We've organized a comprehensive list of Texas nursing schools. Below you'll find information on specific nursing programs such as LVN certificates and ADN, BSN, and MSN degrees. You'll also find a profile of nursing education and careers in each major Texas city.
Texas is home to more than 600 hospitals, more than 350,000 licensed nurses, and over 200 approved nursing education programs. If you’re interested in joining Texas’s booming healthcare industry as a nurse, successful completion of a state-approved program is the first step. The Texas Board of Nursing also requires successful passing of the relevant licensure or certification exam, plus continuing education on a biennial basis for all licensed nurses.
Licensed vocational nurses provide frontline patient care under the supervision of surgeons, physicians, and registered nurses. They collect samples for testing, monitor medical equipment, measure vital signs, dress wounds, provide injections, and gather medical information from patients. Some LVNs even help to deliver, care for, and feed infants. Experienced LVNs may supervise certified nursing assistants and aides (CNAs).
A successful nursing career in Garland, Texas, begins with a degree, diploma, or certificate from an accredited nursing school. The city of Garland, located almost entirely within Dallas County, offers access to a number of local schools with highly regarded nursing programs. For example, CE Global Health Education Network offers a certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program. Dallas Nursing Institute has licensed vocational nursing (LVN), associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), and bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs.
The Bryan-College Station area of Texas is home to more than 3,000 nurses. Many of these professionals earned their degree or certificate at a local college or university, such as Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center or Blinn College. Texas A&M offers three bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) pathways. It also leads a master of science in nursing (MSN) program with nursing education and family nurse practitioner (FNP) tracks. Blinn College has an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) program.
Waco is home to a tight-knit population of nurses that make the city’s medical community one of the most respected in the region. The broader metropolitan area has roughly 1,700 registered nurses (RNs), 670 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and 1,200 certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
While nursing programs and career opportunities are plentiful in Plano, Texas, it still takes hard work and the right education to succeed. The three highest-demand nursing positions in Plano are registered nurse (RN), licensed vocational nurse (LVN), and certified nursing assistant (CNA). Nursing compensation throughout the Dallas metropolitan area is very attractive. For example, Dallas-area RNs earn a median annual salary of $70,000. Local LVNs earn just over $46,000 per year, and the area’s CNAs take home about $24,500 annually.
The McAllen / Edinburg / Mission area of Texas is home to a small community of 5,260 registered nurses (RNs), 2,070 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and 1,760 certified nursing assistants (CNAs). These professionals earn competitive salaries. For example, the area’s RNs earn an average of $65,700 per year. Local LVNs earn $46,300 annually, while CNAs receive $19,620 per year. However, to break into this career field, you’ll need the right education, training, and skills.
Lubbock, Texas is home to one of the top nursing schools in the state: Texas Tech University. The city is also home to 3,610 registered nurses (RNs), 1,740 certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and 1,470 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). While nursing career opportunities are promising throughout Lubbock, the field is very competitive. To ensure that their nurses have the skills needed to provide exceptional patient care, Lubbock-based hospitals and healthcare providers require a degree or certificate, clinical experience, and proper licensure.
How does one join the ranks of the registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), or certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in the Killeen / Temple / Fort Hood area? All three career paths require education, but the duration and focus varies substantially by role.
If you are interested in becoming a nurse in Irving, Texas, you’re in luck. The city of 230,000 residents is home to top hospitals and medical centers such as Baylor Medical Center at Irving, Las Colinas Medical Center, and HCA North Texas. Not surprisingly, Irving’s nurses receive exceptional pay. The area’s registered nurses (RNs) earn a median annual salary of $70,000, while its licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) earn $46,000 per year and its certified nursing assistants (CNAs) receive $24,500 in annual pay.
Houston is home to a large population of registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) that manage the healthcare needs of more than 2.1 million residents. The metropolitan area has over 44,000 RNs, 12,000 LVNs, and 16,000 CNAs that care for patients at prestigious hospitals like Texas Medical Center, Kindred Hospital Houston Medical Center, St. Joseph Medical Center, and West Houston Medical Center.
With a population of 190,000 registered nurses (RNs) and hundreds of top-rated nursing schools, Texas is one of the nation’s best places to start a nursing career. While opportunities are plentiful, especially in the Fort Worth metropolitan area, it still takes a lot of work and the right education to obtain a coveted position in this competitive field.