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School of Nursing
Division of Academic Affairs
  • About
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    Discover exceptional nursing education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Our School of Nursing offers accredited programs, including BSN, MSN, DNP, and post-master's certificates in Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner specialties. Approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and CCNE accredited, we prepare future leaders in healthcare.

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    Explore comprehensive nursing programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). With online, campus, and hybrid options, these accredited programs provide the knowledge and skills to excel in patient care, critical thinking, and advanced nursing practice.

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    Student Success Network

    The UTRGV School of Nursing Student Success Network supports nursing students through mentorship, academic coaching, and experiential learning. Led by Dean Dr. Lilia Fuentes, the program enhances student resilience, career readiness, and professional growth. Key faculty members, including Dr. Eloisa Tamez and Dr. Roda Galang, provide dedicated academic guidance and mentorship.

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    Access essential nursing resources for UTRGV students and faculty, including study materials, clinical guidelines, certification requirements, academic support, and faculty tools. Stay updated with the latest nursing program information, exam prep resources, and career development support to enhance nursing education and teaching at UTRGV.

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Program Coordinators

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Contact Us

Brownsville Office:
Life and Health Science Bldg (BLHSB) 2.720
956-882-5070
Fax: 956-882-6827

Edinburg Office:
Health Affairs Building East (EHABE) 2.201
956-665-3491
Fax: 956-665-5253

Education Verification Forms: Elizabeth Salinas
Program Coordinator-Student Services
Graduate or DNP Program requests.
elizabeth.r.salinas@utrgv.edu
956-665-8906

Lourdes Sanchez, BAAS-IS
Program Coordinator-Student Services
Undergraduate Program requests.
lourdes.sanchez@utrgv.edu
956-882-5070

(Graduates must complete their section of the form before submitting. Provide your UTRGV Student ID# in your email.)

General Information and Program Inquiries: Maria Pilar Pedraza, BS
Administrative Assistant
maria.pedraza@utrgv.edu
956-665-2194

Karina Gutierrez
Program Specialist-Student Services
karina.gutierrez@utrgv.edu
956-882-5072

Carmen Vela, BS
Program Specialist-Student Services
carmen.vela@utrgv.edu
956-665-2204

Graduate Programs: Elizabeth Salinas
Program Coordinator-Student Services
MSN-FNP, Post Master's PMHNP and FNP Certificates, MSN-Education, MSN-Administration and DNP
elizabeth.r.salinas@utrgv.edu
956-665-8906

Undergraduate Programs: Lourdes Sanchez, BAAS-IS
Program Coordinator-Student Services
BSN Generic, 2nd Degree and RN to BSN
lourdes.sanchez@utrgv.edu
956-882-5070


Master of Science in Nursing Administration/Master of Science in Nursing Education

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Beatriz Bautista, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CDCES
Clinical Professor / Director of MSN & Post Master's Certificate Programs
Office: EHABE 2.225
Email: beatriz.bautista@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-665-3497

PMHNP Certificate

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Nadia Theys, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Clinical Assistant Professor / PMHNP Certificate Program Coordinator
Office: EHABE 2.201
Email: Nadia.Theys01@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 270-2251

MSN-FNP and FNP Certificate

 

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Rebecca Hernández, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Clinical Associate Professor/MSN Family Nurse Practitioner/Post Master's FNP Certificate Program Coordinator
EHABE 2.217
Email: rebecca.hernandez@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-665-3859

Rebecca M. Hernandez, is an Associate Clinical Professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She has over 16 years of clinical experience. This includes pediatric intensive care as a registered nurse and in transitional care, rural/emergency care, and internal medicine as a family nurse practitioner.   

Born and raised in South Texas, Dr. Hernandez obtained both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner from our legacy institution The University of Texas Pan-American. After rooting herself professionally in the RGV community, she obtained her Doctor of Nursing Practice from The University of Texas at Austin.   

Dr. Hernandez has been employed as a full-time clinical faculty since 2015, at the inception of UTRGV. She has taught in the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program since 2017 and became the Program Coordinator for the FNP programs in the fall of 2023. She is passionate about educating future APRNs on holistic care and educating their communities on preventative care.   

She is a wife to her soulmate and mother to three beautiful children. She enjoys her spunky Yorkshire terriers and a growing adoption of assorted pets. She has a deep love for the Rio Grande Valley and the richness of diverse cultures that inhabit the area. 

Doctor of Nursing Practice

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Andrya Rivera-Burciaga, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, ACHPN
Clinical Professor
Office: EHABE 2.206
Email: andrya.riveraburciaga01@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-665-5857

Andrya R. Rivera-Burciaga is an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.  She has over 22 years of clinical experience as a registered nurse, family nurse practitioner, advanced hospice and palliative care nursing, nursing administration, and nursing education. Recently she has focused on her clinical practice in community-based Palliative Care. She is married and has one son. 

She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Baylor University in May 1999. In 2010, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Adult Health. In May 2011, she also received her Post Masters Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner from The University of Texas-Pan American.  

Andrya has always been passionate about advanced education and her community. Her focus is driving change through improving clinical outcomes and community projects to improve end-of-life care for Mexican Americans in the Rio Grande Valley. Her focus has been on increasing Advanced Care Planning among Hispanics. This work is challenging, and she quickly learned she needed advanced education to bring about “BIG” change in healthcare.  During her time as a Doctor of Nursing Practice student, she was able to spend time with mentors at the Texas Health Institute who influenced her and helped her bring about change in her community. She started an annual hospice and palliative care educational seminar for healthcare providers and is also an End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) trainer. In 2017, she received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston – School of Nursing. Since then, she has gone on to graduate from the Duke University – Johnson and Johnson Nurse Leader Fellowship in May 2021. 

Since graduation, she has been invited to participate with a diverse group of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to write a piece in regard to Health Equity in Palliative Care Education. 

School of Nursing


Brownsville

BLHSB 2.720
Phone: 956-882-5072
Fax: 956-882-6827

Edinburg

EHABE 2.201
Phone: 956-665-3491
Fax: 956-665-5253 

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Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST

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