2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Practical Nursing, TC
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The Technical Certificate in Practical Nursing combines theory instruction with clinical experiences. The threesemester, full-time program is accredited by the Arkansas Board of Nursing. Upon completion, the student may apply for eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Enrollment in Practical Nursing is competitive and the courses are limited. Students are selected through a formal acceptance process. Students must be accepted into UA-PTC prior to being considered for acceptance into the nursing program. For consideration of admission into the Practical Nursing program, students must meet the following guidelines:
- Students must be 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED.
- Students must make a minimum score of 22 on the math section of the ACT, or 97 on the Elementary Algebra section of the Accuplacer, or 50 on the Algebra section of the COMPASS, or complete the necessary zero-level coursework.
- Students must make a minimum score of 19 on the reading section of the ACT, or 83 on the reading section of the Accuplacer, or 83 on the reading section of the COMPASS, or complete the necessary zero-level coursework.
- Students must make a minimum score of 19 on the English section of the ACT, or 83 on the sentence skills section of the Accuplacer, or 80 on the writing section of the COMPASS, or complete the necessary zero-level coursework.
- Students must complete Mathematical Reasoning or College Algebra with a grade of “C” or better.
A point system is used to choose candidates for the program. Any student selected for the program will be administered a drug screen and background check. Also, this program of study includes required summer courses and special program fees beyond current tuition and college fees.
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ARSBN) requires a criminal background check for all graduates applying for licensure. Graduating from a nursing program does not assure ARSBN’s approval to take the licensure examination. Eligibility to take the licensure examination is dependent on meeting standards in the ARSBN Nurse Practice Act and Rules. You will be required to sign a statement, before beginning the nursing program, that states you have read and understood ACA §17-87-312 and the specific offenses which, if pleaded guilty, nolo contender, or found guilty of will make an individual ineligible to receive or hold a license in Arkansas. You can access the information at www.uaptc.edu/nursing
The competencies of informatics, teamwork and collaboration, quality improvement, patientcentered care, safety, and evidence-based practice form the foundation of the student’s program learning outcomes. Student learning activities focus on the attainment of student learning outcomes. The following grid demonstrates the link of each competency to the program learning outcomes.
| Competencies |
Student Learning Outcomes |
| Evidence Based Practice |
Incorporate best practices based on current evidence, patient/ family preferences, and values into delivery of optimal care. |
| Teamwork/Collaboration |
Collaborate within nursing and healthcare teams with open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making in delivery of optimal care. |
| Patient Centered Care |
Provide compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient/ family preferences, values and needs. |
| Quality Improvement |
Use data to monitor and improve the quality and safety of patient care. |
| Safety |
Use safety standards to minimize risk of harm to patients and providers. |
| Informatics |
Demonstrate understanding of information and technology to communicate and support decision making in delivery of optimal health care. |
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the conclusion of the practical nursing program, the student is prepared to:
- Provide compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient/family preferences, values, and needs (Patient Centered Care [PCC])
- Collaborate within nursing and healthcare team with open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision making in delivery of optimal care (Teamwork & Collaboration [T/C])
- Use safety standards to minimize risk of harm to patients and providers (Safety [S])
- Incorporate best practices, based on current evidence, patient/family preferences, and values into delivery of optimal care (Evidence Based Practice [EBP])
- Use data to monitor and improve the quality and safety of patient care (Quality Improvement [QI])
- Demonstrate understanding of information and technology to communicate and support decision making in delivery of optimal health care (Informatics [I])
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Total 47-52 Credit Hours
* BIOL 11353 / BIOL 10351 Structure and Function of the Body or both BIOL 24003 / BIOL 24001 Anatomy and Physiology I and BIOL 24103 / BIOL 24101 Anatomy and Physiology II may be substituted for this course, and they may be taken prior to acceptance into the nursing program.
The traditional track Practical Nursing Program combines theory instruction with clinical experiences. The program is three semesters and an extended summer term. Upon completion, the student may apply for eligibility to take the NCLEX-PN licensing examination.
Pharmacology is incorporated throughout the curriculum. Pharmacology includes a brief history of drugs, methods of administration, drugs commonly used in the treatment of illness and such information as usual dosages, expected actions, side effects, contraindications and points of observation following the administration of drugs. Formulas for conversions of measures from apothecary to the metric system, as well as formulas for calculations of dosages for adults, infants and children, are included. Performance of intravenous infusion therapy and introduction of a peripheral intravenous device on the adult client are included in the content.
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