Licensed Practical Nursing

The Practical Nursing Program is an eleven month program that combines classroom instruction with clinical experience. Students successfully completing the Practical Nursing Course are awarded a Technical Certificate. After graduation, students may apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing. Persons convicted of a crime may not be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN for licensure as a practical nurse. See the program chairperson for further details. The Practical Nursing Program has been granted full approval by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

Program Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate clinical competency when caring for patients and families with health problems in various environments.
• Provide evidence-based, clinically competent care within the practical nursing scope of practice in a variety of settings.
• Individualize essential elements of the patient teaching plan to enable patients to make educated decisions about basic health promotion/maintenance and self-care.
• Communicate in a collaborative manner with the patient and members of the health care team.
• Practice critical thinking when implementing plans of care and assisting in the planning and evaluation of care for patients and families.
• Implement management skills under the directions of the RN or appropriate health care provider as outlined in the Clinical Evaluation.
• Demonstrate professional behavior in an accountable, responsible manner as a member of the profession of nursing.
• Use health care technologies and information systems to improve patient care outcomes and create safe care environments.
• Discuss the need for continued education as required by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

Admission Criteria

Students must apply in person and submit the following information to the Registrar’s Office:

• UARM Application for Admission
• High School Transcript or copy of GED
• College Transcripts from all colleges attended
• Proof of Measles/Rubella Immunization (if born after January 1, 1957)
• ACT, Accuplacer or ASSET scores (previous scores may be used or ASSET may be retaken)

Students must submit the following information to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Office:

• Practical Nursing Admission Application
• Preadmission Exam (NEX) test results*
• ACT, Accuplacer or ASSET scores

*The NEX exam will be scheduled at designated times and administered by the Testing Center. There will be a $52.50 fee for the exam. Allow approximately 3 hours to complete.

Following the completion of the admission requirements by the designated deadline of 4:30 p.m. on June 1, the applicant will be considered for the selection pool.

An applicant’s file is not complete until all admission requirements have been submitted.

It is the policy of UA Rich Mountain not to discriminate on the basis of sex, color, religion, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability in educational programs, activities, admission, or employment practices.

Important–any individual having been convicted of a crime may not be eligible to write the exam for licensure.

All applicants to the Practical Nursing Program who have met the required admission requirements are evaluated according to the criteria specified. Each applicant will be ranked on the basis of total points. Students are admitted to the program until the class if full. Should two or more applicants receive the same number of points, the determining factors for admission are as follows:

• Total points on the NEX, followed by
• Total points on the ASSET, Accuplacer or ACT, followed by
• Total points on previous education, followed by
• Date of completion of admission criteria

It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit all required documents and to make all appointments and pay all fees for testing.

The College Catalog/Student Handbook has more details about this degree.