Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium

Application Information

Application Process

The ARNEC Application Packet will need to be completed and taken to the nursing department at the institution where you are applying. The application packets may be picked up at the nursing department at each of the ARNEC member institutions or you may download the ARNEC Application Packet from this website, complete it, and take it to the nursing department at the institution where you are applying. Students must also complete an application to the ARNEC member institution where they are applying and comply with the institution admission requirements.

Application Dates

Applications will be accepted throughout the year with an annual deadline of August 31st for the subsequent class that begins in January. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible because in the event of tie for the last admission slot, the application who submitted their application first will be given the slot.

Entrance Requirements

Applicants: All general education courses, except for one, must be completed by the application deadline (August 31). Any remaining course must be completed by the following December. Students must have all general education requirements completed by the time classes begin (No concurrent classes may be taken).

• Background checks will be conducted on selected applicants prior to the beginning of the program. If an applicant's/ student's background check is unsatisfactory, he/she will not
  be admitted to the program. Note: This background check is at the student's expense
  
  
• Selected applicants must take and pass a medical mathematics competency exam prior to completing admission. Applicants have 3 chances to pass the exam with a score of 90% or higher. A study guide for this exam is available for applicants.

Applicants must show proof of:

• Completion of an ARNEC program application packet
• Graduation from a State Board approved technical/practical nursing program
• Possess a valid, unencumbered LPN/LPTN/LVN license
• Completion of the required general education courses from an accredited college or university with a grade of “C” or better
• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or above. GPA is composed of the required general education courses.
• An official high school transcript (or GED completion transcript)
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• All classes are taught in the English language. Students whose native language is not English will be required to show evidence of proficiency by being able to speak, write, and comprehend the English language by taking and receiving a passing score on the TOEFL assessment
• Drug screen (per admitting institution protocol)

Students will be ranked and selected based on their GPA of the required general education course and their pre-entrance exam score. Students must comply with the admission requirements set forth by the admitting institution in addition to the ARNEC requirements.

Acceptance

Applicants that are selected for admission must notify the ARNEC institution that they will be attending to verify and accept placement. Upon acceptance into the program, the student must provide the following:

• Current American Heart Association: Healthcare Provider CPR course (AHA/BLS-HCP)
  
  
• Current PPD Skin Test or Chest X-Ray
  
  
• Verification that the Hepatitis B series has been completed or started, or that a Waiver Claim Form is signed.
  
  
• ALL general education requirements must be completed with a grade of "C" or better before nursing classes begin in January.

Students selected will receive a letter of acceptance into the program, and will need to provide the admitting institution a written letter stating that they are accepting the invitation and will enroll in the program. This letter can be emailed to the program chair, faxed, or brought to the nursing department in person. If the student chooses to email or fax their letter of acceptance, they should follow up by calling the nursing department to make sure it was received. In the event that the student does not plan to enroll, the student needs to notify the institution so that an alternate student may have the slot. Each institution will have an alternate list of students in the case of a selected student declining his/her acceptance letter.

Academic Progression

In order to progress in the nursing curriculum, the student must meet the following criteria:

• The student must maintain a 2.0 “C” (on a 4.0 scale) in all general education and nursing classes, including nursing practicum, to progress to the next semester. Nursing courses require students to achieve at least a 78% (lowest “C” grade) to progress.
• Students maintain compliance with ARNEC's policies to progress to the next semester or graduate.

Transfers

• Due to differences in nursing curriculum in other nursing programs, ARNEC will not accept transfer credit for previously taken Registered Nursing courses. Students who were enrolled in another program will follow the same requirements and admission procedures as students who have never attended another nursing program.
• See ARNEC's Letter of Good Standing Policy on the ARNEC General Information page.

Advanced Placement of Students

Refer to the Advanced Placement of Students policy in the admitting college’s catalog.

Note to All Applicants

Graduation Policy

Students must have successfully completed all general education courses and all nursing courses with a grade of “C” or better. The student MUST achieve the benchmark score set by ARNEC on the standardized exit exam to complete requirements for the RNSG 2311: NCLEX-RN Preparation course. Upon completion, the student’s status will be submitted to the state board of nursing declaring that the student wishes to sit for the licensing examination.