General Questions
How often do you accept students into the program?
Once per year. The associate RN application period is from Dec. 15 to Jan. 31. Accepted students will begin in the summer of the year they are accepted. Academic Calendar.
The RN-BSN online program (only for RNs & recent graduates of an RN program) accepts applications throughout the year.
Do you offer an evening or weekend only program?
No. Nursing classes generally meet twice per week (2.5 hours per day). Clinicals generally consist of one 12 hour clinical day per week. Some afternoon/evening/weekend clinicals are available but registration is based on classification (ex: freshman, sophomore, etc.) so we cannot guarantee an evening clinical rotation.
Do I have to apply to UA Little Rock for admission? If I am admitted to UA Little Rock am I admitted to the Nursing program too?
If you are not already admitted to UA Little Rock, you should apply and be fully admitted before applying to the School of Nursing. Admission to UA Little Rock and Nursing are two separate processes. If you are admitted to UA Little Rock it does not mean you are admitted to Nursing. The deadline to apply to the university is the first Friday of the spring semester and the deadline to apply to the nursing program is January 31st at 5pm.
Where is the School of Nursing located?
The School of Nursing is on the south end of the UA Little Rock campus, 2801 University Avenue. It’s located between the eStem High School and the Center for Performing Arts building.
Where do I park when I come for my advising?
Convenient metered parking lots are near the School of Nursing building. Students can also park in the free lot in the University Plaza and walk through the breezeway to the Nursing Building.
What degrees does the UA Little Rock School of Nursing offer?
The department offers four programs:
- Student to RN (AAS) – students earn required credentials to take the state RN exam (NCLEX).
- LPN/Paramedic to RN (AAS) – only for licensed LPN/Paramedics who want to transition to an RN.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – students take add’l courses courses for BSN while completing AAS.
- RN to BSN online program – only for licensed RNs and recent graduates of an associate/diploma RN program.
If I turn my application in after Jan. 31 is there any chance I can get in the program?
No, not for the current admission cycle. The deadline is Jan. 31 by 5 p.m.
Who are the advisors in the Nursing program?
For general questions about the AAS program contact:
Jonathan Hamilton, Academic Counselor
501-916-5177
jahamilton@ualr.edu
For general questions about the RN to BSN program contact:
Belinda Nix, Academic Counselor
501-916-5172
bknix@ualr.edu
Pre-nursing students enrolled at UA Little Rock contact:
Carolyn Fonville, Academic Counselor
Schedule an Appointment
Because of the volume of applicants, mandatory Pre-Admission Information Sessions are held twice a month.
I heard nursing is a hard major. Is that true?
Yes. Nursing requires that you retain content/information from semester to semester, dedicate sufficient time to study and preparation and be able to think critically. Nursing is a combination of art and science, knowledge retention and application. If you do not dedicate sufficient time and effort to study and preparation you will not be successful in nursing.
How many hours will I be in class each semester?
The official answer: Nursing courses are didactic. This means that you have both classroom and clinical time each week. Each clinical credit hour is at a 1:3 ratio so the actual contact hours per week exceed the credit hour allocation. For example, NURS 1410 is a 4-hour course 2 lecture and 2 clinical. This means each week you have two days of lecture and two 6-hour clinical rotations or one 12 hours clinical rotation.
The unofficial answer: You will be immersed in nursing for 2 years. You must be prepared to budget time outside the classroom for nursing. Based on an informal survey of 2012 students in our program, most studied, prepped, practiced or did some sort of nursing-related work outside the classroom and clinical for 12-18 hours per week.
Since I only have nursing courses left to take it looks like I will really be part-time in the program. Is that correct?
Full-time enrollment at UA Little Rock is considered 12 credit hours per semester (fall and spring). If you only have nursing courses you will be enrolled in 7-8 hours of nursing coursework each semester. You may pick up additional BSN general education courses to fulfill your 12 hours.
How much does nursing school cost?
Please review our estimate of costs. Be aware that some nursing students incur additional costs for supplemental equipment, additional immunization documents, and testing materials.
I’ve attended a previous Nursing program and want to attend yours. What will this mean for me?
A student is classified as re-entry if he/she:
- Completed, failed or withdrew from a nursing course in any nursing program
- Failed to progress in the UA Little Rock nursing sequence for any reason
- Declared academic clemency for a semester that includes a nursing course failure or withdrawal
- Was admitted to the program, confirmed registration for classes but failed to begin classes
If you are classified as a re-entry student by these criteria, you may not re-enter the Nursing program following failure of a nursing course or other exit from the program.
AAS Program Questions
Do I have to take a test to be admitted to the nursing program?
Currently there is no entrance exam for traditional students. Paramedics who have not worked more than 1000 hours as a Paramedic in the last 2 years must take the Elsevier HESI EMS-ADN Entrance Exam. LPNs who are not recent graduates of an approved LPN program and have not worked more than 1000 hours as an LPN in the last 2 years are required to complete the Elsevier HESI LPN-ADN Entrance Exam.
I sent my transcripts to the UA Little Rock Office of Admission and Records. Do I have to give the School of Nursing copies of my transcripts too?
No. We recently changed the application process. Students no longer need to supply copies of their transcripts to the School of Nursing.
Do I need Anatomy and Physiology: BIOL 1433 OR BIOL 1411 and BIOL 1412 to apply?
Yes. Students need to have successfully completed 4 credit hours of Anatomy and Physiology at the time of application to the AAS program. A three-hour Anatomy and Physiology course does not meet the Anatomy and Physiology requirement. However, UA Little Rock offers an alternative Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 1433) course that will satisfy the full A&P requirement.
I took my science courses in a different state. Will those transfer?
The Office of Transfer Student Services reviews all transferred coursework. If the course is equivalent to the required general education course and is transferred from an accredited institution, then credit will be received.
I went to UA Little Rock several years ago and do not have a 2.0 GPA at UA Little Rock. Am I eligible for admission to the nursing program?
No. You must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at UA Little Rock. You can either retake previously failed coursework or take additional coursework to improve your UA Little Rock GPA (these courses must be taken at UA Little Rock). If you have been out of college for two or more years, you may be eligible for academic clemency. Refer to the UA Little Rock Undergraduate Catalog for additional information on criteria for academic clemency.
Does it matter what kind of CPR training/certification I get?
Yes. You should get certified for CPR through the American Heart Association for Health Care Providers. The UA Little Rock Department of Nursing offers the required CPR training at various times throughout the year.
Is it true that you do criminal background checks and drug tests to enter the program? I have a past criminal record but I think it has been expunged from my record. Can I be accepted to the program?
The UA Little Rock School of Nursing will conduct Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screenings on all fully admitted AAS students. Verify the status of your record before application and review the list of crimes that would prohibit licensure. This listing is available at the Arkansas State Board of Nursing website (subchapter 3 of the Nurse Practice Act) or at
17-3-102 Licensing restrictions based on criminal records.
I would like to get my BSN. Do I still have to declare for AAS?
Yes. All non-RN students start in the AAS program which is required for licensure. Once you have been confirmed as graduating with an AAS, you may declare BSN and continue with our bachelor’s program. It is a seamless transition, but you must declare associate first.
