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.
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide physical and emotional support to patients under the supervision of nursing and other medical staff. Duties include (but are not limited to) cleaning and bathing patients; assisting with dressing; positioning patients in beds, chairs, or wheelchairs; serving meals and assisting with eating; and checking vital signs. Depending on the state, some nursing assistants may administer medication. In the state of Texas, CNAs must complete a medication aide training program and pass an exam to legally administer medication in all healthcare settings.
Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) care for the sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the supervision of registered nurses, surgeons, and physicians. They collect samples for testing, clean and monitor medical equipment, measure and record vital signs, dress wounds, prepare and give injections, monitor catheters, give alcohol rubs and massages, gather information from patients, and teach family members how to care for patients. Some LVNs even help deliver, care for, and feed infants. Experienced LVNs may also supervise nursing assistants and aides.
Registered nurses (RNs) perform a variety of duties from administering treatment and medications to performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results. RNs operate medical equipment; start, maintain, and discontinue intravenous lines; establish patient care plans; and educate patients and the public about various medical conditions. Some RNs even manage health screening and immunization clinics, blood drives, or public seminars on conditions.
The Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex is home to a noteworthy 54,170 registered nurses (RNs), 21,990 certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and 16,840 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). While opportunities for nursing professionals are thus plentiful in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex, the area’s top employers are quite selective. This means you’ll need the right type of education, training, experience, and licensure in order to land a position.
For our inaugural rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,200 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our Southwest rankings: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
For our inaugural rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,200 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our Southwest rankings: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
For our 2020 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our Southwest rankings: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
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).
San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas, and it is home to more nurses than almost any other city in the state. The broader San Antonio metropolitan area has over 16,500 registered nurses (RNs), more than 6,700 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and almost 6,200 certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Salaries are high as well. San Antonio’s RNs earn an average of $66,170 per year. The city's LVNs earn $42,490 annually, and its CNAs take home $23,390 per year.
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.
Laredo is home to a small but growing population of 1,310 registered nurses (RNs), 1,060 certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and 560 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). Salaries are on the rise as well. Laredo-based RNs earn almost $60,000 per year on average. The city’s LVNs earn over $46,000 annually, while its CNAs receive $18,320 in annual pay.
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.