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 program provides a pathway for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) who wish to achieve an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing - which allows them to sit for the Registered Nursing examination, the NCLEX-RN. The program is also designed to provide a transition from LPN to AAS-RN, thereby allowing students to transfer seamlessly to the online BSN-RN program currently in place at Arkansas Tech University Russellville campus.

In Spring 2020, we began offering a Paramedic transition to Registered Nursing opportunity. 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 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. For more information on this opportunity, please contact the Registered Nursing Department.  The Clinical Coordinator, Lisa Pittman, can be reached by emailing: lpittman1@atu.edu.

The Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) requires a criminal background check for all graduates applying for licensure. Graduating from a nursing program does not assure ASBN’s approval to take the licensure examination. Eligibility to take the licensure examination is dependent on meeting standards in the ASBN Nurse Practice Act and Rules. You will be required to sign a statement, before beginning the nursing program, that states you have read and understood ACA §17-87-312 and the specific offenses which, if pleaded guilty, nolo contender, or found guilty of will make an individual ineligible to receive or hold a license in Arkansas. You can access the information at https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/arsbn-laws-rules

Prior to admission to the technical phase of the Registered Nursing program, students must complete a platform of 37 hours which includes general education and medical courses. Students must submit an application to the program and meet entrance requirements for acceptance into the technical phase of the Registered Nursing program.

Students who speak English as a second language shall meet the same admission requirements.

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

The mission of the registered nursing program is to provide an intellectual climate that fosters the development of critical thinking to prepare a graduate who is professional, caring, competent, and self-directed in providing therapeutic nursing intervention and demonstrates an interest in life-long learning, as well as to assist the student to achieve personal and professional goals regardless of cultural, racial, or ethnic background.

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

Students are advised that the Registered Nursing Program (RN) is strenuous in nature. Students are therefore not allowed to take additional course work that is not directly related to their degree plan while in the RN Program. If a student has completed all general education course requirements prior to entering the program, the student may not have a full load of twelve credit hours or more (which could affect financial aid eligibility). The RN Program is very intense and requires approximately 30-36 hours per week of theory /lab/fieldwork. This does not include prep or study time. The hours ascribed to each semester while in the RN Program are considered by the program to be full time. 

The A.A.S. in Registered Nursing is intended to be a "feeder program" to the BSN program at the Russellville campus. This degree prepares the graduate to sit for licensure in Registered Nursing which results in an RN credential.

Associates Degree

The Associate of Applied Science 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 students 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) or paramedics who wish to pursue their AAS-RN degree, which allows them to sit for the Registered Nursing examination, the NCLEX-RN. The program also is designed to provide a transition to AAS-RN, thereby allowing students to transfer seamlessly to the online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN-RN) program currently in place at Arkansas Tech University's main Russellville campus.

 

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.

 

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

 

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED BETWEEN OCTOBER 1 AND MARCH 1

MARCH 1: RN PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE!

ONLINE PROGRAM APPLICATION

IMPORTANT: Click Here for Additional Documents Required for Online Application

PROGRAM APPLICATION- PAPER

CONTACT

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


 
 

Program Faculty

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