Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

School of Nursing


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Assistant Professor Sarah Davidson, Associate Dean
Assistant Professor Mark Foster, Chair, Graduate Programs
Assistant Professor Elizabeth Nix, Interim Chair, Baccalaureate Program
Assistant Professor Sarah Dearing, Interim Chair, Associate Program

Professors: Nix, Snellgrove
Associate Professors: LeGrand, Norman
Assistant Professors: Allen, Altom, Andrews, Banks, Black, Boggs, Camden, Camp, Clark, Coin, Davis, Drake (Mountain Home), Ferguson, Flannigan, Fleming, Gatling,
Griggs (West Memphis), Hammon, Harmon, Jordan, Kauffman, Kemp, Ko, Kortan, Martin, Massey, Mata, McGee (Mountain Home), Pullam, Steimel, Travis, Wilks (West Memphis)

The mission of the School of Nursing is to educate, enhance and enrich students for evolving professional nursing practice. The School of Nursing values the following as fundamentals essential for entering professional nursing practice: Integrity (purposeful decision to consistently demonstrate truth and honesty); Excellence (highest quality of nursing education, practice, service and research); Diversity (respect for varied dimensions of individuality among populations); Service (professional experiences in response to the needs of society); Learning (acquisition of knowledge and skills in critical thinking, practical reasoning, and decision making) and Student Centered (development of essential skills for lifelong learning, leadership, professionalism, and social responsibility).

The School of Nursing offers the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees at the undergraduate level. Completion of either program qualifies students to take the NCLEX-RN examination for licensure as a registered nurse.

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN NURSING: The purpose of the associate level is to prepare graduates who apply the nursing process in the provision of direct nursing care for clients with common, well-defined problems. Therefore, the associate curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and includes professional values, core competencies, core knowledge and role development. The associate degree graduate is prepared to function as a member of the profession and a manager of care in acute and community based settings.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING: The nurse prepared at the baccalaureate level is a professional who has acquired a well-delineated and broad knowledge base for practice. We believe that the role of a baccalaureate graduate is multifaceted and developed through extensive study in the areas of liberal education, professional values, core competencies, core knowledge and role development. This knowledge base prepares the beginning baccalaureate graduate to function as a provider of direct and indirect care to individuals, families, groups, communities and populations. The baccalaureate graduate is a member of the profession and a designer, manager and coordinator of care.

2nd DEGREE ACCELERATED BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING: A BSN option designed for the graduate of baccalaureate program in another discipline. The option is accelerated and all nursing course work is completed in one year of full time study.

EDUCATIONAL MOBILITY: The nursing faculty is committed to the concept of educational mobility, and has provided a variety of approaches to Paramedics, Licensed Practical Nurses, to Licensed Psychiatric Technician Nurses, and to Registered Nurses prepared at the associate degree and diploma levels. Paramedics, LPNs, LPTNs, and RNs must work closely with their advisors. Paramedics, LPNs and LPTNs must be admitted to the desired program prior to enrolling in any nursing courses (except NS 2203, NRS 3353, NRS 2392, and NRSP 2391). The BSN program has a specially designed RN track to facilitate RNs’ movement through the BSN. The track includes a reduction in nursing clinical hours, and clinical experiences designed to accommodate individual learning goals. Detailed information may be obtained from the nursing office (972-3074) relative to earning credit by articulation or examinations.

Prospective students who are LPNs, LPTNs, or RNs applying for admission to any nursing program must have a current unencumbered license to practice nursing.  Prospective students who are Paramedics applying for admission into the AASN program must be eligible to sit for the National Registry Certification Exam or have an unencumbered Paramedic License. 

General Program and Admissions Information

Because of the wide diversity of career choices available in the health professions, the program directors may be contacted for information about other career options and their pre-professional curricula.

DISTANCE-LEARNING PROGRAM: The School of Nursing offers nursing courses and programs on-site and by virtual technology to selected rural Arkansas sites: ASU-MidSouth (West Memphis) and ASU-Mountain Home.

To contact Distance Learning offices:

  A-State (Main campus) (870) 972-3074  
  ASU-Mountain Home (870) 508-6113  
  ASU-MidSouth (West Memphis) (870) 733-6031  

EARLY GRADUATE PROGRAMS ADMISSION: If a BSN senior has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75, or a GPA of 3.00 on the last 60 hours, and has the approval of the faculty advisor, the student may take a graduate level course in the final year of the BSN program. The total number of credits per semester may not exceed 15. Students will receive graduate credits only if the requirements for the bachelor’s degree (BSN) have been met at the end of the second term, and all requirements for admission to Graduate Programs are met.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS: Based on recent legislation in Arkansas, students admitted to professional programs that require licensure in the state upon graduation, are required to have a successful background check to complete formal admission to a program. Additionally, Arkansas law requires applicants for licensure by examination to submit to criminal background checks. If an applicant has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any offense listed in ACA §17-87-312, he/she is not eligible for Arkansas licensure. (ACA §17-87-312 provides opportunity to request a waiver of eligibility criteria related to a criminal background in certain circumstances.) The State Board of Nursing will follow the licensing restrictions based on criminal records under § 17-3-102. The criminal background check shall
be completed no earlier than twelve (12) months prior to the application for licensure by examination.

PROBATION, RETENTION AND READMISSION: Refer to Probation, Retention and Readmission Policies  in the College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Programs

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