RN to BS in Nursing Program Overview
Our CCNE-accredited online RN to BS in Nursing program prepares you for leadership and decision-making roles in patient care. As you earn your degree, you’ll gain a deep understanding of evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and methods for meeting the diverse needs of multicultural patients.
Designed for busy RNs who need a flexible and affordable program that can be completed at their own pace, UT Permian Basin’s online RN to BS in Nursing program can be completed in as little as one year and will help you lead skillfully and confidently in your current or future professional nursing role.
You must have a current, unencumbered RN license in Texas or other Nurse Licensure Compact state for consideration.
Clinical Requirements
Our online RN to BS in Nursing program requires three clinical courses. The clinical courses allow you to work closely with an expert to gain valuable experience, integrate new knowledge and skills, and apply theory to actual practice in a variety of settings.
The clinical courses are conducted in-person with a preceptor of your choice, as long as they have a BSN and are working in a leadership role. The clinical courses do not require campus visits, and students will learn more about the details and requirements for preceptors during the first seminar course (NURS 4150).
Nurse Management Certificate
Students who graduate from UT Permian Basin’s online RN to BS in Nursing program will also be awarded a Nurse Manager Certificate from Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. For more information about this certificate, please click here.
Accreditation
UT Permian Basin’s School of Nursing is accredited by the prestigious Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
34 credits required. 3 Liberal Arts credits must come from ENGL 2322, 2323, 2327, 2328 or COMM 1301. 3 or 4 Math credits must come from MATH 1314, 1324, 1332, or 2412.
The following are required courses as part of the pre-nursing major: A&P I with Lab, A&P II with Lab, PSYC 3344 Lifespan and Development, and PSYC 3301 Introductory Statistics.
38 sch.
Admission Requirements
- Current unencumbered RN license in Texas or other Nurse Licensure Compact state
- Graduate of a nationally accredited professional nursing program approved by the Texas State Board of Nursing or appropriate state board
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and nursing programs attended
Official Transcripts
Official copies of transcripts must come directly from the school in a sealed envelope and should be mailed to:
UT Permian Basin
Office of Admissions
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762
Official transcripts in electronic format can be sent to admissions@utpb.edu.
Application Fee
The application fee is $40 and must be paid when you submit your online application.
You may request an application fee waiver if the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) listed on your Student Aid Report is zero.
Faculty Bios
A. Academic Chair
School of Nursing
naiman_j@utpb.edu
Ms. Naiman is the A. Academic Chair for the School of Nursing at UT Permian Basin. She has been a registered nurse for 13 years and practiced in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and neonatal intensive care. She received her BSN at Nova Southeastern University in 2007 and her Master of Science in nursing and Certificate of Online Instruction at the University of Wyoming in 2016. Ms. Naiman is working on her dissertation research to complete her PhD in nursing with a research focus on metacognitive development in nursing students. She began teaching in 2016 in the pre-licensure and post-licensure tracks of the BSN program and sits on the Culture, Learning, & Technology Committee within the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. She is also a member of the American Nurses Association and the Texas Nurses Association and is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Part-Time Faculty
School of Nursing
leftwich_k@utpb.edu
Dr. Leftwich is an adjunct faculty member at UT Permian Basin’s School of Nursing. She has been a nurse since 1996 and is a graduate of Odessa College, Texas Tech University, and Capella University. Her nursing degrees focus on administration, leadership, and management. She has served in various roles clinically and in leadership, including working bedside for 13 years before transitioning into a nurse educator role. Dr. Leftwich currently serves as the associate chief nursing officer at Medical Center Hospital, where her oversight includes the Center for Women and Infants, pediatrics, medical telemetry, and medical oncology, as well as care management. She serves as the chair of the Clinical Ethics Committee and is the nursing chair for the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
College of Health Sciences and Human Performance
gonzales_m@utpb.edu
Dr. Gonzales is the associate dean for the School of Nursing at UT Permian Basin. She has been a registered nurse for 22 years and has practiced in multiple areas of nursing. Dr. Gonzales earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, master’s degree in nursing from Angelo State University, and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chamberlain College of Nursing. She is board certified in nursing professional development, as a nurse executive and as a nurse educator. She is a member of the AHEC Advisory Board and the Permian Basin Hispanic Medical Society. Her research focus is in nursing leadership.
Part-Time Faculty
School of Nursing
hall_m@utpb.edu
Dr. Hall is a member of the adjunct faculty at UT Permian Basin, where he teaches leadership at the School of Nursing. He has been a nurse since 1995 and served in various formal nursing leadership roles since 2001. Dr. Hall has presented at national conferences, consulted on state legislature for the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners, and has consulted both nationally and internationally on nursing leadership. He has been published in nursing journals for his research on pain management as well as his work on formal recognition programs like ANCC’s Pathway to Excellence, and he is the director of the Center for Advancing Professional Excellence at Midland Health.
Associate Professor
School of Nursing
abualhaija_n@utpb.edu
Dr. Abualhaija is an associate professor of nursing at UT Permian Basin. He received his BSN from UAB, MSN from University of Phoenix, and PhD from Barry University. Dr. Abualhaija’s work experience primarily focused on nursing leadership in acute healthcare settings, and his research foci include transcultural nursing, cultural competence among healthcare professionals, leaders and systems, cultural competence among nursing students and faculty, and student-centeredness and active learning approaches in nursing.