Academic Requirements
Admission to Upper Division
Other Requirements

Admission into the lower-division courses is open to any student meeting ATU's admission requirements. Applications to ATU are available in the Nursing Department, Registrar's Office, and Office of Admissions. See the Arkansas Tech University Catalog for additional information.

Admission to the upper-division nursing courses is competitive and subject to evaluation by the Nursing Department's Admission and Progression Committee. The Admission and Progression Committee reviews the applicant's record and makes recommendations regarding the student's admission into the Nursing Program. Students are considered for admission during the semester preceding the semester in which they plan to enter the nursing courses. All transcripts and credentials must be submitted to the Department of Nursing by March 1st for students applying for admission to Upper Division Nursing for the Fall semester or June 30th for the Spring semester. Students applying after these dates will be considered as space and resources permit. Students will be assisted through this process by their academic advisor.

Any student who plans to reenter upper division nursing classes after failing or withdrawing from nursing courses must reapply by the March 1st for Levels I and III, or October 1st for Levels II and IV. All applicants will be considered and admitted on an individual basis. Readmission for returning students is not guaranteed.

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These courses are part of the general education curriculum required for all graduates of ATU. Further information about these requirements can be found in the ATU catalog. Students should work closely with their advisors to determine the selection of courses.

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The Admission and Progression Committee uses the following criteria to rank applicants for admission to upper division nursing courses. These criteria utilize existing admission policies.

For students desiring entry to Fall Upper Division Nursing (Level I):

1. All requirements are complete at the end of Spring semester, GPA ≥ 2.75.
2. Student has no more than 6 hours of prerequisite requirements outstanding at the end of Spring semester,  to be completed by the end of Summer session II, GPA ≥ 3.25.
3. Do not admit at this time.

For students desiring entry to Spring semester Upper Division Nursing (Level I):

1. All requirements are complete at the end of Summer semester, GPA ≥ 2.75.
2. Student has no more than 6 hours of prerequisite requirements outstanding at the end of Summer session II, to be completed by the end of Fall semester, GPA ≥ 2.75.
3. Do not admit at this time.

All required prerequisite courses (62 hours of general education courses) are to be completed with
GPA ≥ 2.75 prior to admission to Upper Division Level I nursing courses.

READMIT POLICY: 

    Any student that fails an Upper Division nursing course (with the exception of nursing electives), withdraws, or has a break in enrollment must reapply for progression in the nursing program by June 30, for readmission to the fall semester, or January 5, for readmission to the spring semester.  To reapply, the student must complete “Reapplication to Upper Division” form and submit a letter of intent addressing reasons for past failure and a plan of action to enhance future success within the nursing program.  Reapplication will be based on the availability of positions within the repeating level, letter of intent and current GPA.  Should several students reapply for the same level and there are a limited number of positions, GPA ranking, in conjunction with their letter of intent will guide the committee decision-making process.

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Health

Abilities and Skills

CPR Certification

Liability Insurance

Miscellaneous

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In addition to the other admission and progression requirements of the ATU Department of Nursing, every student must possess and maintain the following:

1. Intellectual ability to synthesize the body of knowledge necessary to practice nursing
2. Physical capability to gain access to clients in a variety of setting, and the capability to provide
   professional nursing care in these settings.
3. Physical stamina to participate in routine physical aspects of nursing care.
4. Communication skills to effectively utilize nursing care plans.
5. Motor skills to effect interventions required in application of nursing care.

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The ATU Department of Nursing requires abilities and skills for admission and progression in the curriculum based on those required of a practicing professional nurse.

The professional nurse must possess the knowledge and ability to effectively assess his or her patient's biophysical, psychological, social, cultural, and intellectual domains. Further, the professional nurse must competently analyze the assessment data through critical thinking to arrive at a definition of the patient's status or problem, plan independently or collaboratively for a full range of therapeutic interventions, execute all or part of the plans through nursing acts, and evaluate the care delivered and the patient's responses to it.

A candidate for professional nursing must have the abilities and skills necessary for use of the nursing process (scientific decision-making process). These skills and abilities include: observation; communication; motor ability; conceptualization; integration and quantification; and behavioral/social acceptability. Technological accommodation can be made for some disabilities in certain of these areas, but a candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. The use of a trained intermediary is not acceptable, in that a candidate's judgement must not be mediated by someone else's power of observation and selection.

The following abilities and skills are necessary to meet the requirements of the curriculum:

1. Observation: The candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and tactile sensation. It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell.
2. Communication: The candidate must be able to speak, to hear, and to observe patients in order to elicit information; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive nonverbal communications. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. Communication includes not only speech but reading and writing. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team.
3. Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other assessment maneuvers. A candidate must have sufficient motor skills to gain access to clients in a variety of care settings and to manipulate the equipment central to the treatment of patients receiving professional nursing care. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision. Examples of required fine motor skills would include, but are not limited to, preparation and administration of parenteral medications, assessment of vital signs, application of dressings, and insertion of drainage catheters. Examples of required gross motor skills would include, but are not limited to, positioning clients in bed, assisting with ambulation, and transferring clients via wheelchair, stretcher, or bed.
4. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of nurses, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the candidate should be able to comprehend three dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgement, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for other, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities necessary for professional nursing.

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Current certification of Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation of adult, child and infant as taught by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association is a requirement for entry into upper division nursing classes. A copy of the CPR card must be received in the Nursing Department prior to beginning nursing courses. The card shall be current and suffice for that entire year of courses. Students must recertify before entering the senior year.

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Students are required to have professional liability insurance of $1,000,000. This is at the student's own expense. For improved coverage at the lowest possible cost McGinnis and Associates was chosen to provide blanket coverage for *$15.00 per student per year. Payment for the student policy must be made at the Student Accounts office in the W. O. Young Student Center on the dates listed below.  Please be sure to submit a copy of your receipt for the blanket coverage insurance or a copy of your individual professional liability insurance policy with evidence that you are covered as a nursing student with the completed Admission/Required Documentation Packet.

Students who have completed NUR 2023/NUR 3103 in the Summer Term payments must be made between July 5 and August 1st. Payment will be refused before July 1. Insurance must be paid by August 1.

Students who are enrolled for NUR 2023/NUR 3103 in the Fall Term payments must be made between November 1 and December 1.  Insurance must be paid by December 1.

*Price subject to change.

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Proof of Licensure for RNs and LPNs

• All RN and LPN applicants will submit a current copy of their license and update license yearly. Falsification of this information will be cause for dismissal.

Photograph

• Each student must submit a recent 2 x 5 full face recognizable photo to the Department before he or she begins Junior level nursing courses.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

• It is required that each student enrolled in a clinical nursing course initiate the Hepatitis B vaccine series prior to clinical experiences. The series must be complete within that first year.

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