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Licensed Practical Nursing

General Information

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Welcome to the Practical Nursing (PN) program's website. The PN program has a long history of offering a quality program in an atmosphere that is learner-centered and future oriented. We hope this site is helpful to you in gaining information about our program. Please let us know how we can help you reach your goals!

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Practical Nursing Program Technical Certificate

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith in the College of Health Sciences grants a technical certificate upon completion of the program of study. Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

Admission into the Practical Nursing program is competitive. Students accepted into this program receive their education through classroom learning and clinical experiences. The PN program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

Note: The application process for PN licensure requires a state & federal criminal background check. Students who have been convicted of a crime, including those that are sealed or expunged, must seek permission from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing to write the licensure exam to become a license registered nurse.

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing Practical Nursing program is to provide a high quality certificate program for the Western Arkansas service area, to prepare individuals with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes essential for practical nursing practice and to pass the NCLEX-PN.

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Program Goals

• to prepare individuals with the knowledge, skills, values, and abilities necessary to function as licensed practical nurses, under the direction of registered nurses, physicians, and/or dentists, in a variety of settings;
• to prepare individuals to sit for the NCLEX-PN; and
• to engage in lifelong learning.

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Program Statement

The Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UA Fort Smith) offers a technical certificate in Practical Nursing that combines classroom instruction with clinical experiences in the care of clients at local health care facilities. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). The PN program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN).

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Admission Criteria and Application Process

The Practical Nursing (PN) program is part of the College of Health Sciences at UA Fort Smith. Admission to the program is competitive. It is the goal of UA Fort Smith to graduate practical nurses who exhibit distinctive characteristics valued by the nursing profession and the healthcare industry. To accomplish this goal, admission criteria have been developed to provide minimum standards by which applicant suitability may be determined. Often the applicant pool exceeds the maximum number of students admitted into the program each year. Should this occur, students are encouraged to reapply the following year. In order to be considered for admission into the practical nursing program, students must meet the admission criteria and follow the application process outlined below:

1. Complete admission requirements to enter UA Fort Smith.
2. Submit a copy of a high school diploma or GED.
3. Submit official transcripts from any college(s) previously attended.
4. Meet minimum skill levels in reading and math according to one of the following criteria:
   • Provide recent (within the last four years) ACT or COMPASS scores indicating no reading required and placement into MATH 1203 Intermediate Algebra or higher.
   • Provide college transcript(s) indicating acceptable reading and math placement.
5. Obtain a minimum score of 60% on the NLN Pre-Admission Exam (PAX-PN)

PN Program Information Packet (PDF)

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Selection

A limited number of students are admitted into the Practical Nursing program in the spring semester. Since the program usually has more applicants than slots available, admission is competitive.

Students who meet the minimum criteria are eligible to submit an application for admission to the PN Program. An application for PN admission must be submitted to the Coordinator of Academic Support Services for the College of Health Sciences in order to be considered for a specific class.

Application Deadline

• June 1 for the class starting in August

Ranking System

• Score earned on the PAX-PN and
• Quality points earned in BIOL 1433/1431 Basic Anatomy & Physiology and HLTH 1473 Medical Terminology

BIOL 1433/1431 and HLTH 1473 are not required prior to entrance to the PN program. Selection will be based on PAX-PN score for students who have not taken BIOL 1433/1431 or HLTH 1473.

In the event that applicants have identical total scores, priority will be given to the highest cumulative grade point average in all college work, including transfer work, and excluding zero level developmental courses.

*MEETING THE MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION OR TAKING COURSES IN THE PN PROGRAM PLAN DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION TO THE PN PROGRAM. Students not admitted must reapply to be considered for another class. Students chosen as alternates are not guaranteed a position in the next class.

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College Level Examination Program (CLEP)/ Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

If a student has received college credit through CLEP or AP for a course, the student will not be given quality points for ranking purposes.

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Degree Requirements

View the degree requirements for the LPN Technical Certificate.

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Student Health Statement/Medical Release Form

Students accepted into the PN program will be required to provide documentation of good physical and mental health by completion of the Student Health Statement/Medical Release Form. Documentation of all health problems and a medical release will be required. Copies of immunization records and a valid CPR certification must be submitted to the Coordinator of Academic Support Services for the College of Health Sciences by the first day of class. No student will be allowed to attend a clinical rotation without the required health data records on file.

Student Health Statement/Medical Release Form(PDF)

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NLN Pre-Admission Exam (PAX-PN)

• The non-refundable test fee is $35.00. If you cancel and re-schedule a test, you are required to pay a new test fee of $35.00 plus a $15.00 service charge to NLN.
• A study guide and general test information is available at www.nlnonlinetesting.org.

There is a 3 month waiting period before those who fail the test can retake it again. Students are allowed one retake during that semester. Retakes are for test failures only. The most recent score will be used for ranking purposes. Scores may be used for two years following the date of examination.

Pre-Entrance Exam Dates

Each semester students scheduled to take the (PAX-PN) exam have the opportunity to attend a free workshop to improve their study and test taking skills. For more information, or to register for a workshop, please contact: Rebecca Kaszubowski phone: (479) 788-7392 or e-mail: rkaszubo@uafortsmith.edu

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Progression and Graduation

Progression

The PN program is competency based in skills and mathematics. A student must demonstrate satisfactory clinical performance, 100 percent mastery on all competency Performance Evaluations (CPE), and maintain an average cumulative score of 77 percent on Competency Performance Assessments (CPA) including the final for each course.

A student who discontinues the nursing sequence for any reason must petition the Admission/Readmission Committee for readmission to the nursing program. Students are permitted only one readmission. Acceptance for readmission is based on availability of space. Students who are readmitted are accountable for the degree requirements in force at the time of the readmission.

A grade of "C" or better is required in ALL courses applicable to the Technical Certificate in Practical Nursing. Science courses taken more than five years prior to entering the program will be evaluated on an individual basis by the program director and/or college dean. See your advisor for more information and to request a science course evaluation.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of the program with a grade point average of 2.0 or better in the major and cumulatively in the University, a certificate is awarded. The student must meet with their program advisor to complete the graduation application. The student is responsible for providing the Records Office with evidence that the criteria for graduation have been met the semester prior to graduation. After being granted the certificate, the student is eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses.

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Expenses

Tuition And Fees

Estimated cost for the 2009-2010 school year - costs may change without notice and additional costs may be incurred through the program's entirety.

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Clinical Education

The practical nursing program places a strong emphasis on clinical education. Clinical experiences provide students with the opportunity to practice the skills necessary to become competent licensed practical nurses. Over the course of one year, students follow a structured rotation schedule through the clinical sites. Major clinical sites for the practical nursing program are listed below:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Practical Nursing Program Approved?

Yes. The program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

What is the application deadline?

June 1st of each year.

How long is the program?

The program begins in August and ends in July.

May I attend the program on a part-time basis?

No. It takes 12 months of full-time attendance to complete the program.

When do I need uniforms?

Uniforms are not required for several weeks. The uniform items are specific and must be purchased on-line; you be will provided with the details on the first day of class.

When will we be going to clinical?

Not until after the first several weeks of class. You will first practice and check-off on skills in the campus laboratory before going to the clinical sites.

Is transportation provided to and from the clinical sites?

No. Students are responsible for their own transportation.

Will I be taking care of patients with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, etc.?

You may be taking care of patients with infectious diseases. Health care providers practice standard/universal precautions to guard against contact with blood-borne pathogens.

How is the job market?

At the present time, there is a severe shortage of all types of nurses.

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• Student Advisement, 479-788-7400, advise@uafortsmith.edu
• Sharon Smith, BSN, RN - Practical Nursing Team Leader, 479-788-7376, ssmith@uafortsmith.edu

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• PN Student Handbook 2009-2010(PDF)
  

• ADN Student Handbook 2009-2010(PDF)
  

• BSN Student Handbook 2009-2010(PDF)
  

• Student Nursing Association