Registered Nursing
The major purpose of the Department of Nursing at North Arkansas College is to provide an associate degree education for those qualified individuals who want to provide direct patient care as members of the health care delivery system. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. The AAS Nursing Degree Programs are approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, University Tower Building, Suite 800, 1123 South University, Little Rock, AR 72204-1619. Phone: 501-686-2700 or on the Web: www.arsbn.org. The AAS Nursing Degree Programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for the Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN), 3334 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 850,Atlanta, GA, 30326. Phone: 404-975-5000, Fax 404-975-5020 or Web: www.acenursing.org.
Students admitted into the Registered Nursing Program begin NURS 1107 - Fundamentals of Nursing during the fall semester.
Philosophy and Purpose of the Associate Degree Nursing Program
The philosophy of the Associate Degree Nursing Program at North Arkansas College is based on the National League for Nursing (NLN) 2010 Core Competencies of Human Flourishing, Nursing Judgment, Professional Identity, and Spirit of Inquiry. The nursing faculty believes that each core competency is supported by the Core Values of Caring, Diversity, Ethics, Excellence, Holism, Integrity, and Patient-Centered Care. The program curriculum and instruction regarding nursing practice are also guided by the national standards from the Quality and Safety of the Education of Nurses (QSEN), Institute of Medicine (IOM), State Nurse Practice Act (ArBON), and the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Admission
To be eligible for admission, the student must:
- Be accepted as a student in the college. (See admission procedures)
- Complete the nursing application with Health statement and attachments for the coming year before April 1 for fall class. The written application must be renewed yearly.
- Have completed the ACT, ASSET, or COMPASS Test and have scores sent to Northark (see College Requirements for Placement). Transfer students must submit a complete transcript to the Registrar’s Office.
- Have completed all college preparatory classes based on his/her scores on the ACT, ASSET, and COMPASS test with a “C” or above before being accepted into the Nursing Program.
- Have an official high school transcript or GED scores sent to the Registrar’s Office.
- Have official transcripts of colleges/universities attended sent to Northark’s Registrar’s Office.
- Have a minimum grade of “C” in each prerequisite course to NURS 1107 (CP 0933 , MAT 1123 , or MAT 1133 or above, BIOL 2214 - Anatomy and Physiology I , and ALDH 1042 - Medical Terminology ) and in each course required in the Nursing curriculum.
- Hold a 2.5 grade point average.
- Immunizations listed are required of all persons participating in the clinical component associated with Northark’s Department of Nursing. The only exception would be for medical reasons. Immunizations required by the RN program include two MMR’s or a positive rubella for antibodies, Hepatitis B series, Tdap, and Varicella.
- Be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care professionals by the American Heart Association. Students must maintain certification throughout the program.
- Carry malpractice insurance which is obtained each fall when paying fees. The nursing faculty strongly recommend that nursing students maintain adequate health care coverage and disability insurance such that they will be protected in the event of illness and/or injury associated with clinical nursing experiences.
- Be registered and have fees paid by the date indicated on the acceptance letter.
- Upon admission to the program, the student will submit to a criminal background check prior to clinical experience. Two to six months before completion of the program, the student will undergo both a state and federal criminal background check for licensure as a nurse in Arkansas, which requires a fingerprint card. The Criminal Background Check shall be completed no earlier than 12 months prior to the application for licensure by examination. Students seeking licensure in another state must contact that state for licensure requirements. A 10 Panel UA drug screen will be completed by accepted applicants. Information regarding the time and lab where the drug screen is to be performed will be given to the student in the orientation information before starting nursing classes.
Applicants who have been convicted of a crime must notify the R.N. Program Director at the time of application.
If an applicant has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any offense listed in Act 1208 of 1999, he/she is not eligible for Arkansas licensure. (Act 1208 of 1999 provides an opportunity to request a waiver of eligibility criteria related to a criminal background in certain circumstances.) For additional information, students should contact the R.N. Program Director and see Standards to Apply for RN and PN Licensure.
Meeting all criteria and submitting an application does not guarantee admission into NURS 1107 . The number of students admitted will vary according to resources available prior to registration. Students not accepted must resubmit a new application for admission by the application deadline to be reconsidered for enrollment in the next class. The student must meet all admission requirements and will be subject to any revised entrance requirements that may be in effect at the time for re-application. Students who withdraw from NURS 1107 or NURS 2158 for any reason must again meet eligibility requirements and reapply for admission.
All science courses required by the nursing program taken prior to entry in the program must be successfully completed within five years of acceptance into the program. Science courses older than five (5) years must be repeated.
MAT 1134 or ET 1134 - Applied Algebra & Trigonometry will not be accepted as an option for the math requirement for this program.
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