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Department of Nursing
Rebecca Burris, Head
Dean Hall, Suite 224
(479) 968-0383
Rebecca.Burris@mail.atu.edu
Associate Professors:
R. Burris, J. Helms, C. Jones,
P. Lee, C. Smith
Assistant Professors:
L. Buckholtz, J. Coleman,
K. Cox, S. Daily, S. Ellis,
J. Fletcher, L. Kennedy,
Learning Resources Coordinator: C. BosoldArkansas Tech University's nursing curriculum is designed to prepare students for beginning professional responsibilities in a variety of healthcare settings and to provide the necessary foundations for graduate study.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. The program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10006, Telephone: 800-669-1656.
The Department of Nursing offers undergraduate study in nursing to qualified high school graduates, graduates of diploma and associate degree programs in nursing, licensed psychiatric technician nurses, and licensed practical nurses. The baccalaureate program leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Satisfactory completion of two academic years of foundation courses followed by two years of upperdivision professional nursing courses is required.
Upon completion of degree requirements, the student may be eligible to take the national examination (NCLEX) for licensure as a registered nurse. All nursing students should be aware that the State Board of Nursing requires all applicants for the NCLEX to have a criminal background check performed. If the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime, the Board will review the application and make a decision as to whether the applicant is eligible to take the NCLEX exam and to practice nursing in the State of Arkansas. Any student who has been convicted of a crime should notify his or her advisor before taking the prerequisite courses. This information will be kept strictly confidential. The student will be advised of the method of petitioning the Board and counseled regarding the process. A registered nurse may be subject to losing his or her license if the conviction is discovered after the license is granted.
The Department of Nursing reserves the right to make changes, without prior notice, in the curriculum and program requirements. Changes are made in keeping with the changing health needs of society and/or the best interests of the students and the department to maintain quality professional nursing education.
The Department of Nursing utilizes the clinical facilities and services of the Arkansas River Valley area; however, in order to meet the objectives of certain courses, the student should be prepared to travel out of this area. Students are required to provide their own transportation.
In addition to the oncampus program, courses for the senior year are offered in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Inquiries may be made at (479) 7091968.
Admission
Admission into lower division foundation courses is open to any Arkansas Tech University student who meets the requirements. Nursing majors are encouraged to seek academic advising from the nursing faculty immediately upon acceptance to the University.
Admission to the upper division nursing courses is competitive and subject to evaluation by the Nursing Department's Admission and Progression Committee. Generic students are considered for admission the spring preceding the fall in which they plan to enter upper division nursing courses. All transcripts and/or credentials along with an Application to Upper Division must be submitted to the Department of Nursing by March 1. Eligible Registered Nurses applying for admission to Level III and repeating students applying for readmission to Level I or III must also submit an application for upper division by March 1. Eligible repeating students applying for readmission to Level II or IV must submit all required materials by October 1. Minimum requirements for acceptance into the upper division nursing courses are:
1. Prerequisite grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Students will be admitted according to the criteria for selection of upper division students.
2. Completion of the following courses with a grade of "C" or better in each: ENGL 1013, ENGL 1023, MATH 1103, BIOL 2014, BIOL 3054, BIOL 3074, CHEM 1114, PSY 2003, PSY 3063, PSY 3163 or SOC 3173, SOC 1003, NUR 2023, NUR 2303, NUR 3103, and NUR 3803.
3. Completion of the following courses: Social Science - 3 hours, American History or Government - 3 hours, Humanities 3 hours; Fine Arts 3 hours; Electives 5 hours, and two semester hours of physical education. (See General Education requirements for specific course alternatives.) Students may be admitted with some deficiencies in this group of general education prerequisites. The total number of hours is not to exceed six (6). These courses must be completed within one calendar year of entering the upperdivision nursing courses.
4. Acquisition of professional/student liability insurance and current certification of Basic CPR as taught by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or persons currently certified in CPR instruction. These must be renewed each year.
5. Evidence of good health as validated by a physician or nurse practitioner and dentist.
6. Evidence of immunity to chicken pox or vaccination.
7. Initiation of Hepatitis B Vaccine series.
8. Students who withdraw due to failure or for personal reasons must reapply for admission by March 1 or October 1 (whichever is applicable) of the year they wish to reenter. The student will be considered according to the Admission Criteria.
9. Students who have not attended Arkansas Tech University during the past year must apply for readmission to the University and the department by March 1 of the year they wish to reenter.
10. The nursing program must be completed within four years of entry into upperdivision nursing. Part time options are available. A copy of the part time curriculum can be obtained from any nursing advisor.
The criteria for selection of upper division students is as follows:
Applicants will be ranked in groups as follows:
1. All requirements are complete at the end of the spring semester. GPA>3.25.
2. Student has no more than 6 hours of prerequisite requirements outstanding at the end of the spring semester. GPA>3.25.
3. All requirements are complete at the end of the spring semester. GPA>2.75-3.25
4. Student has no more than 6 hours of prerequisite requirements outstanding at the end of the spring semester. GPA>2.75-3.25
5. All but 10 hours of prerequisite requirements are complete at the end of the spring semester. Of the 10 total hours, up to 4 hours of core requirements may remain outstanding at the end of the spring semester. GPA>2.75
6. All but 14 hours of prerequisite requirements are complete at the end of the spring semester. Of the 14 total hours, up to 8 hours of core requirements may remain outstanding at the end of the spring semester. GPA>2.75
Applications will be ranked according to the above categories and within each category by prerequisite GPA. Admission will be determined by the resulting rank order. In the event that all factors are equal, rank will be determined by random drawing. Note: Prerequisite courses include all courses for freshman and sophomore years listed in the curriculum section of the Tech catalog. Applicants completing prerequisites prior to or during summer session I are required to submit transcripts prior to the registration period for fall semester.
Applicants completing prerequisite requirements during summer session II must submit a written note from the course instructor(s) verifying the grade(s) earned in the course(s). These students will sign a form agreeing to have official transcripts on file in the registrar's office within one month from the date of fall registration.
A student position may be filled in a discretionary manner for exemplary reasons as determined by the committee and approved by the faculty.
Progression Policy
Students must achieve a "C" or better in all nursing courses. Repeating of courses during the two years (four levels) of the nursing major is limited to only one level. Exceptions may be made when they are due to circumstances beyond the student's control, such as when an accident or illness causes a student to fail all of the course(s) he/she was taking; however, the student will be encouraged to withdraw instead of remaining in the course(s) and receiving a failing grade. Any exceptions to the proviso will be made through the Head of the Department. Any subsequent failures (achieving less than a "C") in any nursing course will result in permanent dismissal from the program.
Students must achieve a passing grade "C" in both the Theories and corresponding Practicum courses in order to progress within the program. Students who repeat a Theories course are required to show clinical competency in order to progress. Students who repeat Practicum are required to show theoretical competency in order to progress.
Clinical competence can be attained by:
- 1. Take for credit corresponding practium course
- 2. Complete a 2 hour Independent Study in Directed Practicum with a grade of "C" or better.
Theoretical competence can be attained by:
- 1. Take for credit corresponding Theories course. Student must maintain a 75% average on all exams.
- 2. Audit corresponding Theories course. Student must maintain a 75% average on all exams.
- 3. Make greater than or equal to 75% on corresponding comprehensive Theory exam.
Advanced Placement
The different types of nursing education programs and vocationaltechnical school programs give rise to unique transfer problems. Each student's past education is evaluated individually. In addition, the University and the Department of Nursing have established the following policies:
1. Arkansas Tech University offers a baccalaureate degree program in nursing. Licensed registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and licensed psychiatric technical nurses may challenge, validate, or receive credit for general education and nursing courses that are included in the nursing curriculum. CLEP examinations can be used to challenge or validate the general education courses. The institution's general policy for awarding CLEP credit is followed in determining the successful challenge of courses by these examinations. Transfer credit will be given for prior challenge or validation tests of nursing content credited on official transcripts from other nursing programs. RNs are permitted to receive transfer credit for NUR 3304.
2. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed psychiatric technical nurses (LPTNs) who have met all the lower division nursing curriculum requirements and graduated from an approved Arkansas PN or PTN program or an out-of-state NLN accredited program may receive credit for 13 hours of nursing courses (NUR 3204, NUR 3404, NUR 3103, NUR 3502) if they meet specific requirements.
- a: Have a current LPN or LPTN license in Arkansas.
- b: Graduated less than 12 months prior to entry into the upper division of nursing.
- c: Graduated 12 to 36 months prior to entry into the upper division of nursing and have 1000 hours of nursing employment during the last 12 months prior to entry into the upper division of nursing.
- d: Graduated 37 to 60 months prior to entry into the upper division of nursing and have 2000 hours of nursing employment during the last 24 months prior to entry into the upper division of nursing. NURSING CREDITS WILL BE HELD IN ESCROW PENDING COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed psychiatric technical nurses (LPTNs) who do not meet the above criteria can challenge or validate 16 hours of nursing courses that are included in the nursing curriculum. LPNs and LPTNs may challenge or validate nursing courses NUR 3204 and NUR 3404 by taking the National League for Nursing ACE I with a decision score of 75 (eight credit hours); NUR 2303 by taking the National League for Nursing Normal Nutrition examination with a decision score of 50 (three credit hours); and NUR 3103 and NUR 3502 by taking a written and demonstration skills test developed by the Department of Nursing faculty with a decision score of 75 (five credit hours). Students must enter upper division within two academic years after passing the challenge examination or the examination will be invalid.
3. Licensed registered nurses who have met all the lower division nursing curriculum requirements and graduated from an associate degree or diploma program that was NLN accredited at the time of graduation may receive credit for 30 hours of nursing courses (NUR 2023, NUR 3103, NUR 3502, NUR 3204, NUR 3606, NUR 3404, NUR 3703, NUR 3805) if they meet specific requirements.
- a: Have a current RN license in Arkansas.
- b: Have graduated less than 12 months prior to entry into the upper division.
- c: Have graduated within 12 to 36 months prior to entry into the upper division of nursing and have 1000 hours of nursing employment during the 12 months immediately prior to entry into the upper division of nursing.
- d: Have graduated 37 to 60 months prior to entry into the upper division of nursing and have 2000 hours of nursing employment during the 24 months immediately prior to entry into the upper division of nursing.
- NURSING CREDITS WILL BE HELD IN ESCROW PENDING COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.
Registered nurses (RNs) who do not meet the above criteria can challenge or validate 33 hours of nursing that are included in the nursing curriculum.
RNs can challenge or validate nursing courses by taking the National League for Nursing ACE II Examination with a decision score of 100 or 50th percentile for Nursing 2023, 3103, 3502, 3204, 3606, 3404, 3703, 3805 for 30 credit hours; and by the National League for Nursing Normal Nutrition Examination with a decision score of 50 for Nursing 2303 for three credit hours; all of which total 33 credit hours. Students must enter the seniorlevel nursing courses within two academic years after passing the challenge examination or the examination will be considered invalid.
4. Students who have had healthcare education or experience, but are not licensed healthcare professionals, will be evaluated individually by the Admission and Progression Committee for advanced placement.
5. Nursing students other than Registered Nurses must comply with the general institutional provisos; i.e., the last 30 semester hours of work toward a degree must be done in residence; no more than 30 semester hours of correspondence, extension, and credit by examination may be applied toward a degree; and, normally, a maximum of 68 semester hours of acceptable credit may be transferred from community colleges.
6. Transfer students from senior colleges and universities must comply with the provisions in Item 3 above but are not subject to any credit hour limitations from those institutions.
Developmental Psychology II (PSY 3163) or Social Gerontology (SOC 3173)
1Required only for the registered nurse student.
2See "General Education Requirements" on page82.
3Depending on previous preparation, student should recognize that prerequisites may be required before enrolling in BIOL 2014.
4Students must have 5 hours of electives. (ENGL 2053, PSY 3163 and NUR 1001 recommended)5Students, LPTN's and LPN's must choose either NUR 4202 or at least 2 hours of NUR 4991-4.
6Registered nurses must choose either NUR 4202 or at least 1 hour of NUR 4991-4.
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