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After Dr. Ruth Bakke was named Dean of Science & Technology, in the 80’s, the BSN and MSNprograms were chaired by Dr. Susan Nelson and Dr. Elizabeth Erkel. In August, 1989, Dr.Noreen C. O'Neill was invited to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to direct the Division ofNursing. Her mission was to reorganize its administrative structure, fortify its infrastructure andhelp develop new programs. In 1990, after receiving the approval of multiple oversight groups,the generic BSN option was implemented as a four-semester, upper-division nursing major. AfterDr. O’Neil retired in 1994, Dr. Rebecca A. Jones (August 1994) assumed the directorship. Inspring, 1995, the Division became a School of Nursing and two program coordinator positionswere approved. Dr. Mary Jane Hamilton was appointed by the Director as UndergraduateProgram and Dr. Claudia Johnston was appointed as Graduate Program Coordinator.Health Care Administration and Health Sciences: An interdisciplinary committee began theHealth Care Administration (HCA) minor in 1992. The minor is available to students choosinghealth care as a focus for future administrative positions in support of the Master's in PublicAdministration or Business Administration programs. A certificate in Health CareAdministration is available for those students who hold a Master's degree in another field andwish to complete a short course of study focused on Health Care Administration. The first groupof students to complete the minor graduated with their M.P.A. in May of 1995. Dr. ClaudiaJohnston served as the founding Program Coordinator. The Bachelor of Science in HealthSciences provides enrichment opportunities at the baccalaureate level for students with technicaldegrees in Allied Health. The program has been revised to accommodate freshmen choosingHealth Science as a major which prepares graduates for a variety of career opportunities in thehealth care field by providing the management skills necessary for success.The program was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the firstgroup of students was admitted in the fall, 1994. The first graduates completed the program inDecember 1996. Dr. Whitney Bischoff served as the first program coordinator and Dr. WilliamKoprowski joined the faculty in the fall of 1995 as the program coordinator. The currentprogram coordinator, Dr. Sherdeana Owens, joined the faculty in 2010. The Health SciencesStudent Association was established in the Fall, 2011 semester. This organization providesopportunities for leadership, networking, community service and socialization.In fall of 2003, the university administration, with the rapid growth in the School of Nursingproposed to the A&M system and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that theSchool become a College of Nursing and Health Sciences. In October 2004 the Convocationcelebrating the College of Nursing and Health Sciences took place. Dean Mary Jane Hamiltonwas installed by President Dr. Robert Furgason as the Founding Dean. Dr. Bunny Forgione wasappointed Associate Dean and Dr. Karen Koozer-Olson was appointed the OutreachCoordinator. Dr. Linda Cook was appointed Undergraduate Chair and Dr. Eve Layman wasappointed Graduate Chair.The CONHS in 2012) expanded its graduate programs to include a cooperative Doctor ofPhilosophy in Nursing Science program through a partnership with the Denton campus of theTexas Woman’s University (TWU). Students enrolled in this program earn their degree fromTWU. Members of the A&M University-Corpus Christi faculty provide student support throughtheir roles on advisory and research committees. The first student graduated from this partnership8

in 2013. The College added a new doctoral program with the approval of the Doctor of NursingPractice program. The first cohort of students will be admitted in fall 2016.Currently (2015) the administrative structure consists of the Dean (Dr. Mary Jane Hamilton),Associate Dean (Dr. Bunny Forgione), Associate Dean for Graduate Nursing Programs (Dr. EveLayman), Undergraduate Chair (Dr. Christina Murphey) and Graduate Chair (Dr. Linda GibsonYoung).AccreditationThe BSN, MSN, and post-graduate APRN certificate at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is accreditedby the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccneaccreditation).The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530Washington, DC 20036-1120Phone: (202) 887-6791Fax: (202) 887-8476Approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (https://www.bon.texas.gov/)The Texas Board of Nursing (BON)333 Guadalupe Street, Suite #3-460Austin, TX 78701-3944Phone: (512) 305-7400Fax: (512) 305-7401Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges andSchools (SACS) (http://www.sacs.org/)II. College Mission, Philosophy, Goals and Conceptual FrameworkVision: Envisioning the future .transforming healthcare through education, research,innovation, & practice.Mission Statement: The College of Nursing & Health Sciences positively impacts the health ofthe global population through the education of health care leaders and providers of tomorrowwith innovative educational programs in the nursing and health professions. The Collegeidentifies, attracts, and graduates students of high potential, especially from groups who havebeen historically under-represented in the organization and provision of health care. This workis enhanced through faculty contributions to community service, leadership, practice andresearch. These activities are fostered in a collaborative inter-professional and multiculturallearning environment promoting a sense of community and caring.Philosophy: The faculty believes that learning is a life-long, interactive process in which bothteachers and students are learners. The faculty endeavor to create a learning environment that isflexible and intellectually stimulating, encourages scholarship and promotes self-directed9

learning. Student learning is built upon an existing knowledge base and is directed towardsocialization into the practice of professional nursing and the health sciences.Nursing and health science are professions as well as disciplines. Therefore, the faculty strive tomaintain expertise in practice. Faculty influence student learning by being role models. (Practiceis defined as clinical specialty expertise, research, leadership and other forms of scholarlyendeavor.)Service is of great value to the nursing and health science faculty. As such, they interact andcontribute to the internal and external communities that surround them. Through service, thefaculty develop a sensitivity to the context in which the nursing and health science programsexist and evolve. This active participation reflects a commitment to the community and serves asa professional standard for the student.Research and scholarly activity are important parts of the faculty role and the curriculums. Eachmember of the faculty is involved in research and/or scholarly activity. The research base forprofessional practice is an integral part of both undergraduate and graduate curriculums. At bothlevels of education, students utilize the research process to identify and study nursing and issuesrelated to health care. Critical thinking is developed through a variety of assignments aimed atpromoting scholarship.College Of Nursing & Health Sciences Goals1. To develop within the student the knowledge and skills necessary for beginningprofessional and advanced health care practice, cultivating basic and specialized abilitiesneeded to successfully pursue a career.2. To promote the concept of caring and facilitate attainment of a care delivery systemsensitive to multicultural diverse communities and their health values.3. To offer individuals the opportunity to increase the breadth and depth of the theoreticalbase for health care practice, enhance and expand competence, prepare for rolespecialization and contribute to the discovery of new nursing knowledge.4. To provide an educational environment of respect within which students may evolve asbroadly educated, responsible and accountable professionals dedicated to the principlesof lifelong learning.5. To build a foundation for graduate education.6. To ethically serve diverse communities as health care experts, leaders and consultantsand advocates of resources.Conceptual FrameworkPerson: The faculty of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi College of Nursing andHealth Sciences believes that each individual has value, dignity and worth independent of specialendowments or external circumstances and has the freedom to make choices. A person'sdevelopment requires and is influenced by interaction with the environment. Each individual ischaracterized by certain life processes that the person uses to interact with the environment. Eachperson is unique and influenced by, but not determined by, heredity, environment, culture andlife experiences.10

Environment: The environment is viewed as physical, biological, psychological, cultural andsocial conditions that influence the individual. The relationship between the individual and theenvironment is dynamic, continuous and reciprocal.Health: Health is multidimensional and encompasses varying states of well being. A health stateis the result of an ability to adapt to change, to perceive in accordance with reality and to displaya rational and integrated personality.Nursing: Nursing is an applied science and an interpersonal process. Its essence is care. TexasA&M University-Corpus Christi faculty describes this essence in cognitive, affective andpsychomotor terms. Caring implies an informed knowledge of the client's condition, behaviorsand preferences. It implies emotional responses such as empathy, concern for comfort andrespect for human dignity. Caring behaviors include the skillful use of the nursing processdirected toward preservation of cultural differences, freedom of choice, promotion of human andenvironmental growth and development, and the adherence to ethical principles.Nursing's ultimate goal is promoting optimal states of health in individuals, families andcommunities at all stages of development. Nurses assist clients to help themselves in maintainingand restoring health or in experiencing a peaceful death. These activities create relationshipswithin which the nurse enacts complimentary roles categorized as professional, provider of careor coordinator of care.Responsible and accountable nursing practice is characterized by the utilization and applicationof theory and research from nursing and a variety of other related disciplines to plancomprehensive care, implement care based on a high level of expertise and creativity,systematically plan evaluations, identify researchable nursing problems, and provide leadershipto improve health care. Peer and interdisciplinary collaboration are sought to facilitateimplementation of effective problem solving and decision11

III. Undergraduate CurriculaNursing Undergraduate Program Student OutcomesThe philosophical foundations of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi BaccalaureateNursing Program are based on the belief that caring is the essence of nursing; that students areunique individuals with differing backgrounds, needs, and interests, and have the freedom andresponsibility to make judicious choices. Nursing faculty subscribe to the belief that professionalnurses must be well grounded in the arts, sciences, and humanities so that when functioning inroles of care provider or care coordinator, making critical clinical decisions, the nurse has areservoir of knowledge from which to draw. There are various delivery tracks offered for pre licensure: face to face, eLine/eMilitary (online) and accelerated. For licensed RN’s pursuing aBSN – an RN/BSN track (online) is available.The expected outcomes of the pre-licensure and RN-degree-completion tracks of the BSN are asfollows:Graduates of this program will:1. Incorporate the philosophy, "Caring is the Essence of Nursing" into nursing practice.2. Practice nursing utilizing the nursing process and other systematic approaches derivedfrom the sciences and liberal arts to promote optimum health for individuals, familiesand communities from diverse populations.3. Communicate and collaborate purposefully, using creative approaches that acknowledgeinterdependent roles and relationships.4. Demonstrate leadership through the application and utilization of theories for theimprovement and enhancement of care and health status.5. Display critical thinking and independent decision-making that utilize and apply theoryand research in practice.6. Show awareness of political, ethical and social issues; accountability for professionalpractice and commitment for continuing professional development.7. Accept nursing leadership roles that respond to a changing society and health caredelivery system.Policies: Progression, Retention and Dismissal (revised 04/13/21)The following requirements refer to grading, progression, and reinstatement policies.1. A scholastic grade point average of 2.25 is a minimum requirement in the upperdivision nursing courses designated for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Aminimum grade of C is required in all courses in the nursing major.2. If a student earned a grade of D. F, or W in a nursing course, that course must berepeated. A course in which a grade of less than C was earned (i.e., D, F or W,Withdrawal), may be repeated only once.3. A student who has earned a grade of D or F in two nursing courses or who has earneda grade of D or F twice in the same nursing course, will be dismissed from the nursingprogram.4. Students earning a grade of D, F, or W (Withdrawal) or I (Incomplete) in a nursingcourse may not progress to courses for which that course is a prerequisite.12

5. Students experiencing life changing or catastrophic events are encouraged to consultwith their faculty and advisor to either:1. Withdraw from a course in which the student is currently passing. Students not passingat the time of course withdrawal, may be negatively affected during their readmissionapplication.2. A medical withdrawal from all courses and the University is provided by the studentcontacting the Registrar’s Office for supporting forms and documents.6. Administration and faculty reserve the right to dismiss students without previouswarning for unsafe and/or unprofessional behavior. The conduct of nursing studentsshould meet ethical standards as defined by American Nurses Association (ANA) inthe Code of Ethics for Nurses. Personal integrity is reflected in professionaljudgments. Consequently, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences reserves theright to dismiss students from the program for unprofessional or unsafe behavior.(See College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Handbook for furtherexamples and to review the Academic Honesty and Professional Integrity Policy)7. Following dismissal from the nursing program, a student may apply for reinstatementto the nursing program a total of two times. The student should contact their academicadvisor regarding their options and the Associate Dean of Academic Program Officefor information on reinstatement eligibility, process, and deadlines.8. Students who withdraw from the nursing program in good standing and apply forreinstatement, must meet the degree requirements of the new catalog under which theyare readmitted.9. A student who leaves the program and has been out of the program for more than 2years will not be readmitted.10. Students must meet the standards for minimal performance and progressionestablished by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (see the catalog sectionon Academic Policies and Regulations).11. For students to progress through the program, they must be in compliance withimmunizations, BLS CPR, and Hospital Orientation regulations. (See College ofNursing and Health Sciences Student Handbook for consequences fornoncompliance to these policies.)12. Students must complete the University Core Curriculum Program. (See “UniversityCore Curriculum Programs” in the catalog). See “General EducationRequirement” in the “Undergraduate Programs” section of the catalog forinformation on ways in which transfer students can fulfill requirements. In addition tothe core curriculum requirements, students must also take the required support courses.13

PRE-LICENSURE BACCALAUREATE CURRICULUM PLANTEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY -- CORPUS CHRISTICOLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCESSAMPLE GENERIC NURSING BACCALAUREATE CURRICULUMUNIVERSITY CORE CURRICULUM & PRE-NURSING COURSESFall SemesterENGL 1301POLS 2305hrsEnglish Composition IUS Governm ent & PolBIOL 2401 & Lab Anatom y & Physiology IUCCP 1101Creative ArtsFreshman SeminarARTS 1301, ARTS 1303,33413Spring SemesterENGL 1302MATH 1442BIOL 2402UCCP 1102HIST 1301hrsEnglish Composition IIStatistics for LifeAnatom y & Physiology IIFreshman SeminarUS History from 186534413Summer SemesterECON 2301iteraturehrsMacroeconomics3ENGL 2332, 2333,32334, 2335 orPHIL 1301 or PHIL 2306COMM 1305, MUSI 1306,MUSI 1307 or THEA 1310Students are required to enroll in a learningStudents are required to enroll in a learningMaximum hours students are allow edcommunity. See Academic Advisor.community. See Academic Advisor.14Fall SemesterhrsCHEM 1411General Chemistry I4& LabPOLS 2306State & Local Govt.3PSYC 2301General Psychology3HIST 1302US History from 1865 3to enroll per summer session 715Spring SemesterBIOL 2420Microbiology & LabPSYC 2314Human Growth& DevelopmentNURS 4322Health AlterationsCOMM 1315Public Speaking13hrs436Summer SemesterhrsNURS 3342Use of Pharmacology 3Principles (10-w eekcourse during sum m er)33133University Core Curriculum & Pre Nursing approximately 62-64 hoursNURSING MAJOR COURSESFall SemesterNURS 3614Fundam entalsNURS 3435NURS 3318Health AssessmentNurse, TherapeuticCommunicatorFall SemesterNURS 4318Nurse as ResearchConsumerNURS 4564Nursing CarePsychiatric ClientsNURS 3548Nursing Care ofChildren/Familyhrs643Spring SemesterhrsNURS 3550Nursing Care of5Parents/NewbornsNURS 3628Nursing Care of Adults I6NURS 3150Issues I12hrs3Spring SemesterhrsNURS 4660Community6NURS 4370Nurs e Coordinating Care 3Professional TransitionNURS 4470451313Nursing Major 58 hoursTotal BSN 120Nursing Academic Ad

The Baccalaureate Program for Registered Nurses at the University of Corpus Christi (UCC) (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi) began on a limited scale in the fall of 1974, becoming fully operational in the fall of 1975. Dr. Ruth M. Bakke was the first director of the Baccalaureate Nursing Program.