Message from the Dean
Nurses have always been in high demand. In the United States, the need for nurses is rising. By 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be approximately 194,500 openings for registered nurses each year. Over the next decade, the demand for nurse practitioners will also grow with an overall employment increase of over 45%.
Whether you’re looking to start a career in nursing or are wanting to expand your career with an advanced degree, you’ve picked a great discipline. And the UTEP College of Nursing is a great place to start!
The UTEP College of Nursing has a long and successful history of preparing highly qualified registered nurses and nurse practitioners to address ever-evolving health care needs in our community and throughout the world. To meet the demand, we are regularly increasing our admission size and graduating more nurses. From 2011 to 2021, our Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing (BSN) program graduated 3,500 nurses – more than any other nursing program in the region.
Our faculty have developed a robust and thorough curriculum designed to provide future nurses with the knowledge and tools necessary to provide quality care. Made up of clinicians and advanced practice nurses working in our community, our faculty utilize their clinical and community experience, innovative classrooms, and state-of-the-art Center for Simulation to prepare students for successful careers in nursing.
We are proud of what our students have accomplished. Our BSN graduates consistently surpass local and national averages for first-time pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses. Our fall 2021 graduates had an overall passing rate of 96%, which is the highest in El Paso and well above the national average of 86%.
Our nurse practitioner program provides nurses the opportunity to enhance their careers and make quality care more accessible in their community. We offer the only neonatal concentration for advanced practice registered nurses in West Texas and New Mexico; one of only four in the state of Texas. Our psychiatric mental health concentration prepares nurse practitioners to tackle the increasing demand for mental health services.
For nearly 50 years, the UTEP College of Nursing has been preparing the best and the brightest nurses in our community. As the largest producer of nurses in the region, we take pride in our legacy of quality nursing education. I invite you to familiarize yourself with everything we have to offer by browsing our website or by scheduling a meeting with one of our advisors to discuss your options. For undergraduate advising, call 915-747-8337; and for graduate advising, call 915-747-7281.
Go Miners!
Leslie K. Robbins, PhD, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, PMHNP-BC (NM), FAANP, ANEF
Dean and Professor
