NURSING

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BRTC LPN-to-RN Bridge students enjoying a clinical day at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, touring the helipad and Angel One.

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The BRTC  Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing programs have been recognized as outstanding nursing education programs in the state of Arkansas.

We support the mission of Black River Technical College through our intentional presence in all we do to innovatively educate our diverse students by utilizing modern technology & evidence-based practice while emphasizing nursing tradition in order to prepare them to have a positive influence on our ever-changing healthcare system today, tomorrow, and in the future.

BRTC Nursing Programs

• The Practical Nursing program is offered solely on the Pocahontas campus.
• As a founding member of the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium (ARNEC), the LPN-to-RN Bridge program is offered on both the Pocahontas and Paragould campuses.
• BRTC offers a traditional Registered Nursing program on the Pocahontas campus and at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould!

Nursing Graduates’ Employment

Students who have completed a healthcare certificate or degree from BRTC have successfully gained employment at healthcare facilities such as

• Arkansas Methodist Medical Center
• Encompass Health
• Mid-South Health Systems
• NEA Baptist Medical Center
• Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center
• St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center
• St. Bernards Medical Center
• Long-term care facilities
• Local health units
• Local medical clinics

For More Information

Dana Clay
Allied Health Academic Advisor
(870) 248-4150
danac@blackrivertech.edu.

How to Apply to a BRTC Nursing Program

If you are interested in a rewarding nursing career, apply now and become a member of your community’s healthcare nursing team. All nursing programs require the student to submit the following:

• an application to the college if you are not a current student or have not attended BRTC for over 1 year AND
• an application to the traditional registered nursing and/or practical nursing program(s)
• Or an application to the LPN-to-RN Bridge program* (ARNEC) *must be a LPN  or currently enrolled in a practical nursing program to apply.

You must be accepted into the program before taking nursing courses.According to the Nurse Practice Act §17-87-312,

• all nursing students are mandated by state law to be fingerprinted and have a criminal background check by the Arkansas State Police and the FBI at the student’s expense.
• Persons convicted of certain crimes may not be eligible to take the state board examination.
• Completion of this program does not guarantee eligibility to write state board examination according to theNurse Practice Act §17-87-312.

Licensing Restrictions Based on Criminal Records see: ACA §17-3-102.

For more information on background checks, go to https://www.ark.org/bon/fingerprint/index.php or contact Karen McCumpsey, MNSc, RN, CNE, Assistant Director, Arkansas State Board of Nursing at karen.mccumpsey@arkansas.gov.

Black River Technical College nursing programs meet the minimum requirements for approval by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

Any student whose plan of study is interrupted due to military service obligations while enrolled in an allied health program will be guaranteed readmission upon return. The student will be required to meet the readmission standards set by the program.

Registered Nursing-Traditional Program

Associate of Applied Science – Registered Nursing
The registered nursing program combines classroom instruction, simulated patient care, and clinical experience to prepare graduates for a successful career in nursing.  After graduation, students are eligible to apply for the national examination (NCLEX-RN) administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, for licensure as a registered nurse (RN).

Length of Program: 2 Years

Campus Availability: Pocahontas and Paragould (Arkansas Methodist Medical Center)

Course Availability: Fall and Spring

Prerequisites:

• BIOL 2004 Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
• BIOL 2104 Microbiology with Lab
• BIOL 2414 Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
• ENG 1003 Freshman English I
• ENG 1013 Freshman English II
• MTH 1213 Math for Healthcare Professionals†
• NRS 2203 Basic Human Nutrition
• PSY 2513 Introduction to Psychology

†Prerequisite: Each student must meet the criteria under either (a),  (b), or (c) as follows:

(a) Mathematics section: ACT score of 16 or above, Next Gen ACCUPLACER score of 248 or above; or

(b) the student must have earned a grade of “C” or higher in MATH 0043 Foundations of College Algebra; or

(c) transfer into BRTC and be eligible to register for College Algebra or the student will be required to enroll in MTH 1213L Math for Healthcare Professionals with Lab (4 credit hour course).

Traditional Registered Nursing Application

Apply Now

The application period for the Traditional Registered Nursing program is open February 1st -April 1st (Fall enrollment) and September 1st-October 31st (Spring enrollment).  Applications will open at 9 am.

The application must be completed prior to the deadline. No incomplete applications will be accepted. Additional documents that must be submitted to the nursing department include:

• Transcript(s) from any college(s) attended, other than BRTC. *If a current student at BRTC we will have access to this and you do not have to send in these again.
• If currently enrolled in college classes elsewhere, please send a current class schedule within one week of the application deadline.
• Submit a paper copy of your exam results by the end of the semester. The TEAS must have been taken within the previous 12-months at the time of selection (limit one attempt in a 6-month period).  You will receive information on TEAS test dates via email approximately one week after the application has been received.
• Letter of Good Standing from any previously attended nursing program, if applicable.

Important:  Once the application period opens, submit your applications in a timely manner. In the event of a tie in scores or campus preference, the application date and time may be used as a tie-breaker.

Upon acceptance into the program, you will be required to complete a Criminal Background Check.  Please note, a positive criminal background check may prevent you from being able to attend clinical and therefore, prevent you from being able to meet the program requirements.

Traditional Registered Nursing Degree Plan

• Degree Plan 2021-2022
• Degree Plan 2020-2021

Traditional Registered Nursing Program Admissions Information

Prospective students will be required to:

• complete an application for the nursing program
• electronically sign the RN application to acknowledge understanding of the Nurse Practice Act Annotated Code 17-87-312 and 17-3-102 regarding criminal offenses and licensure.
• possess physical and mental abilities essential for safe and effective client care
• have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
• pass random drug screens once enrolled in and throughout the RN program
• attend orientation on the scheduled date(s)
• take the nursing entrance exam on a scheduled date
• complete all pre-professional curricula with a grade of “C” or higher
  • If a student has received D or F in a prerequisite and has not retaken course with a “C” or higher, they are ineligible for the selection process, even if they are registered to retake the course over break/summer.
  • Students applying in Spring for Fall term admittance, may be lacking up to 2 courses at the time of selection in May, neither may be Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab.  If the applicant is selected, the courses lacking must be completed over summer terms with a C or higher prior to starting in Fall term.
  • Students applying in the Fall term for Spring admittance must have all 8 prerequisite courses complete at the time of selection in December.

Selection for the program is based on the following: 

1. Entrance Exam:
   • Students must score an overall minimum of 58.7% on the TEAS* to be eligible for the program.
   • The TEAS exam score is not required prior to the application deadline.
   • Nursing entrance test dates will be provided via email approximately one week following the submission of the application.
   • The exam is approximately $65.00.
   • The exam must have been taken within the previous 12-months at the time of selection (limit one attempt in a 6-month period).
   • To purchase a TEAS study guide for the entrance exam see www.atitesting.com.
2. Meet & Greet:
   • The date will be provided via email approximately one week following the submission of the application.
   • This event is for the applicant and their support group, i.e. spouse, significant other, parents, children, family members, friends, etc.
3. Selection Process
   1. Letters will be sent for acceptance, alternate, or denial.
   2. Up to 32 of the top-scoring applicants are accepted into the program and 5 alternates are chosen.
   3. Selection is based on the TEAS score as well as the GPA in the prerequisite courses
      • Prerequisite course GPA multiplied by 20; a maximum of 80 points (4.0 GPA x 20=80)
      • *TEAS Score=maximum score of 100 points (minimum score required 58.7% to be eligible for the program)
   4. Students must return the formal acceptance to the nursing department by the date specified or the seat will be forfeited and an alternate will be called.
   5. Anyone receiving a letter of ineligibility or denial who would like additional information may request an appointment.

*The TEAS exam is based on 9-12th-grade science, reading, math, and English language comprehension.  The current ATI TEAS study manual and practice exams are available at www.atitesting.com. The exam consists of 170 questions, 20 of which are non-scored pretest items.  Each of the four test sections has an individual time limit with a total test time of 209 minutes allotted.

For any additional questions please contact the Allied Health Academic Advisor at 870-248-4150.

Traditional Registered Nursing Supply List

These are approximate costs only.

First Semester

• Class dues $20
• Student ID $5
• Criminal background check for clinical sites $65
• Immunizations $135+
• †Laptop $300
• † Uniforms (4 sets of Caribbean blue & 1 white lab coat) $240
• † Shoes (all white, leather) $60
• † ID badge holder $2
• † Watch with second hand or digital seconds display $30
• † Stethoscope $20-$60
• † Penlight $5
• † Earbuds for testing $5
• † Earplugs for testing $5
• † Nursing Supply Kit (from bookstore) $250
• †Book package for the program $550+
• *Liability insurance $16
• *CPR/First Aid card $5
• *ATI online modules package $250
• *Drug screen $35
• *Simulation fee $20

Second Semester

• Class dues $20
• *Liability insurance $16
• *Drug screen $35
• *ATI online modules package $250
• *Simulation fee $20

Third Semester

• ASBN License $100
• Temporary RN license $30
• † Uniform (1 white top) $25
• *Liability insurance $16
• *ATI online modules package $250
• *Simulation fee $20
• *Pearson Vue NCLEX registration $200
• *Drug screen $35
• *Composite picture sitting fee $20
• *Graduation pin and lamp $65
• *Livescan Fingerprinting $15
• Criminal Background Check for ASBN $38.50

*These items are assessed as fees.

This program is 70 credit hours in length. College fees and tuition costs listed here.

† These items are eligible to be charged to the bookstore for those receiving financial aid.

The required immunizations can be received from your primary care provider or county health department. More information regarding immunizations will be provided at Meet and Greet.