Department website: https://www.atu.edu/nursing

REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED NURSES (RN)  

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
BIOL 2014	Human Anatomy	4
or BIOL 2404	Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 2054	Microbiology for Health Sciences	4
or BIOL 3054	Microbiology
BIOL 2414	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
or BIOL 3074	Human Physiology
Select one of the following:		4
CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1111	A Survey of Chemistry and Survey of Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 2124	General Chemistry I
PHSC 1004	Principles of Environmental Science
PHSC 1013 & PHSC 1021	Introduction to Physical Science and Physical Science Laboratory
PHSC 1053 & PHSC 1051	Astronomy and Observational Astronomy Laboratory
ENGL 1013	Composition I	3
ENGL 1023	Composition II	3
FAH 1XXX	Fine Arts and Humanities Courses 1	6
MATH 1113	College Algebra	3
NUR 3303	Health Assessment 2	3
NUR/BIOL 3803	Applied Pathophysiology 2	3
PSY 2003	General Psychology	3
PSY 3813	Lifespan Development	3
SOC 1003	Introductory Sociology	3
SFHS 1XXX	Social Sciences/Fine Arts/Humanities/Communication Courses 1	3
USHG 1XXX	U.S. History and Government 1	3
Total Hours		52

ARTICULATED CREDIT FOR REGISTERED NURSES (RN)  

​The below 38 hours of Nursing course credit will be awarded at the completion of the last semester of all course work.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NUR 2023	Introduction to Professional Nursing 3	3
NUR 2303	Nutrition 3	3
NUR 3103	Nursing Skills I 3	3
NUR 3204	Concepts in Nursing I 3	4
NUR 3213	Care of the Older Adult 3	3
NUR 3402	Pharmacology I 3	2
NUR 3404	Clinical Nursing I 3	4
NUR 3513	Nursing Skills II 3	3
NUR 3606	Concepts in Nursing II 3	6
NUR 3802	Pharmacology II 3	2
NUR 3805	Clinical Nursing II 3	5
Total Hours		38

CURRICULUM FOR REGISTERED NURSES (RN)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NURN 4002	Nursing Informatics	2
NURN 4003	Scope of Professional Practice	3
NURN 4013	Laws, Ethics, and Issues in Professional Nursing Practice 5	3
NURN 4024	Population and Community Health Nursing	4
NURN 4034	Leadership and Management in Professional Practice	4
NURN 4045	Professional Synthesis	5
NURN 4303	Nursing Research	3
Elective 4,5		6
Total Hours		30

¹

See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements".

²

Students may opt to complete up to six hours of general education and/or NUR 3303 and/or NUR/BIOL 3803 while enrolled in RN to BSN curriculum. 

³

Licensed registered nurses who have graduated from an accredited (ACEN, CCNE, CNEA) or Arkansas State Board of Nursing approved diploma or associate degree nursing program at time of graduation may receive credit for up to 38 hours of nursing coursework per the Arkansas Nursing Education Progression Model. 

⁴

Electives to be approved by Nursing advisor.

⁵

This program partners the RN to BSN undergraduate degree with the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Administrative and Emergency Management.  A maximum of nine (9) graduate level credit hours can be counted towards both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and the MSN Nursing Administrative and Emergency Management degree as follows:

• NUR 6303 Law, Ethics, and Policy in Healthcare can replace NURN 4013 Laws, Ethics, and Issues in Professional Nursing Practice
• Any EMHS 5000 or 6000-level course can replace any two electives.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.  All programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

ADMISSION

REGISTERED NURSE (RN) TO BSN ADMISSION

The RN to BSN program is online and accepts applications until all student positions are filled. Coursework begins in the fall and spring semesters. Priority application deadlines are May 1 for fall admission and November 1 for spring admission. 

Application to the RN to BSN Program

The RN who has completed all nursing prerequisite courses and all general education courses or has less than six hours of outstanding general education courses and has a GPA >2.5 is eligible to apply to the RN to BSN program. RN to BSN applicants may opt to take NUR 3303 and NUR 3803 while in the RN to BSN curriculum.

The RN to BSN applicant must:

1. Have a current unencumbered U.S. RN license in the state where they are practicing.
2. Have graduated from an accredited or Arkansas State Board of Nursing approved diplomas or associate degree nursing program.
3. Document work experience if applicable:
   1. <12 months after RN graduation - no work experience required.
   2. >12 months after RN graduation - documentation of at least 1000 hours of nursing employment in the preceding 12-24 months.

RNs who do not meet the defined criteria for admission will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Criteria for consideration into the RN to BSN program:

• Category I - GPA ≥ 2.50 all general education and nursing major prerequisites complete or enrolled in at time of application.
• Category II - GPA ≥ 2.50 up to six hours of general education outstanding, and/or NUR 3303 and/or NUR 3803 at time of application.

Category I students are admitted prior to category II.  Admission decisions are made until all positions are filled.

Upon admission, students must submit and maintain proof of current unencumbered RN licensure and submit to and pass a background check and drug screen. These requirements must be completed through the ATU DON approved vendor. Proof of professional liability insurance is also required.

ARTICULATED CREDIT

ARTICULATED CREDIT FOR REGISTERED NURSES (RN)

Arkansas Tech University Department of Nursing complies with the Arkansas Nursing Education Progression Model for admission and progression of licensed practical (LPN/LPTN) and registered nurses (RN) to the baccalaureate degree. 

RNs progressing to the ATU baccalaureate degree in nursing will be awarded credit for the following courses (38 hours):

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
NUR 2023	Introduction to Professional Nursing	3
NUR 2303	Nutrition	3
NUR 3103	Nursing Skills I	3
NUR 3204	Concepts in Nursing I	4
NUR 3213	Care of the Older Adult	3
NUR 3402	Pharmacology I	2
NUR 3404	Clinical Nursing I	4
NUR 3513	Nursing Skills II	3
NUR 3606	Concepts in Nursing II	6
NUR 3802	Pharmacology II	2
NUR 3805	Clinical Nursing II	5
Total Hours		38

For more information, please visit www.atu.edu/nursing

PROGRESSION POLICY

RN TO BSN PROGRESSION POLICY

RN to BSN students must also achieve a "C" or better in all nursing courses. Students who make less than a "C" may not progress into courses for which that course is a pre-requisite until the course has been repeated and the minimum grade attained. Upon the second failure in any RN to BSN course, the student may be withdrawn from the ATU DON and may not be eligible for readmission. The program director, Admission and Progression committee, and department head will consider exceptions on an individual basis.

READMISSION POLICY

RN TO BSN READMISSION POLICY

RN to BSN students are required to reapply to the program in the event of a break in enrollment. The student should contact the RN to BSN program director to complete the reapplication to upper division form and submit a letter addressing reasons for past failure or break in enrollment with a plan of action for future success in the nursing program.  Completion of the reapplication process is the responsibility of the student. The due date for RN to BSN reapplications is immediately following the last day of end of semester final exams.  The completed reapplication is submitted to the Admission and Progression Committee for consideration.  Excepts to this policy will be considered on an individual basis.

 See the Department of Nursing page for additional admission requirements.

Students who complete the program will:

• Demonstrates clinical judgment, skills and abilities to the provision of safe, competent patient care
• Demonstrates culturally sensitive caregiving, communication, teaching, advocacy, and management of diverse patient populations and settings.
• Utilizes research evidence and technology to improve the quality and safety of patient care.
• Collaborates with inter-professional health care teams in the delivery of patient care
• Demonstrates academic achievement reflective of a professional nurse.