BSN Student Handbook

Updated Dean's Welcome Letter to follow, please be advised.

B. ABOUT THE CANSECO SCHOOL OF NURSING

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Summer 1994

• Approved by Board of Regents, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for RN/BSN program.
• Initial accreditation RN/BSN by State Board of Nursing

Spring 1995

• First class of 32 RN/BSN students admitted

Spring 1996

• First BSN graduates. Full accreditation RN/BSN by State Board of Nursing

Spring 1997

• Dedication of Canseco Hall.
• Initial accreditation RN/BSN by National League for Nursing (NLN)Accrediting Commission

Summer 1998

• Approval by BOR, THECB for Basic BSN program
• Initial accreditation Basic BSN by State Board of Nursing

Fall 1998

• Recruitment of faculty and students for Basic Program

Spring 1999

• First class of 34 Basic BSN students began coursework
• Planning authority from THECB for Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program

Fall 1999

• 75% of RN/BSN graduates were enrolled in MSN program

Spring 2000

• Second group of 30 Basic BSN students admitted

Spring 2001

• First group of Basic BSN students graduate 86% pass rate on NCLEX-RN

Spring 2002

• Full accreditation by NLNAC 95% pass rate on NCLEX-RN

Spring 2003

• 92% pass rate on NCLEX-RN

Spring 2004

• 95% pass rate on NCLEX-RN

Summer 2004

• First summer group of 20 basic BSN students admitted

Fall 2004

• Initial approval of MSN program Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track First MSN cohort of 14 admitted

Spring 2005

• Seventh BSN Cohort admitted 100% pass rate on NCLEX-RN

Spring 2006

• First graduates of the basic BSN program

Fall 2006

• First cohort of 14 MSN FNP track graduates

Summer 2007

• Dr. Susan S. Walker, Professor and second Director, of the Canseco School of Nursing retires; Ms. Natalie Burkhalter, MSN, APN, Associate Professor, designated Interim Dean of the Canseco School of Nursing (CSON)

Summer 2008

• The CSON becomes the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS).
• SIM Man becomes part of the College’s high-tech commitment.

Fall 2009

• Dr. Regina C. Aune, PhD, RN, CLNC, FAAN, appointed Dean/Professor of Nursing, CNHS, CSON

Fall 2012

• Dr. Regina C. Aune resigned. Ms. Natalie Burkhalter, MSN, APN, Associate Professor, appointed Interim Dean of the CNHS

Fall 2013

• Dr. Glenda Walker, PhD, RN appointed Dean/Professor of Nursing, CHNS, CSON.
• First Cohort of Nursing Administration (NADM) students admitted to the MSN program.

Spring 2015

• ACEN Reaccreditation of the MSN Program for 8 years
• BSN program received a grant from Methodist Healthcare Ministries for $466,000 to add six new faculty positions to increase enrollment in BSN program from 60 students to 100 over a two-year period.
• Admitted 80 students to BSN program.
• Revision of BSN curriculum to increase enrollment with Fall/Spring admission
• CNHS received 3.2 million/year, Social Innovative Grant through Methodist Healthcare Ministries to develop integrated health care system in Laredo with seven partners.

Fall 2015

• Graduated first class in NADM track
• CNHS received federal funding, $900,000 from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Spring 2016

• Revision of MSN curriculum

Fall 2016

• Fall BSN class was admitted with 100 students.
• NADM track moved from a hybrid to a fully online program.

Fall 2017

• BSN curricula change to provided bi-annual enrollment was implemented
• Dr. M. Torregosa PhD, APRN, FNP appointed MSN Program Director

Spring 2018

• ACEN Reaccreditation of the BSN Program for 8 years.

Fall 2019

• Dr. Glenda retired as Dean; Dr. M. Torregosa named as Interim Dean.

Spring 2020

• Dr. Marivic Torregosa was appointed Dean of CNHS

Fall 2020

• Dr. B. Gonzalez, PhD, APRN, FNP retires as Nursing Director. Ms. Angie Michelangeli, MSN, APRN, FNP appointed interim Nursing Chair

Spring 2021

• Dr. S. Luo, EdD appointed as Nursing Chair. Ms. A. Michelangeli, MSN, APRN, FNP remained as BSN Program Coordinator

Spring 2023

• Dr. S. Luo, EdD resigned. Ms. A. Michelangeli, MSN, APRN, FNP appointed as interim Nursing Chair.

Fall 2023

• Dr. M. Salinas DNP, APRN, FNP appointed MSN Program Director; S. Melendez MSN, APRN, CCNS appointed BSN Program Coordinator; Dr. M. Torregosa resigns as Dean (December) returns to graduate faculty role

Spring 2025 April

• Dr. S. Melendez DNP, APRN, CCNS appointed BSN Program Director; I. Santos, MSN, APRN, FNP appointed BSN Program Coordinator

Fall 2025

• Dr. E. Ramirez, PhD appointed Dean of CNHS

Spring 2026

• Dr. M. Jimenez, PhD, APRN, FNP appointed FNP Program Coordinator; Dr. M Saucedo, DNP, APRN, FNP appointed FNP Program Clinical Coordinator

Spring 2026 May

• Dr. A. Michelangeli, DNE, APRN, FNP appointed as Nursing Chair; Dr. C. Gunnoe retires as PMHNP Program Coordinator/Clinical Assistant Professor; Dr. L. Heard, DNP, APRN, FNP, PMHNP appointed PMHNP Program Coordinator

FACULTY

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) faculty operates with full-time faculty, including the Dean, and part-time faculty. For the purposes of consistency, the Canseco School of Nursing will be referred to as the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) throughout this document. The BSN program has a director and program coordinators for each track.

STUDENTS

Since its inception in Spring 1995, CSON has grown from an RN/BSN program with enrollment of 32 RNs seeking a Baccalaureate Degree to a full inventory of tracks at Basic, RN/BSN and MSN levels. Fall 2025 enrollment includes 625 declared Nursing majors at TAMIU.

SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarly activities of the CSON include publication of journal articles and book chapters, presentations by faculty and/or students at local, national and international professional meetings, and applied research. The CSON has also actively sought grant support and has received funding from both private foundations and governmental sources.

CLINICAL PRACTICE

A majority of the faculty of the CSON hold advanced practice credentials and maintain active practice as required to renew those credentials. Ongoing involvement in clinical practice is essential to effective, up-to-date teaching.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

The CSON is an integral part of Laredo’s effort to provide accessible, high quality health care in the mid-Rio Grande border region. The growth and development of the CSON has been made possible by outstanding financial support (currently in excess of $5 million) received from the Laredo community. The Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust and Mercy Health Systems of Texas provided funding for program development, faculty and student support. Spacious, state-of-the-art facilities in Canseco Hall and an endowed scholarship fund serve as a family memorial to a noted Laredo physician and his wife, Dr. F.M. and Mrs. Consuelo Canseco. Other endowed scholarships honor Laredo families: Hurd, Epstein, and Hachar. Local philanthropic organizations also offer scholarships to our nursing students, including Laredo Medical Center Auxiliary and Women’s City Club.

The CSON, in turn, is highly aware of its responsibility to prepare nurses to help meet the health care needs of Laredo’s culturally diverse population. The innovative, community-based undergraduate curriculum combines mastery of acute clinical nursing competencies with effective community development strategies. Students and faculty work in community agencies and neighborhoods alongside other healthcare professionals throughout the program.

MARKETABLE SKILLS, COMPETENICES, AND NCLEX-RN

Upon completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Texas A&M International University, students will have completed essential competencies developed by the Texas Board of Nursing. In addition, graduates qualify to take the NCLEX-RN; the national exam that every nursing program graduate in the United States must take to become a registered nurse.

Licensure is state specific; however, nurses licensed in Texas and 42 other jurisdictions have a compact license that allows them to provide care to patients, without having to obtain additional licensure. In non-compact states, the nurse would not need to re-test but rather apply for endorsement from that state's board of nursing. For more detailed information about competencies, visit the CSON website here.

Texas A&M International University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing has been commended by the Texas Board of Nursing for their NCLEX-RN pass rates. You can visit the Outcome Data tab on the CSON website here for more information about their pass and completion rates.

C. ACCREDITATION

The BSN program has full accreditation from the Texas Board of Nursing and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) | 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 | Atlanta, GA 30326 | Phone (404) 975-5000 | Fax (404) 975-5020 | Email: info@acenursing.org | www.acenursing.org.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON), 333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460, Austin, TX 78701, (512) 3057400; www.bon.texas.gov.