Department of Nursing

Registered Nursing

Brenda Jacobs, DNP APRN FNP-BC
Chairperson

Instructors

Debra Davis
Rhonda Coleman

Adjunct/Clinical Instructors

Karen K. McPherson
Sabrina Baker
Terri Moody

Administrative Specialists

Sharron Y. Ward

UAPB offers two (2) program tracks leading to the B.S. in Nursing (Non-Teaching) - - the RN-to-BSN Program Track and the Pre-licensure (Generic Program Track).

Both Registered Nursing Program Tracks incorporate The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education in Nursing for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008) as the foundation for the baccalaureate curricula. These Essentials promote the development of clinical judgment based on critical thinking, ethical decision-making, leadership development, and the delivery of high quality healthcare.

The Department of Nursing assures equal opportunities to all qualified persons. For more information, contact the Department of Nursing at (870) 575-8220/8222.

Program Goals

The terminal Goals of the Department of Nursing BSN Program are to impart in students the ability to:

Synthesize knowledge from nursing science, the liberal arts, and sciences as a basis for delivering safe and culturally sensitive care to individuals, families, communities, and populations (AACN Essential I);
Demonstrate the ability to use leadership skills and knowledge of quality improvement to deliver high quality healthcare (AACN Essential II);
Use evidence-based practice findings to collaborate with colleagues in nursing, other healthcare disciplines, and clients to improve client outcomes (AACN Essential III);
Integrate knowledge of information technology and client care technology to deliver appropriate and high quality care in one’s own professional practice. (AACN Essential IV);
Use knowledge of healthcare policy, healthcare financing, and regulatory agencies to implement change when needed to improve healthcare delivery to clients in diverse settings (AACCN Essential V);
Integrate therapeutic and collegial communication and collaboration skills to design, manage, and coordinate the implementation of quality healthcare improvement (AACN Essential VI);
Integrate knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention to improve client population health outcomes (AACN Essential VII);
Integrate personal beliefs and professional values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, and social justice into one’s own professional practice (AACN Essential VIII); and
Use clinical judgment based on critical thinking and clinical reasoning in the development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing interventions and health outcomes (AACN Essential IX).

Progression, Retention, Probation, Dismissal and Graduation

When the cumulative semester grade point average falls below 2.5, the student is placed on probation. In order to remain in the program, the student must raise his/her cumulative grade point average to at least a 2.5 by the end of the next semester of enrollment. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
Failure in two nursing courses will result in administrative dismissal from the nursing program.

“Complete policies regarding the progression, probation, dismissal, and graduation from the BSN program are located in the current “Department of Nursing Student Handbook”

Arkansas State Board of Nursing

Arkansas law requires applicants for initial licensure to submit a state and federal criminal background check. If an applicant has pleaded guilty, nolo contendere to, or been found guilty of any offense listed in ACA §17-3-102, he/she is not eligible for Arkansas licensure. ACA §17-3-102 provides an opportunity to request a waiver of eligibility criteria related to a criminal background in certain circumstances.

Programs

Major