Department of Nursing

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

1. 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);
2. Demonstrate the ability to use leadership skills and knowledge of quality improvement to deliver high quality healthcare (AACN Essential II);
3. Use evidence-based practice findings to collaborate with colleagues in nursing, other healthcare disciplines, and clients to improve client outcomes (AACN Essential III);
4. 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);
5. 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);
6. Integrate therapeutic and collegial communication and collaboration skills to design, manage, and coordinate the implementation of quality healthcare improvement (AACN Essential VI);
7. Integrate knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention to improve client population health outcomes (AACN Essential VII);
8. Integrate personal beliefs and professional values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, and social justice into one’s own professional practice (AACN Essential VIII); and
9. 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).

Students who have experienced an interruption in progress within the BSN program may request readmission through the following:

• Submit a letter requesting readmission and complete the Admission Application;
• Provide the department with copies of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended and assure official copies are also forwarded to the Registrar’s Office; and
• Any student readmitted into the nursing program will be re-admitted under the current curriculum, effective at the time of the request to return. The student is responsible for submitting all forms and transcripts to the Department of Nursing before March 15. An evaluation and decision will be made by the appropriate committee within the department.

The student is responsible for submitting all forms and transcripts to the Department of Nursing before March 15. An evaluation and decision will be made by the appropriate committee within the department.

• CGPA (cumulative grade point average) is below 2.5;
• The student has received a final grade lower than “C” twice in the same nursing course;
• Available slots in the class have been filled by students who are admitted for the first time with no deficits;
• All required general education and prerequisite nursing courses are not successfully completed;
• The student has unsuccessfully completed the readmission process two (2) times; and

Students approved for readmission twice (2 times) for the same course and do not successfully complete the course will be denied readmission on the third request.

• 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 BSN program are located in the current“ Department of Nursing Student Handbook

** NURSE PRACTICE ACT 17-87-312. Criminal background checks.

1. Each first-time applicant for a license issued by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing shall apply to the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police for a state and national criminal background check, to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
2. The check shall conform to the applicable federal standards and shall include the taking of fingerprints.
3. The applicant shall sign a release of information to the board and shall be responsible to the Department of Arkansas State Police for the payment of any fee associated with the criminal background check.
4. Upon completion of the criminal background check, the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police shall forward to the board all information obtained concerning the applicant in the commission of any offense listed in subsection (e) of this section.
5. Except as provided in subdivision (l)(1) of this section, no person shall be eligible to receive or hold a license issued by the board if that person has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, or been found guilty of any of the following offenses by any court in the State of Arkansas or of any similar offense by a court in another state or of any similar offense by a federal court:
   
   1. Capital murder as prohibited in § 5-10-101;
   2. Murder in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-10-102 and murder in the second degree as prohibited in § 5-10-103;
   3. Manslaughter as prohibited in § 5-10-104;
   4. Negligent homicide as prohibited in § 5-10-105;
   5. Kidnapping as prohibited in § 5-11-102;
   6. False imprisonment in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-11-103;
   7. Permanent detention or restraint as prohibited in § 5-11-106;
   8. Robbery as prohibited in § 5-12-102;
   9. Aggravated robbery as prohibited in § 5-12-103;
   10. Battery in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-13-201;
   11. Aggravated assault as prohibited in § 5-13-204;
   12. Introduction of controlled substance into the body of another person as prohibited in § 5-13-210;
   13. Terroristic threatening in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-13-301;
   14. Rape as prohibited in §§ 5-14-103;
   15. Sexual indecency with a child as prohibited in § 5-14-110;
   16. Sexual assault in the first degree, second degree, third degree, and fourth degree as prohibited in §§ 5-14- 124 – 5-14-127;
   17. Incest as prohibited in § 5-26-202;
   18. Offenses against the family as prohibited in §§ 5-26-303 – 5-26-306;
   19. Endangering the welfare of an incompetent person in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-201;
   20. Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-203;
   21. Permitting abuse of a child as prohibited in § 5-27-221(a)(1) and (3);
   22. Engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in visual or print media, transportation of minors for prohibited sexual conduct, pandering or possessing visual or print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, or use of a child or consent to use of a child in a sexual performance by producing, directing, or promoting a sexual performance by a child as prohibited in §§ 5-27-303 – 5-27-305, 5-27-402, and 5-27-403;
   23. Felony adult abuse as prohibited in § 5-28-103;
   24. Theft of property as prohibited in § 5-36-103;
   25. Theft by receiving as prohibited in § 5-36-106;
   26. Arson as prohibited in § 5-38-301;
   27. Burglary as prohibited in § 5-39-201;
   28. Felony violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act §§ 5-64-101 – 5-64-608 as prohibited in § 5-64-401;
   29. Promotion of prostitution in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-70-104;
   30. Stalking as prohibited in § 5-71-229;
   31. Criminal attempt, criminal complicity, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy as prohibited in §§5-3-201, 5-3-202, 5-3-301, and 5-3-401, to commit any of the offenses listed in this subsection;
   32. Computer child pornography as prohibited in § 5-27-603; and
   33. Computer exploitation of a child in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-605.
6.  
   1.  
      1. The board may issue a nonrenewable temporary permit for licensure to a first-time applicant pending the results of the criminal background check.
      2. The permit shall be valid for no more than six (6) months.

   2. Except as provided in subdivision (l)(1) of this section, upon receipt of information from the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police that the person holding the letter of provisional licensure has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, or has been found guilty of, any offense listed in subsection (e) of this section, the board shall immediately revoke the provisional license.

7.  
   1. The provisions of subsections (e) and subdivision (f)(2) of this section may be waived by the board upon the request of:
      
      1. An affected applicant for licensure; or
      2. The person holding a license subject to revocation.
   2. Circumstances for which a waiver may be granted shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
      
      1. The age at which the crime was committed;
      2. The circumstances surrounding the crime;
      3. The length of time since the crime;
      4. Subsequent work history;
      5. Employment references;
      6. Character references; and
      7. Other evidence demonstrating that the applicant does not pose a threat to the health or safety of the public.
8.  
   1. Any information received by the board from the Identification Bureau of the Department of Arkansas State Police pursuant to this section shall not be available for examination except by:
      
      1. The affected applicant for licensure, or his authorized representative; or
      2. The person whose license is subject to revocation or his or her authorized representative.

   2. No record, file, or document shall be removed from the custody of the Department of Arkansas State Police.
9. Any information made available to the affected applicant for licensure or the person whose license is subject to revocation shall be information pertaining to that person only.
10. Rights of privilege and confidentiality established in this section shall not extend to any document created for purposes other than this background check.
11. The board shall adopt the necessary rules and regulations to fully implement the provisions of this section.
12.  
    1. For purposes of this section, an expunged record of a conviction or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to an offense listed in subsection (e) of this section shall not be considered a conviction, guilty plea, or nolo contendere plea to the offense unless the offense is also listed in subdivision (l)(2) of this section.
       
    2. Because of the serious nature of the offenses and the close relationship to the type of work that is to be performed, the following shall result in permanent disqualification:
       
       1. Capital murder as prohibited in § 5-10-101;
       2. Murder in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-10-102 and murder in the second degree as prohibited in § 5-10-103;
       3. Kidnapping as prohibited in § 5-11-102;
       4. Rape as prohibited in § 5-14-103;
       5. Sexual assault in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-14-124 and sexual assault in the second degree as prohibited in § 5-14-125;
       6. Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-203 and endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree as prohibited in § 5-27-204;
       7. Incest as prohibited in § 5-26-202;
       8. Arson as prohibited in § 5-38-301;
       9. Endangering the welfare of incompetent person in the first degree as prohibited in § 5-27-201;
       10. Adult abuse that constitutes a felony as prohibited in § 5-28-103

The department seeks to provide undergraduate instruction that enhances student learning and enriches the lives of our students for life. It provides a firm foundation in liberal arts education as well as training in the techniques and procedures of scientific inquiry. Students are properly prepared for careers in their chosen fields of study and also for graduate and professional schools.

Department Objectives

1. To teach students concepts, theories, and methods of the social and behavioral sciences.
2. To introduce students to the basic social processes of society, social institutions, and patterns of social behavior.
3. To train students to interpret objectively and to understand the role of social processes, social institutions, and social interactions in their lives.
4. To enable students to cope effectively with the socio-cultural and interpersonal process of a constantly changing, complex society.
5. To train students for positions in criminal justice, gerontology, social studies, social work; for teaching positions in history and social studies; and for law school.
6. To prepare students for graduate study in criminal justice, gerontology, history, political science, psychology, social work, and sociology.

Students typically enter the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences for advisement following completion of their first 30 semester credit hours in the University College. For many, this occurs after the first year. Thus, they are already admitted to the university. If a student leaves the university and returns, readmission requirements follow those found in the undergraduate catalog.
Transfer Students
Students from other colleges or universities may transfer to the University and pursue a regular, full time program by meeting the following entrance requirements:

1. Transfer applicants with more than 30 semester hours and with a “C’’ average or better must submit an application and an official transcript from all institutions previously attended. Transfer applicants with less than 30 semester hours of college credit must submit an application, ACT or SAT scores and all college transcripts.
2. Immunization record required with proof of two MMR vaccinations.
3. Transfer applicants with less than a “C’’ average from colleges or universities may be admitted to the University on academic probation with the approval of the Admissions Committee. They must also submit an application, ACT or SAT scores, and all college transcripts. Transfer students asked to withdraw from other institutions for academic reasons will not be allowed to enroll at the University until they are eligible for re-enrollment at the institution previously attended, except with the approval of the Admissions Committee.
4. Students from other colleges and universities who desire to attend the University during the summer only may be admitted by submitting an application and a statement of good standing from the institution where they are regularly enrolled. To qualify as a degree candidate, the student must fulfill all admissions requirements.
5. Transfer students must satisfy the English Proficiency requirement.

The University accepts transfer credits from any regionally recognized accredited institution. In awarding credit, the University exercises institutional autonomy, awarding on the basis of course content and course description.

1. A maximum of 78 hours is accepted from an accredited junior or community college.
2. A student cannot transfer credit earned at a junior or community college beyond the sophomore year. When a student has earned a total of 60 semester hours, no further credit may be transferred, except as follows: a junior who lacks a subject required in the freshman or sophomore year may complete that course in a junior or community college if the student obtains permission from the departmental chairperson for the particular major, and the academic dean.
3. When an institution is not accredited and in instances where the state department of a particular state (where institution is located) does not accept the credits, the University will not accept transfer credits.
4. The University accepts transfer credits for degree credit in consultation with academic departments. Transfer credit hours (pass or failed) are included in the earned credits and are listed on the student’s transcript. The departmental chairperson of the declared major must evaluate courses for transfer credit.
5. For purposes of ranking students for graduation and honors, the University computes all transfer credits (passed or failed).
6. Any UAPB student who desires to take a course at another university must secure approval from his/her department chair and dean prior to taking the course.

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the application of credits for the admissions and degree requirements. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as “No Comparable Course.”  Additionally, courses with a “D” frequently do not transfer and institutional policies may vary. ACTS may be accessed on the Internet by going to the ADHE website and selecting Course Transfer (http://acts.adhe.edu).