Nursing

Prerequisite requirements for application to the Paramedic to AASN degree program include:

• Cumulative GPA of 2.00 including all college credits
• Completion of required courses

The courses required prior to acceptance into the AASN degree program can be found in the most current Undergraduate Bulletin.

Prerequisites include the following courses:

• BIO 2203 AND 2201, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Laboratory
• ENG 1003, Composition I
• MATH 1023, College Algebra (or MATH course that requires MATH 1023 as a prerequisite)

The required courses can be found in the most current Undergraduate Bulletin.

All required courses must be completed with a minimum "C" in each course.

Limited Positions Available

Acceptance to the University does not guarantee admission to any nursing program.

HOW TO APPLY

Class size is limited and all applicants may not be accepted into the program. Interested individuals are encouraged to seek an advisor early in their college career to ensure that all prerequisite courses are completed in a timely manner.

Applicants for admission will be ranked according to application completeness, the GPA of the 10 hours of prerequisites and admission test score. Consideration will be given to students completing prerequisite courses by the end of the Fall semester.

Based on recent legislation in Arkansas, students admitted to professional programs that lead to licensure upon graduation are required to have a successful background check to complete formal admission. 

Online applications will be available August 31st - October 15th.

Admission Criteria: 

• Overall cumulative GPA 2.0 
• Must hold an unencumbered National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic certificate and/or licensure in the state of practice. 
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Applicants Must Complete

1. Admission to Arkansas State University
2. Online application for Admission to the School of Nursing available August 31st.  Link to apply is on the School of Nursing website (when available). Application checklist: Click Here
3. Take the HESI A2 admission exam. Link is on the School of Nursing website (when available). Payment for admission exam is non-refundable. You are only allowed to take admission exam once per academic year. Admission exam is a timed exam, with a 3-hour time limit and will cover three sections - Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Anatomy & Physiology. E-mail Brenda Goodwin for more information.
4. Smarter Measure Online Readiness Assessment: This online readiness tool helps indicate the degree to which distance learning and/or learning in a technology rich environment will be a good fit for the student. This assessment requires students to answer questions and complete a few activities. It takes about 35 minutes to complete. Competencies measured are: reading rate and recall, technical competency, technical knowledge, typing speed and accuracy. Username: LPN-AASN  Password: online
5.  If you have previously attended a RN nursing program you did not complete, you MUST have the program Dean/Director send a letter stating your standing when you left the program. This letter must be in the nursing office by the application deadline.
6. Official Transcripts: Submit official transcripts showing all college work completed, including grades on courses taken in the last semester of enrollment to the Registrar's Office (PO Box 1570, State University AR 72467).  
7. Submit a list of currently enrolled prerequisite coursework with application.
8. Documentation of English proficiency, if applicable.

Deadline

All application materials must be received by the deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Applications are reviewed after the application deadline and preference is not given for early submission.  

Admission Exam

Admission testing will be required for the Paramedic to AASN Program. Test dates and times are listed below. Testing will have a 3 hour time limit. Please DO NOT pay for the exam unless you are making application to the AASN Program. The payment is non-refundable. Due to limited testing space, you may only test once per admission cycle. 

Link to register is on the School of Nursing website (when available)

Study Guide

A study guide is available from Elsevier for the HESI A2 exam. 

Note:  the following exams will be administered for the AASN program: Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Anatomy & Physiology.  

Program Application

Program applications for the Traditional AASN program will be available August 31st - October 15th and will be available on the School of Nursing website

New program option beginning Spring 2023. 

For students seeking readmission to an A-State Nursing program or you would like to transfer to A-State from another School of Nursing:

Requirements

Students seeking readmission or transferring from another school to the AASN nursing programs are required to pass a standardized test created from the objectives of the courses successfully completed in previous semesters.

Criteria for readmission to the undergraduate nursing programs includes:

• Complete readmission packet 
• Recommendation of faculty;
• Passing score (75%) on the standardized assessment test(s) of courses previously passed;
• Cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0; and
• Space availability in the class

Readmission applications and information on scheduling a testing date are located on the School of Nursing website each semester.

The cost of the readmission test is $50.00 and will be the responsibility of the student.

Please email NRStesting@AState.edu with any questions.

Readmission/Transfer Deadline

Program applications for transfers and readmission will be available (Fall) April 30th - June 7th and (Spring) August 31st - October 15th.

RN LICENSURE

Upon completion of this program, the student is eligible to apply for licensure as a Registered Nurse.

A first-time applicant for any license with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing will be required to have a state and national background check. Any offenses identified in section §17-87-312 of the Nurse Practice Act may prohibit a graduate from obtaining a license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Arkansas. Although an appeal may be possible there are offenses that permanently disqualify an applicant from licensure.

The Nurse Practice Act may be viewed on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing website www.arsbn.org or on the nursing website.

• A current, unencumbered NREMT Paramedic certificate and/or license is to be maintained throughout the program.
• Students admitted will be required to supply additional documentation, including current CPR certification, Hepatitis B immunizations, TB skin test or chest x-ray, tetanus and MMR and proof of professional liability insurance (minimum $1,000,000/$6,000,000).
• Based on recent legislation in Arkansas, students admitted to professional programs that lead to licensure upon graduation are required to have a successful background check to complete formal admission.