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.
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.
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.
Texas is home to 190,000 registered nurses (RNs), 72,000 licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and 86,000 certified nursing assistants (CNAs). While these professionals work in every city across the state, the Greater Houston metro area contains the largest population of nurses, including 44,450 RNs, 12,920 LVNs, and 16,610 CNAs. Houston offers some of the best nursing career opportunities and salaries in all of Texas. The city’s RNs earn a median annual salary of $75,830, while its LVNs earn $45,360 annually and its CNAs earn $24,510 per year.
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.
The city of El Paso offers many opportunities for skilled registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). So what does it take to get your foot in the door?
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.