• Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA 
• TEAS Nursing Admission Assessment Exam score - overall proficient level or higher
• Professional reference letters

 

Successfully complete Nursing pre-requisite courses with a grade of C or better:

• BIOL 220 Microbiology* (4 semester credits with lab)
• BIOL 101 and BIOL 102 Anatomy and Physiology I and II* (8 semester credits with lab)
• CHEM 105 Survey of Chemistry* (4 semester credits with lab)
• ENGL 121 Freshman Composition (3 semester credits)
• ENGL 220 Research Writing (3 semester credits)
• History Electives (6 semester credits)
• MATH 141 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3 semester credits)
• PSYC 212 General Psychology* (3 semester credits)
• PSYC 220 Human Growth and Development* (3 semester credits)
• SOCI 111 Intro to Sociology (3 semester credits)

*Completed within the last 7 years

• Apply online to Southwestern Adventist University. For your convenience, you may apply directly through NursingCas. 
• Obtain two professional references  
• Send official transcripts from all schools attended.** 
• Successfully complete nursing pre-requisites, nursing cognate, and general education requirements. Courses in progress may be included.
• Successfully complete the ATI TEAS Nursing Admission Exam* with an overall score of proficient level or higher. Note: There is a limit of two TEAS exam attempts per admission cycle. Call 817-202-6658 for testing dates if not listed. An official TEAS transcript must be sent directly from ATI to the SWAU Nursing Department if the exam is not taken at SWAU.

*Register for the TEAS exam at www.atitesting.com and select Keene - Southwestern Adventist University. If the testing dates are not listed, please call 817-202-6658. TEAS exam may be taken at another TEAS testing facility. Official ATI transcript is required.

**All forms for admissions including official transcripts and personal reference forms can be sent to Admissions Office, Southwestern Adventist University 100 W. Hillcrest St., Keene, TX 76059. 

 

After receipt of the letter of admission to the Nursing Program, applicants must complete additional requirements to confirm and retain their place in the class.

1. $250 Non-Refundable Nursing Deposit, paid to the Admissions Office by the published deadline, to reserve a place in the upcoming class.
2. Criminal Background Check as required by the Texas Board of Nursing. Instructions will be provided following admission.
3. Viewpoint Screening account: All nursing students are required to purchase and maintain a Viewpoint Screening account for approval and storage of all required clinical documents during their time in the Nursing Program. Instructions will be provided following admission. The fee for this account is $110 total, which covers lifetime access to the Viewpoint health portal, a random drug test administered during the first semester, and background checks as required by clinical facilities to be completed during the first semester.
4. Orientation: All newly admitted nursing students are required to attend the nursing orientation on the Thursday and Friday prior to the beginning of the semester. Failure to attend will forfeit admission to the program.
5. Uniforms are to be purchased from the designated provider. Ordering instructions will be provided during nursing orientation.

 

Applicants with Prior Attendance in Another Nursing Program

The student transferring from another school of nursing must request a letter of good standing from the dean/director of the previous nursing program directly to Southwestern Adventist University's Nursing Chair.

The following immunizations and clinical requirements must be completed and uploaded to Viewpoint Screening, SWAU's compliance management company, prior to Nursing Orientation. Instructions will be provided following admission.

Healthcare Provider Report of Physical Examination

 

Continuing Immunization Requirements:

1. Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis immunization or proof of immunity/positive titer.
2. Two doses of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) immunization or proof of immunity/positive titer.
3. Two doses of Varicella (chicken pox) immunization or proof of immunity/positive titer.
4. Hepatitis B immunization complete series, or proof of immunity/positive titer.
5. Annual flu vaccine before October 15 each fall.

Tuberculosis clearance:

Negative TB Skin test (PPD), QuantiFERON blood test, T-Spot blood test, or chest x-ray annually.

CPR Requirement

CPR for the Healthcare Provider (American Heart Association) Basic Life Support (BLS) 

Fall Admission

Early Admission Period: October 1 - February 15

(Late applications are accepted as space is available)

Program start date:

• August 20, 2026

 

Spring Admission

Early Admission Period: May 1 - August 1

(Late applications are accepted as space is available)

Program start date:

• January 7, 2027

 

Contact us about program space by calling (817) 645-3921 or email us at admissions@swau.edu

As a newly admitted nursing student, you will be required to attend nursing orientation. Failure to attend this orientation will forfeit admission to the program. Nursing orientation is the Thursday and Friday before classes begin.

• Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA 
• TEAS Nursing Admission Assessment Exam score - overall proficient level or higher
• Professional references
• Unencumbered LVN/LPN license 
• At least one year of LVN or LPN work experience within the past 4 years
• Fulfill the admission criteria and prerequisites for the B.S. program. General education, science, and cognate requirements are met through transfer of credit or completion of courses in residence. Credit for Fundamentals of Nursing and the clinical portion of Medical/Surgical Nursing I courses awarded by validation of LVN coursework, work experience, and successful completion of 12 credit hours at SWAU.

 

 

All nursing students must read and abide by the rules set forth in the SWAU Department of Nursing Student Handbook, and sign all Nursing Student Agreements.

1. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to require withdrawal of a nursing student from the program or a nursing course who fails to demonstrate competence or academic integrity and/ or displays inappropriate, unprofessional, dishonest, or unsafe behavior. Additional criteria for continuation in the program are consistent with the standards of the Texas Board of Nursing.
2. Students must maintain a cumulative nursing GPA of at least 2.5 in required NURS nursing courses to progress in nursing and to graduate. No grade lower than 75% (C) will be accepted in nursing and nursing cognate courses. Students whose nursing GPA falls below 2.5 at any time during the program must raise their nursing GPA to 2.5 or better in the next semester to continue in the program. If the nursing GPA remains below 2.5 for a second semester, the student will be required to repeat one or more nursing courses (including clinical), specified by the Nursing Progression Committee to raise the nursing GPA to 2.5 or above. Students who repeat a nursing course to raise their nursing GPA must re-enroll in the course within one year. If the nursing GPA remains below 2.5 after the repeated nursing course(s), the student will be permanently dropped from the program.
3. Students are allowed only one repeated nursing course due to course failure (this policy does not include NURS 450 Nursing Capstone).
4. Students are allowed only one nursing course withdrawal, which must be withdrawn by the university withdrawal date (last day to withdraw from a class).
5. Students who fail or withdraw from a required NURS course cannot enroll in further nursing courses, except for the following, which allow continuation: NURS 226 Gerontological Nursing, NURS 321 Evidence-based Practice, and NURS 426 Nursing Leadership. Students may repeat the failed/withdrawn course on a space available basis.
6. All nursing courses are to be completed within a six year time frame. Students must complete all nursing courses at Southwestern Adventist University. Exceptions to this policy will be evaluated on an individual basis.
7. LVN students must maintain current unencumbered Texas licensure throughout their enrollment in the nursing program. LVN students must complete nursing courses in the sequence specified in the fulltime degree plan.
8. After acceptance but before the first clinical, all students must submit to and pay for a background check and drug screen completed through the Nursing Department's compliance management company, Viewpoint Screening. Proof of required immunizations, TB test, and CPR documentation must also be submitted to Viewpoint Screening prior to Nursing Orientation and updated to remain current throughout the Nursing Program.

 

Readmission Policy

Readmission is possible for nursing students who left the program in good standing and according to the nursing progression criteria. Students who fail to complete a nursing course, or for any reason are out of the program for one or more semesters, must reapply to the nursing program. Readmission is not guaranteed and space for reentering students may be limited. All nursing courses must be completed within six years.

A new background check and drug screen must be completed and approved before a student is readmitted to clinical. Readmitted students must also complete a skills checkoff, assessment checkoff, and dosage calculation exam from the level at which the student was last in the program. Students who have been out of the program will return under the current University Catalog at a point in the program specified by a nursing department committee.

 

Transportation Policies

Students are expected to provide their own transportation to and from off-campus clinical labs. Faculty will not provide transportation. Students are advised not to transport patients in their own vehicles under any circumstances. This policy protects both the student and the patient. Texas law requires proof of automobile liability insurance.

 

Student Rights and Appeals Policy

The Nursing Department abides by the student rights and appeals policy as outlined in the University Catalog.