registered Nursing
associate degree | atu ozark

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

 

March 1: RN program application deadline

PROGRAM APPLICATION

RN Student Handbook
Course Descriptions
Program Outcomes

This program is designed for persons who are already licensed practical nurses (LPN) and wish to pursue their AAS-RN degree. Because they are already licensed, many of them also are already employed. This program of study is designed to provide greater flexibility by offering half of the nursing theory courses online and half of the nursing theory courses in classroom lectures, giving students an option to continue working while pursuing the degree.

A Paramedic to Registered Nursing transition course is available in Spring semesters.  In order to transition from the role of paramedic to registered nurse, the student must have an understanding of nursing concepts and theories related to meeting the basic needs of humans and the scope of practice for the RN.  To provide this opportunity, we have created a six credit hour transition course in which the nursing process is introduced.  Building on the knowledge of the paramedic, this course transitions paramedics to the professional scope and practice of the nurse.

Paramedics who wish to pursue the transition to registered nursing program must successfully complete RN 2006 Paramedic Transition to Nursing.  Paramedics choosing to transition to nursing will be required to apply to the Nursing program.  Students accepted into the program must complete a platform of 37 hours of coursework with a “C” or better and a minimum 2.75 GPA prior to admission to the technical phase of the RN program.  Paramedics must hold a National Paramedic Registry Certificate and at time of application must have 3 years of experience working directly with patients as a licensed Paramedic. Paramedics who choose to transition are not required to be Licensed Practical Nurses.

Students who are pursuing a program of study where admission is limited (Cosmetology, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing) will be assigned a major of Associate of General Studies until admitted into their selected program.

 

In order to be considered for admission to the Registered Nursing program, each student must meet the following criteria:

LPN to RN

• Completion of platform coursework with a “C” or better and a minimum 2.75 GPA; conditional acceptance may be granted to those students who are in the process of completing remaining platform coursework. Failure to maintain a 2.75 GPA and “C” or better upon completion of remaining platform coursework or failure to complete all platform coursework prior to the start of the program may lead to forfeiture of RN program admission offer.
  
  
  • All courses required in the platform for the nursing program are either currently offered on the Arkansas Tech University Ozark or Russellville campuses. Applicants with platform coursework completed at other institutions should have their official transcripts sent to the Office of Student Services for review. The LPN to RN platform coursework can be viewed HERE.
    
    

• Current unencumbered Arkansas LPN licensure. Recent graduates must have made application to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing in order to be considered for conditional admission. Upon an applicant receiving conditional admission, the applicant must show proof of a temporary license prior to beginning coursework. The applicant must pass the NCLEX-PN prior to the final date to drop/withdraw from courses with full reduction of tuition/fees. Failure to take or pass the NCLEX-PN by this time will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the program.

• Eligibility for admission to Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus.
  
  
• Submission of complete and accurate RN Program Application Packet for Admission.
  
  
• Completion of appropriate HESI PN.
  
  
• Be at least 18 years of age.
  
  
• Students who speak English as a second language must meet the same admission criteria as other students.
• Must have either:
  1. 1. graduated from an Arkansas State Board of Nursing approved Practical Nursing school in the 12 months prior to application;
        OR
     2. been employed a minimum of 1,000 hours as an LPN in the 12 months prior to application. Work experience must be in acute or long-term care. Volunteer hours are not considered in the 1,000 hours.
        
        

Paramedic to RN

• Completion of platform coursework with a “C” or better and a minimum 2.75 GPA; conditional acceptance may be granted to those students who are in the process of completing remaining platform coursework. Failure to maintain a 2.75 GPA and “C” or better upon completion of remaining platform coursework or failure to complete all platform coursework prior to the start of the program may lead to forfeiture of RN program admission offer.
  
  
  • All courses required in the platform for the nursing program are either currently offered on the Arkansas Tech University Ozark or Russellville campuses. Applicants with platform coursework completed at other institutions should have their official transcripts sent to the Office of Student Services for review. The Paramedic to RN platform coursework can be viewed HERE.
    
    
• Hold a certification from the Arkansas Department of Health as a paramedic and current registration as a paramedic with the National Registry of EMTs.
  
  
• Submission of complete and accurate RN Program Application Packet for Admission.
  
  
• Completion of Paramedic to ADN MOBILITY HESI EXAM testing.

  • The ADN Mobility HESI Exam is a 50-question test that will identify one’s strengths and weaknesses in ADN content areas.

    Includes the following content areas:
    Fundamentals
    Pediatrics
    Psychiatric/Mental Illness
    Pharmacology
    Medical-Surgical
    Physical Assessment
    
    
• Be at least 18 years of age.
  
  
• Completion of the Paramedic Transition to RN 2006 course.
  
  
• Must have either a) graduated from an approved paramedic program in the 12 months prior to application with 600 work hours completed by June 1^st OR b) been employed a minimum of 1,000 hours as a paramedic in the 12 months prior to application. Volunteer hours are not considered in the 1,000 hours.

If 600 hours are not completed by application deadline and student is selected for the program then it will be a conditional acceptance until either June 1^st deadline or 600 completed work hours.

ACCREDITATION

The Associate Degree of Registered Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Address: 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA  30326, Phone:  (404) 975-5000, Web site: www.acenursing.org).

CONTACT

(479) 508-8500 ext. 6503
alliedhealth@atu.edu