A path worth taking … Del Mar College and London ISD announce new first-of-its-kind regional initiative leading high school graduates directly into Registered Nursing to meet shortage
Graduating seniors to have opportunity to start college’s highly competitive Registered Nurse Program right after graduation by meeting all pre-requisites, passing entrance exam prior to acceptance
Article by Melinda Eddleman
The numbers tell the story. Data from the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies indicates that by 2036 the state will have a deficit of nearly 56,400 registered nurses. Projections show that nearly 360,500 RNs will be needed but only about 304,100 will be available.
A new initiative called Viking Voyage to Nursing between Del Mar College and London Independent School District will help address the Coastal Bend’s shortage.
During London ISD’s State of the District today, April 30, both LISD and DMC leadership announced the first-of-its-kind regional initiative for London dual credit high school students to pursue a direct pathway into DMC’s highly competitive Registered Nurse Program after graduation. The initiative begins with the London ISD’s freshman class this fall semester.
This partnership creates a clear and intentional pathway for students to move from high school into one of the most critical fields in our community. By aligning early college opportunities with a high-demand workforce need, we are not only expanding access to nursing education but also investing in the future of health care across the Coastal Bend.
We are pleased to offer this one-of-a-kind dual credit opportunity to our London high school students. It is a joy to work with a partner like Del Mar College to provide a pathway for our students to get ahead in a very competitive admissions process. Our students will not only be able to complete high school but also get their nursing degree even faster than before resulting in a real impact on our local healthcare workforce.”
During their freshman year, students’ first steps are to apply to Del Mar College and its dual credit program and take the TSI (Texas Success Initiative ) test for placement. They should also review the college’s Registered Nurse Program admissions requirements (www.delmar.edu/rn) before pursuing the Viking Voyage to Nursing pathway and the rigorous pre-requisite college-level coursework needed for acceptance into the program.
Along with any core college coursework they may take, including recommended speech and philosophy classes, students must complete General Psychology, Anatomy & Physiology I and II and English Composition before applying to the program. Additionally, students must take the nurse education entrance test, called the Assessment Technologies Institute Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) test, before formally applying to DMC’s Registered Nurse Program.
Participants will complete the Registered Nurse Program’s competitive application process by Jan. 31 of their senior year; and if they have met all eligibility requirements, seniors will receive notification of acceptance and can then enter the program either in the summer or fall after high school graduation. Their first courses as RN majors will include Introduction to Health Care Concepts and Professional Nursing Concepts.
A flowchart of students’ pathway into the Registered Nurse Program is provided/attached.
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Del Mar College’s Registered Nurse Program is intentionally rigorous and academically demanding because the responsibility our graduates assume is critical to patient care and safety. Students complete intensive science‑based coursework, hands‑on clinical experiences and professional nursing training that prepares them to succeed on the national licensing exam (NCLEX) and enter the workforce as confident, highly skilled nurses.
Overall, Viking Voyage to Nursing participants will complete 14 semester credit hours in pre-requisites before officially entering the college’s program.
Del Mar College’s Registered Nurse Program is a two-year program with an optional exit point after three semesters if students choose to first practice as a licensed vocational nurse. After graduating from either the LVN or RN Program, students must then pass the NCLEX - PN to work as a licensed vocational nurse or NCLEX - RN to enter the workforce as a registered nurse.
The college also offers another option. RN graduates can take their associate’s degrees further and pursue DMC’s first bachelor’s degree, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing or RN to BSN degree, which the Nurse Education Department first launched in fall 2021.
Dr. Sramek added, “This partnership with London ISD creates a powerful, structured pathway that benefits students while directly strengthening the Coastal Bend’s health care workforce. By giving students, a clear, supported route from high school to a nursing degree, we are investing in local talent, supporting our health care industry and building a sustainable pipeline of nurses who are ready to serve our community.”
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.
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