Registered Nursing

 

ATU Ozark | registered Nursing

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing (AAS-RN) prepares a graduate to function as an entry level registered nurse, providing direct care to persons as individuals and as members of a family or group. The curriculum is designed to prepare the person for registered nursing practice, to be competent, self-directed, and capable of demonstrating leadership in the application of the nursing process in a variety of healthcare settings.

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 are also 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 the students an option to continue working while pursuing this degree.

This Nursing education program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The most recent accreditation decision by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree Nursing program is Initial Accreditation.  

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
Website: https://www.acenursing.org/

It also has continued full approval from the Arkansas State Board on Nursing
Arkansas State Board of Nursing
University Tower Bldg.
1123 South University, Suite 800
Little Rock, AR
501-686-2700

Pittman

Lisa Pittman
Program Chair

Health Sciences and Wellness
1700 Helberg Lane
Ozark, AR 72949

(479) 508-8500 ext. 6352
lpittman1@atu.edu

Jordan Wright

Jordan Wright
Instructor

Health Sciences and Wellness
1700 Helberg Lane
Ozark, AR 72949

(479) 508-8500 ext. 6351
jwright51@atu.edu

 

 

 

PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED BETWEEN OCTOBER 1 AND MARCH 1

MARCH 1: RN PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE

IMPORTANT: Click Here for Additional Documents Required for Online Application

HESI Entrance Exam 

HESI Exam Information
How to Create a Student Account for the HESI Exam

Upcoming ATU- Ozark Campus HESI Exam Dates

*There are no HESI exams scheduled at this time. Dates for the next HESI testing will be posted in spring of 2026.

HESI exams will be held in the Health Sciences and Wellness building, room 117/118.

CAREER OPTIONS

You could work as a(n):

  • Acute care nurse
  • Charge nurse
  • Clinic nurse
  • Nurse in specialty field

Alumni of our program work at:

  • Baptist Fort Smith
  • Johnson Regional Medical Center
  • Mercy Fort Smith
  • St. Mary's Regional Medical Center

 Credentials that stack with this degree:

  • Certificate of Proficiency in Health Sciences
  • Bachelor of Applied Science
  • Bachelor of Professional Studies
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
  • Ph.D. in Physical Therapy

HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

  • Hospital Clinical
  • Lab time with high-fidelity mannequins

SKILLS YOU WILL LEARN

  • Adhere to ethical and legal standards.
  • Demonstrate ability to think critically and manage diverse patient populations in a variety of health care settings.
  • Demonstrate effective communication, both oral and written.
  • Demonstrate professionalism through participation in activities addressing quality of care and leadership in nursing.
  • Demonstrate the ability to deliver competent nursing care in a manner that minimizes risk to patient, self, and others independently.
  • Demonstrate the ability to provide theory based, individualized, culturally sensitive therapeutic nursing care to patients and families.
  • Effectively utilize all stages of the nursing process (assessment, data analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation) when caring for a wide variety of patients.
  • Teamwork, prioritization and clinical judgment.
  • Utilize research strategies and informatics to continuously monitor and improve the quality and safety of clinical practice.
 

 

CONTACT

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