Admissions Information

    

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Admission into the lower-division courses is open to any student meeting ATU's admission requirements. Applications to ATU are available in the Office of Admissions (website listed above).   Original Transcripts are to be mailed to Admissions and a copy to the Nursing Department.  See the Arkansas Tech University Catalog for additional information.

Admission to the upper-division nursing courses is competitive and subject to evaluation by the Nursing Department's Admission and Progression Committee. The Admission and Progression Committee reviews the applicant's record and makes recommendations regarding the student's admission into the Nursing Program. Students are considered for admission during the semester preceding the semester in which they plan to enter the nursing courses. All transcripts and credentials must be submitted to the Department of Nursing by March 1st for students applying for admission to Upper Division Nursing for the Fall semester or October 1st for the Spring semester. Students applying after these dates will be considered as space and resources permit. Students will be assisted through this process by their academic advisor. NOTE:  If not currently enrolled at ATU, an Admissions application must be completed (website listed above).

Any student who plans to reenter upper division nursing classes after failing or withdrawing from nursing courses must reapply by the March 1st for Levels I and III, or October 1st for Levels II and IV. All applicants will be considered and admitted on an individual basis. Readmission for returning students is not guaranteed.

 

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Minimum requirements for acceptance into the upper- division nursing courses are as follows:

1. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale.

2. Completion of the following courses with a grade of “C” or better in each: Engl 1013, Engl 1023, Math 1113, Biol 2014, Biol 3054, Biol 3074, Chem 1113, Chem 1111, Psy 2003, Psy 3813, Soc 1003, Nur 2303, and Nur 3803. Students who attempt any 3000 or 4000 level course (Biol 3054, Biol 3074, Psy 3813, Nur 3803) twice (2 times) and cannot achieve a grade of “C” or better in any of these courses will not be considered for upper division. An attempt is “any enrollment in any course and dropping it (or changing to audit) after the first day of the 10th week of the semester during the fall or spring semester or after the third week of either summer session for any reason, and/or failure (grade of “D”, “F”, or “F*”) of the course”.

3. Completion of the following courses:
American History or Government 3 hours
Social Science 3 hours
Humanities 3 hours
Fine Arts 3 hours
TECH 1001 1 hour
Elective 1 hour 
Physical Education 1 hour
 (See General Education requirements for specific course alternative)

 4. Acquisition of professional/student liability insurance and current certification of CPR for Adult and Child as taught by the American Heart Association.

5. Evidence of immunity to chicken pox or vaccination.

6. Initiation of Hepatitis B Vaccine series.

See Curriculum

These courses are part of the general education curriculum required for all graduates of ATU. Further information about these requirements can be found in the ATU catalog. Students should work closely with their advisors to determine the selection of courses.

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ADMISSION TO UPPER DIVISION

The Admission and Progression Committee uses the following criteria to rank applicants for admission to upper division nursing courses. These criteria utilize existing admission policies.

Applicants will be ranked in groups and the criteria for selection of upper division students are as follows:

For students desiring entry to Spring Upper Division Nursing (Level I):

  1. Student has GPA ≥ 3.0 during time of application and at the end of Fall semester.
  2. Do not admit at this time.

For students desiring entry to Fall semester Upper Division Nursing (Level I):

  1. Student has GPA ≥ 3.0 during time of application and at the end of Spring semester.
  2. Do not admit at this time.

The student must have completed a minimum of 54 hours of required prerequisite courses and have a GPA ≥ 3.0. 

READMIT POLICY:

Any student that fails an Upper Division nursing course (with the exception of nursing electives), withdraws, or has a break in enrollment must reapply for progression in the nursing program by June 30, for readmission to the fall semester, or January 5, for readmission to the spring semester.  To reapply, the student must complete “Reapplication to Upper Division” form and submit a letter of intent addressing reasons for past failure and a plan of action to enhance future success within the nursing program.  Reapplication will be based on the availability of positions within the repeating level, letter of intent and current GPA.  Should several students reapply for the same level and there are a limited number of positions, GPA ranking, in conjunction with their letter of intent will guide the committee decision-making process.

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OTHER ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

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Health

In addition to the other admission and progression requirements of the ATU Department of Nursing, every student must possess and maintain the following:
  1. Intellectual ability to synthesize the body of knowledge necessary to practice nursing
  2. Physical capability to gain access to clients in a variety of setting, and the capability to provide
    professional nursing care in these settings.
  3. Physical stamina to participate in routine physical aspects of nursing care.
  4. Communication skills to effectively utilize nursing care plans.
  5. Motor skills to effect interventions required in application of nursing care.

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Abilities and Skills for Admission to and Progression

The ATU Department of Nursing requires abilities and skills for admission and progression in the curriculum based on those required of a practicing professional nurse.

The professional nurse must possess the knowledge and ability to effectively assess his or her patient's biophysical, psychological, social, cultural, and intellectual domains. Further, the professional nurse must competently analyze the assessment data through critical thinking to arrive at a definition of the patient's status or problem, plan independently or collaboratively for a full range of therapeutic interventions, execute all or part of the plans through nursing acts, and evaluate the care delivered and the patient's responses to it.

A candidate for professional nursing must have the abilities and skills necessary for use of the nursing process (scientific decision-making process). These skills and abilities include: observation; communication; motor ability; conceptualization; integration and quantification; and behavioral/social acceptability. Technological accommodation can be made for some disabilities in certain of these areas, but a candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. The use of a trained intermediary is not acceptable, in that a candidate's judgement must not be mediated by someone else's power of observation and selection.

The following abilities and skills are necessary to meet the requirements of the curriculum:

  1. Observation: The candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and tactile sensation. It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell.
  2. Communication: The candidate must be able to speak, to hear, and to observe patients in order to elicit information; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive nonverbal communications. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. Communication includes not only speech but reading and writing. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team.
  3. Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other assessment maneuvers. A candidate must have sufficient motor skills to gain access to clients in a variety of care settings and to manipulate the equipment central to the treatment of patients receiving professional nursing care. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision. Examples of required fine motor skills would include, but are not limited to, preparation and administration of parenteral medications, assessment of vital signs, application of dressings, and insertion of drainage catheters. Examples of required gross motor skills would include, but are not limited to, positioning clients in bed, assisting with ambulation, and transferring clients via wheelchair, stretcher, or bed.
  4. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of nurses, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the candidate should be able to comprehend three dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.
  5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgement, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for other, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities necessary for professional nursing.

 

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CPR Certification

Current certification of Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation of adult, child and infant as taught by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association is a requirement for entry into upper division nursing classes. A copy of the CPR card must be received in the Nursing Department prior to beginning nursing courses. The card shall be current and suffice for that entire year of courses. Students must recertify before entering the senior year.

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Liability Insurance

Students are required to have professional liability insurance of $1,000,000. This is at the student's own expense. For improved coverage at the lowest possible cost Marsh/Seabury and Smith was chosen to provide blanket coverage for *$13.00 per student per year. Payment for the student policy must be made at the Student Accounts office in the Doc Bryan Student Center on the dates listed below.  Please be sure to submit a copy of your receipt for the blanket coverage insurance or a copy of your individual professional liability insurance policy with evidence that you are covered as a nursing student with the completed Admission/Required Documentation Packet.

Students who have completed NUR 2023/NUR 3103 in the Spring Term payments must be made between July 5 and August 1st. Payment will be refused before July 1. Insurance must be paid by August 1.

Students who are enrolled for NUR 2023/NUR 3103 in the Fall Term payments must be made between November 1 and December 1.  Insurance must be paid by December 1.

Note for Level III Students:  Insurance expires after one year.  Must be renewed before Level III clinicals - see dates above.

*Price subject to change.

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Miscellaneous

Proof of Licensure for RNs and LPNs

 

Photograph

 

Hepatitis B Vaccine

 

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