About the School
Mission Statement
The mission of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing is to prepare professional nurses to improve the well-being of complex populations.
History
The Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing grew from the commitment of the Laredo community to address the unmet health needs of the city and surrounding border area. The curriculum, designed for the special needs of a culturally diverse population, is based on theories of transcultural nursing and human caring. The innovative, community-based curriculum combines mastery of acute clinical nursing competencies with effective community development strategies. Approval was received in September 1994 for a baccalaureate completion program (RN/BSN) for Associate Degree Registered Nurses, and the first students were admitted in January 1995. The RN/BSN program received full accreditation from the Texas Board of Nursing in May 1996. Following the graduation of the first student and in October 1997, the program earned 5 years initial accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
Success of the RN/BSN program and the increasing need for Registered Nurses in Laredo and the surrounding community led to approval of the Basic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for implementation in Fall 1998. Reaccreditation of the BSN programs and initial accreditation of the MSN program by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) was received in 2004.
Previously under the College of Education, the Kinesiology and Communication Disorders programs moved to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences under the Health Science department in the Summer of 2019.
Community Partnerships
The growth and development of the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing has been made possible by the outstanding support received from the Laredo community. The Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust and Mercy Health Systems of Texas provided funding for program development, faculty and student support. Spacious, state-of-the-art facilities in the Dr. F. M. Canseco Hall and an endowed scholarship fund serve as a family memorial to a noted Laredo physician and his wife, Dr. F. M. and Consuelo Canseco.
Other endowed scholarships honor Laredo families; Hurd, Epstein and Hachar. Local philanthropic organizations also offer scholarships to our nursing students including; Laredo Medical Center Auxiliary and Women's City Club.
Accreditation
The BSN and MSN programs have full accreditation from the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).