Nursing in Texas!!!
 

Hey there, I hope someone reads this..well here is the issue. I am in Texas and have been for over 10 years. I graduated high school and attended a community college and did some university classes. I want to be nurse, did all my prerequisites and everything that needed to be done then they tell me that I cannot enroll in the nursing program because I am an undocumented student. Umm , what?!! Yeah I need serious help please. Is this true? Does someone out there know anything about illegal students that want to pursue a Nursing degree in Texas?!! Please help!!! I feel..so...devastated...everyone I turn to or talk to tell me me they don't know or that its not possible...

Re: Nursing in Texas!!!
 

Look up the member, StillDreaminRN, for an answer.

Dude that's BS. What's up with the medical field? Maybe it's just for that school that you are applying to?

Re: Nursing in Texas!!!
 

Ive asked at over 5 schools and they pretty much tell me f*** you. and Im like...wow...but thanks for that members name!!!

Re: Nursing in Texas!!!
 

Maybe, it's by state? Anyone in California have the same problem? Maybe, the Texas DREAM Act does not prohibit universities from rejecting students based on immigration status.

Re: Nursing in Texas!!!
 

The reason we felt the need to add a portion requiring counselors to be aware of what options where available to students graduating from high school in the IL DREAM Act was precisely because we were getting a lot of responses of dreamers saying that their counselors told them they could not go to college, that there were not opportunities, no scholarships, and in some cases they were told by admissions staff in the university that there were no possibilities for them either, when there were.

I always try to direct people to ask whatever dreamer or pro-immigration organization is in the area and ask them such questions because they may be more aware about what is actually the case, and in some cases, they may have been contacted by someone within the university and could share that contact information with the person asking the question.

http://dreamact.info/advocacy/organizations

Re: Nursing in Texas!!!
 

Try UTEP; there's a few Dreamers there and they've got a largish Nursing program. You may have to bypass the Nursing department and go thru admissions, however Nursing may have some residency (hospital-wise) issues that make it more difficult than other degrees.

UT's also kind of Dreamer friendly but rather competitive.

Re: Nursing in Texas!!!
 

I recently graduated from nursing school, and was able to get licensed in the state of NY. However, I'm not sure what things are like in Texas. Policies tend to differ by state and even differ between schools. There were nursing programs in NY that I was unable to attend because of my status (mainly state universities). In my case, private schools were more accommodating. It's definitely possible to pursue nursing, and there are dreamers here in programs throughout the country. Keep researching different programs in your state, and hopefully you will come across one that's willing to accept undocumented students.

When I applied, I didn't ask the nursing program about their policies. My application was reviewed by the admissions office (who was aware of my status and provided me with a student ID number in lieu of a SS #). My nursing application was then passed to the nursing department, who, I'm assuming, simply looked at my academic record as a basis for accepting me into the program.

I didn't encounter problems, I believe, because hospitals, as recent as last year, were not mandating that our school have students submit to background checks. I graduated in May, and have heard that the policy has now changed, with hospitals requiring background checks be performed. There are dreamers that have stated that they have passed background checks, but I can't comment on that, because I've never actually taken one.

If there is anyone without a SSN, who has has had to undergo a background check for clinicals, any information you can provide would be quite helpful. Some nursing dreamers have also mentioned programs requiring fingerprinting - many of whom have been able to get through that as well.

The point is, there are obstacles that you will definitely encounter. However, I have learned throughout the years, to simply take it one step at a time. Many nursing dreamers have been able to get pass these issues, one way or the other.

I wish you luck, and don't give up on your dreams.

Re: Nursing in Texas!!!
 

It's really difficult getting a decent education or job when you don't have documents to back you up. I dunno if some states allow it. You might want to check on other options. Truth be told, once you lack documents, you don't get to have better choices with school, job, or anything.