Thirty Del Mar College nursing students volunteered to administer COVID-19 vaccinations at the Robstown Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The Corpus Christi college will begin offering a bachelor’s degree in nursing this fall. Courtesy photo
Beginning in the fall of 2021, Del Mar College will offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a first for the Corpus Christi community college. Licensed registered nurses holding an associate’s degree from an accredited nursing program can earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing through the college’s Nurse Education Department.
The program application deadline is April 30. Thirty students will be accepted into the first class.
“The college’s RN to BSN program will offer graduates the educational preparedness in areas of evidence-based practice and nursing leadership and management as well as further contribute to health care in Corpus Christi,” said department chair Dr. Evangeline DeLeon, Ph.D. She is also a registered nurse.
The current job market reflects the need for more nurses, said Dr. Jennifer McWha, Ph.D., a registered nurse and the director of the Nurse Education program. While helping fill that need in the community, the program will also act as a stepping stone for students seeking to further boost their healthcare careers.
“The BSN degree is the preferred credential for many healthcare organizations,” McWha said. “It is typically the next step when pursuing other higher-level degrees such as nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or nurse researcher.”
The college currently offers an Associate in Applied Science in registered nursing degree as well as a Vocational Nurse Education (LVN) Certificate, an LVN/Paramedic to RN Transition Associate in Applied Science degree, and an Associate in Arts in Nurse Education degree.
Individuals who hold a bachelor's degree in nursing can earn higher pay compared to those who hold an associate’s degree in registered nursing (ADN). According to nurse.org and PayScale, the average salary for RNs is $69,000 for associate degree holders and $84,000 for those with bachelor degrees.
To apply, visit the RN to BSN webpage. You may also contact the Dell Mar College Nurse Education Department at 361-698-2809 or RNtoBSN@delmar.edu.
The Level II RN to BSN curriculum is comprised of 30 semester credit hours (SCHs) offered over three semesters with courses scheduled in eight-week segments for the first two regular semesters (fall and spring) and 12 weeks for the third semester during the summer. The curriculum is concept-based, and faculty will teach courses using a hybrid format that includes online and clinical instruction.
Applicants must hold a valid RN state license and have completed 90 SCHs that include required general education credit courses. Additionally, interested individuals must also have completed associate’s degree-level RN coursework from an accredited nursing program.
