A minimum grade of “C” in each nursing course is
required for progression in the nursing sequence.
Readmission
A student who
discontinues the nursing sequence for any reason must
petition the School of Nursing Admissions Committee
for readmission into the nursing program. Students are
permitted only one readmission. Acceptance for
readmission is based on availability of space,
documentation of corrected deficiencies, and approval of
the nursing faculty. Students who are readmitted are
accountable for the degree requirements in force at the
time of readmission.
Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses
(LPNs), and Licensed Psychiatric Technical Nurses
(LPTNs) may quality for advanced placement within the
BSN clinical course sequence. Verification of a current
valid, unrestricted Arkansas RN, LPN, or LPTN license is
required.
RNs with an Associate Degree or Diploma may apply for
advanced placement in the BSN program. The RN will
receive credit for 33 semester hours for NURS 311V
Concepts in Nursing Care I, NURS 332V Concepts in
Nursing Care II, and NURS 444V Concepts in Nursing Care
III. The 33 hours of credit will be held in
escrow. The student will receive credit for these
courses upon successful completion of the program.
Additionally, applicants who have graduated nursing
school for more than 24 months will be required to take
the 1 credit Basic Skills Check-Off course to update
clinical skills. RNs complete the same general education
and support courses as students enrolled in the generic
BSN program but have a specified program for completing
theory and clinical nursing course requirements. A
letter of recommendation from a current or most recent
RN supervisor in a nursing position is required of all
applicants.
LPNs/LPTNs may apply for advanced placement in the
BSN program. LPNs/LPTNs may receive credit for 11
semester hours for NURS 311V Concepts in Nursing Care I
if they have graduated from LPN/LPTN school within 24
months. After 24 months, a validation examination must
be passed with a score of 74 or better to obtain
advanced placement credit for NURS 311V. The syllabus
for NURS 311V may be purchased prior to the validation
exam for purposes of studying independently for the
examination. LPN/LPTNs are required to submit a letter
of recommendation from their nursing school and from the
most recent or present nursing position RN supervisor.
The validation examination may be taken only once. The
application process for admission into UAM and the
nursing program must be completed before validation
examinations may be taken. Applicants seeking admission
to the nursing program through advanced placement should
meet with the Division Chair. All nursing faculty are
included in the evaluation of the advanced placement
student and make recommendations regarding advance
placement to the Division Chair.
Students seeking transfer credit from another
institution must submit course descriptions and
transcripts to the School of Nursing and meet with the
Division Chair. All faculty are included in the
evaluation and placement of transfer students in the
nursing sequence and make recommendations regarding
transfer of nursing credit to the Division Chair.
Standardized testing and validation of skills may be
required based on the evaluation of the transcript.
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing requires a criminal
background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and by the Arkansas State Police for graduates of
nursing schools. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing has
the authority to deny application for nurse licensure to
any person who has been convicted of a crime. A student
who has been convicted of a crime should schedule an
appointment with the Chair of the School of Nursing.
In addition to the usual student fees and expenses,
nursing students can expect the following additional
costs: uniforms, professional equipment and supplies,
professional workshop fees, standardized examinations,
licensure examination review seminar, state licensing
examination costs, criminal background checks,
supplementary book costs, and travel. Use of multiple
clinical sites within a one hundred mile radius of the
main campus may require overnight travel by students.
These trips are mandatory for completion of the program.
All expenses for food, lodging, and travel are the
responsibility of the individual student.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Associate of
Applied Science in Nursing (AASN: LPN-RN fast track)
degree students are required to take a Division of
Nursing faculty-selected, standardized, exit examination
to determine readiness to take the National Council
Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
The score recommended by the agency that prepares the
exit examination will be required of students for
successful completion of degree requirements. If the
recommended exit examination score is not achieved, the
student will not receive a transcript or diploma,
signifying completion of degree requirements, until the
required score is achieved with subsequent testing(s)
and/or remedial work is complete to the satisfaction of
the Chair of the School of Nursing. If the student
does not achieve the required score on the second
attempt to successfully complete the exit examination,
an NCLEX-RN review course designated by the Chair of the
DN will be required before a third or subsequent attempt
to successfully complete the exit examination will be
allowed. Required retesting after the first attempt to
successfully complete the exit examination and/or
remedial work (including the NCLEX-RN review course)
costs will be at the student’s expense. The exit
examination requirement does not apply to the RN to BSN
advanced placement student.
Nursing students are NOT covered by the University or
the clinical facilities for injuries and exposures to
illnesses which occur in the course of clinical
assignments or when traveling to and from clinical
assignments. Additionally, all nursing students are
assigned to care for persons with a wide variety of
diagnoses including blood-borne illnesses. The UAM
School of Nursing strongly recommends that each
student be immunized against Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
prior to beginning clinical work and obtaining personal
health and automobile insurance. Students who are
planning to major in nursing and who speak English as a
second language are to meet requirements of the
University as stipulated on page 15 of the Student
Catalog. This requirement is to enhance the chance for
scholarly success of nursing majors who speak English as
a second language.
Information regarding tuition and fees may be found
on page 16 of the Student Catalog. The NLN Accreditation
Commission (NLNAC) serves as an additional resource for
this information. On an annual basis, the Division of
Nursing provides the NLNAC with information regarding
tuition, fees, and the length of the nursing program.
The NLNAC may be contacted at 61 Broadway, New York, NY
10006, telephone number 212-363-5555.
