

5

RNSG 1137

Professional Nursing Concepts III

1

RNSG 2363

Clinical-Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

3

Elective

Humanities/Fine Arts

3

Total Semester Hours

12

Semester IV

RNSG 2539

Health Care Concepts IV

5

RNSG 2138

Professional Nursing Concepts IV

1

RNSG 2360

Clinical-Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

3

Total Semester Hours

9

TOTAL HOURS

60

*For students who are NOT already Licensed Vocational Nurses

Process for RN and Bridge Programs
Ranger also offers a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) to Registered Nurse (RN) Bridge Program with approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas State Board of Nursing (BON). This track is only available at the Brown County Center. The program combines the first two semesters of the traditional RN Program into one semester and then allows the students to join their ADN colleagues in the third semester and complete the program.

Start of the Program
Each Spring Semester

Location
Brown County Center

Q:  What do I need to do first in applying to the Nursing Program?
A:  To begin the process, you will need to take the Test of Essential Academic Skill (TEAS).  The TEAS assesses entry level academic readiness of nursing program applicants. “PROFICIENT” level scoring is required for entrance into the Nursing Program.  Sign up instructions for this test are on the ATI website: atitesting.com.  After registering with ATI, you will choose Ranger College as your school and Early, TX as the test location.  The TEAS is proctored at our Early campus on Thursday afternoons currently.

Q: If I apply to Ranger College, do I also need to apply to the Associate Degree Nursing Program?
A: Yes. You must apply to each. The ADN program requires a separate program application.  Follow the sequence and instructions.

Q: Why do I need to submit 2 official transcripts?
A: You will need to request any and all official transcripts sent to both the Ranger College Registrar at 1100 College Circle, Ranger TX, 76470 and the Ranger College Brown County Campus, Attn: Dean of Nursing at 300 Early Blvd, Suite 105, Early, TX 76802. The seal on the envelope must not be broken. * 2 official transcripts are required because the Associate Degree Nursing Program is not on the main campus and the Texas Board of Nursing requires official transcripts to be kept on file on site.

Q: How do I obtain financial aid?
A: Apply for your financial aid on the FASFA website at FAFSA.gov. Direct all Financial Aid questions to the Financial Aid department located at the Ranger Main Campus at 254.647.3234, ext. 7008.

 

Applying online to Ranger is easy!