Introduction

The Baylor School of Nursing was established in 1909 as a diploma program within the Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas, the predecessor of the present Baylor University Medical Center.

The Louise Herrington School of Nursing is among the oldest baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States. The first class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students was admitted in 1947. In 1949, the School became one of 10 degree-granting schools and colleges at Baylor University.

The Louise Herrington School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Texas State Board of Nursing. A graduate of the program is academically qualified to write the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in all verified states, and upon achieving a passing score on this examination, to be licensed as a registered nurse (RN) by the state.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is located in the heart of Dallas just northeast of downtown and nestled next to the campus of Baylor University Medical Center of Dallas.

There are approximately 600 undergraduate students enrolled in the nursing major. Students may complete all pre-nursing requirements at any regionally accredited institution and apply to transfer directly into the nursing major.

Program Overview

The Louise Herrington School of Nursing offers three pathways to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree.

Traditional BSN Track

This track (pre-nursing and nursing) is designed to be completed in four years - eight academic semesters. Prerequisite courses may be taken on the Baylor-Waco campus or at another college or university.

FastBacc® BSN Track

This rigorous 12 month hybrid track, designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor's degree, is comprised of accelerated curriculum completed primarily face-to-face with a combination of teaching methodologies including traditional classroom, on-line lectures, and clinical and lab experiences. 

Distance Accelerated BSN Track

This rigorous 12 month online track designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor's degree, is comprised of accelerated curriculum completed primarily distant with on campus immersions, online instruction, and clinicals managed with preceptors.

Academic Policies and Procedures

Progression in the Nursing (NUR) major toward an anticipated date of graduation is contingent upon successful completion, with a grade of “C” (not “C-”) or above, in all courses the first time attempted in a full-time or approved part-time plan of study.

Any student who does not achieve a grade of “C” (not “C-”) or above in any nursing course and who plans to continue in the program must have a revised plan of study and new graduation date approved by the Associate Dean for Pre-Licensure Program within two weeks following the semester in which the deficiency was received.

In most instances, a student who must repeat a course will delay curriculum progression.

Course Repetition in the Nursing Major

A grade of "C" (71.00) is required in all courses in the nursing major. If a student does not achieve a grade of "C" (71.00) or above in a nursing course, the course must be repeated the NEXT semester it is offered if space is available in the class unless written approval is received from the Associate Dean of Pre-licensure Program or Dean. A student may repeat one nursing course. A student who fails two or more nursing courses will not be eligible to continue in the major. The student may be eligible to continue studies in another major within the University.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Students may enroll in a nursing course up to two times. Students enrolled in the undergraduate nursing program who previously withdrew, dropped, or failed a Nursing course may not subsequently withdraw from the same course. Nursing students have one opportunity to withdraw, drop or fail a nursing course. Students are required to complete pre-requisite courses prior to moving forward in the major. Students taking a nursing course previously withdrawn, dropped, or failed are required to earn a minimum of C or higher to pass the repeated nursing course. The second drop/withdrawal from a previously withdrawn nursing course constitutes a dismissal from the Program. Exceptions to this policy may be entertained due to extraordinary non-academic circumstances. Requests for exception to policy will be reviewed by the Associate Dean for the Pre-Licensure Program.

Readmission Following Academic Dismissal

A student who was dismissed from the nursing program for academic reasons is not eligible for readmission for three (3) academic years. Readmission applications are processed through the Louise Herrington School of Nursing Student Services and are reviewed by the LHSON Undergraduate Academic Policies Committee. The readmission applicant must meet all admission requirements stated in the academic catalog that are current when the application is submitted. In addition to the readmission application, the applicant must submit current nursing entrance test scores, which supports the applicants’ potential for success if readmitted. Readmission is to the beginning level of the nursing curriculum and is a highly selective process. Students who have been readmitted must pass all nursing courses attempted. Subsequent failure of any one course will result in permanent dismissal from the Louise Herrington School of Nursing.

Continuation in the Major Following Interruption for Non-Academic Reasons

Former students in good standing who have withdrawn or taken a semester off due to non-academic reasons (health, pregnancy, family emergencies, financial, etc.) may be eligible to return to the School of Nursing the following semester.  The student will need to meet with the Associate Dean for Pre-Licensure Program to develop a degree plan for continuation in the major.

If a student requests a leave of absence due to a non-academic reason and this leave exceeds one year from the date of withdrawal, a competency evaluation will need to be completed. Reentry to the program is contingent on meeting the following requirements: Successful completion of a health assessment exam, CPE skills, and satisfactory conversion score of no less than 71% on the applicable HESI specialty exam(s) as determined by the Associate Dean for Pre-Licensure Program. Cost of HESI specialty exam(s) will be at the student’s expense. Students re-entering the program after a lapse of one semester or greater must also successfully complete background and drug screening.

Professional Responsibility/Code of Ethics

Throughout the entire course of study in the School of Nursing, students are reminded that they are studying to become a member of an honored profession and of the responsibility that such membership entails. The ethical standards of conduct of the professional nurse as a member of a service profession in a self-governing society are upheld in a manner consistent with the purposes of a Christian university.

Within the academic and clinical settings, professional nursing students must;

1. Adhere to the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics.
2. Uphold all academic and clinical institutional policies related to academic and clinical performance, reserving the right to appeal using the procedure outlined in the Baylor University Honor Code.
3. Actively promote the highest level of moral and ethical principles and accept responsibility and accountability for their actions.
4. Treat others with respect and promote an environment that respects human rights, values, cultural and spiritual beliefs.
5. Maintain client confidentiality.
6. Communicate the care for clients in a truthful, timely and accurate manner.

Professional Licensure

Licensing Examination for State Registration

During the semester prior to graduation, students will complete an application for the National Council for Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN) and an application to the Board of Nursing in the state in which they are seeking licensure. There is a fee for the NCLEX-RN application and for licensure by the various state boards. (Board application fees vary by state.) The Academic Affairs Office assists students in the application procedure but assumes no responsibility for late or incorrect applications.

Successful completion of the nursing program does not guarantee successful passage of the licensing examination. In addition, the Texas State Board of Nursing may refuse an applicant permission to write the exam for reasons cited in “Texas Statutes Regulating the Practice of Professional Nursing.”

Licensure as a Registered Nurse

Several requirements must be met before a student is eligible for licensure. Students must submit verification of completion of all requirements for graduation from an approved nursing education program. In addition, all individuals seeking licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Texas must submit, along with a fee required by the board, a complete and legible set of fingerprints on a Board approved form for the purpose of obtaining a criminal history from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

All convictions, guilty pleas and nolo contendere pleas must be reported, except for minor traffic violations not related to the use of drugs or alcohol. This includes misdemeanors, felonies, “driving while intoxicated (DWI)” and “driving under the influence (DUI).” Crimes must be reported even if they are a suspended imposition of a sentence. All prior or current disciplinary action against another professional license must be reported, whether it occurred in Texas or in another state or country.  All pending charges must be reported to the Board.

Applicants must file a “Petition for Declaratory Order” to declare prior criminal record and disciplinary actions. Forms and instructions are available on the website for the Texas State Board of Nursing: https://www.bon.texas.gov.

Admission

Minimum Requirements

Students are officially admitted to the Traditional Track in the fall and spring semesters each year. Students are admitted into the FastBacc® Track each summer. Students are admitted to the Distance Accelerated BSN Track in the fall and spring semesters.

All entering freshman students who wish to study nursing will be required to begin in the non-degree granting Pre-Nursing major and meet listed standards for retention and progression from PNU1 to PNU2.

Admission to LHSON is contingent on meeting the following criteria:

1. Formal application to the LHSON is required by the posted deadline for the specific term and track.
2. Applicants must be admitted to Baylor University or be a Baylor University student in good standing with priority given to those with two full semesters in residence.
3. Required prerequisite courses must be completed during the full academic semester prior to admission (Ex: prerequisites for fall admission must be completed by the end of the preceding spring semester). Post-Baccalaureate and Transfer students are not required to complete Chapel or a New Student Experience course. Accelerated track applicants do not have to complete the Foreign Languages or Communication / Fine Arts prerequisites.
4. A minimum grade of “C” (not “C-”) is mandatory in each prerequisite course. Applicants must achieve a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0, a minimum science GPA of 2.75, and a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.75.
5. Applicants may not repeat a prerequisite course (including pre-matriculated college courses) with a “C” or higher unless the prior attempt occurred more than 5 years prior to the program start. If an applicant repeats a course within 5 years, the first passing grade will be used for GPA calculations.
6. Applicants may repeat a prerequisite course (including pre-matriculated college courses) with a “C-“ or lower grade only once to earn a higher grade and may repeat a maximum of two prerequisite courses. A course repeated more than five years prior to the program start will not count as a repeat.  Repeats are determined by the prerequisite course category and not the specific course number / institution.
7. Applicants are required to pass a HESI A2 test with a minimum score of 80 on the Math section and 80 on the English Composite. The HESI A2 exam may be taken a maximum of three times with a 60 day wait period between attempts. There is a fee associated with the HESI A2 test.
8. Applicants for whom English is their second language are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum score for admission consideration is a 4.0 (prior test scores also accepted include 560 Paper, 220 Computer, and 83 Internet). The TOEFL will be waived if a student meets one of Baylor’s circumstances for TOEFL exception.
9. Applicants transferring with nursing credits are required to provide a letter of good standing from their former nursing program unless the last nursing course was taken more than five years prior to program start. Applicants may not transfer nursing courses to LHSON and prior nursing courses will not count as repeats.
10. LHSON has adopted core performance standards for admission and progression within the major. The core performance standards identify behaviors which are essential to the responsibilities of a student nurse. These include, but are not limited to, psychomotor and sensory abilities, critical thinking, and communication skills. Applicants must sign the core performance document provided by the LHSON signifying that they are able to meet these standards and behaviors.
11. Applicants must complete the pre-admission criminal background check required by the Texas Board of Nursing prior to orientation and/or any participation in course activities at the LHSON. All students, prior to the beginning of their first clinical rotation, are required to complete an additional more in-depth background screen and to pass a drug screen as outlined in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.  A positive drug screen and/or failure to clear either of the criminal background checks will prohibit the applicant from attending LHSON.
12. Applicants may be provisionally registered for the first semester classes pending official transcripts of required prerequisite courses. Students will not be allowed to register for future semesters if all official transcripts of required prerequisite courses taken are not on file with Baylor.
13. Acceptance to the LHSON is term specific. Applicants are not granted automatic deferment of acceptance.  Due to the competitive nature of admission to the nursing program, future acceptance to the LHSON is not guaranteed.

For additional information regarding admission to the School of Nursing, contact:

Dallas Campus
Louise Herrington School of Nursing
Student Services
333 N. Washington Ave
Dallas, TX 75246
Phone: 972-576-9100
Fax: 972-576-9081

Waco Campus
Pre-Nursing Office
One Bear Place #97033
Waco, TX 76798-7033
Phone: 254-710-2226
 or 1-800-Baylor-U
Fax: 254-710-2333

LHSON Curriculum