LPN/LPTN to RN Nursing Transition Program

Program Description
This program is intended to enable qualified Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and/or Licensed Psychiatric Technician Nurses (LPTN) who aspire to become Registered Nurses to do so within a minimum period of time and with a minimum duplication of course content and credits. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Admission Requirements
Applicants must possess a current, unencumbered Arkansas State Board of Nursing license as a Practical Nurse (LPN) and meet the admission requirements listed below:
  1. Completion of all SEARK College Admissions Requirements. See current Southeast Arkansas College College Catalog and Student Handbook.
  2. Graduate from a State Board approved practical nursing program.
  3. Complete he required general education courses from an accredited college or university with a 2.5 grade point average. A grade of "C" or above is required in order to achieve the 2.5 grade point average.  (Total quality points in the required general education courses are calculated to determine admission status.)
  4. Submit an official transcript of required general courses.
  5. Completion of the Nursing & Allied Health Application for Admission form and submit to the Division of Nursing & Allied Health prior to the application deadline date.
  6. Submit three satisfactory references (one professional, one educational, and one personal).
  7. Complete a satisfactory interview with program faculty.

The above information must be submitted to:

Southeast Arkansas College
Nursing & Allied Health Technologies Division
1900 Hazel Street
Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603

Any applicant who does not have a completed application packet in the Nursing & Allied Health Office, located in Founders Hall, by 4:30 p.m. on the application deadline may not be considered for admission.

Application Procedure Deadline
Classes are admitted annually in June.  Class size is limited and all applicants are not accepted for participation.  All applicants will have an equal opportunity regardless of race, age, disability, sex, creed, religion, or nationality.

June Admission -- Applications must be submitted by the 2nd Friday in April.

Applicants with special needs due to disability must make this fact known prior to admission so that necessary accommodations can be made.  Because of the nature of the profession, it may not always be possible to accommodate students with severe disabilities.

Acceptance Procedure
Should the qualified applicants exceed the available slots in the program, admission into a particular class will be based on the date of completed application and on the NAH criteria for selection. After acceptance into the program, students must submit evidence of the following in order to begin classes:

  1. Satisfactory performance on a basic pharmacology exam.
  2. Current A.H.A. CPR Certification -- Level C (must be valid for entire period of enrollment)
  3. Health History (form completed)
  4. P.P.D. Skin Test or Chest X-Ray
  5. Hepatitis B Series or Signature on SEARK College Vaccination Waiver Claim Form
  6. Submit to criminal background check.*
*Note: Effective January 1, 2000, the ASBN requires that all applicants for licensure submit to a criminal background check prior to graduation. All students accepted into the nursing program will be required to have this background check and will be required to pay all associate fees.

Students enrolled in Nursing & Allied Health Programs with a clinical component will be assessed a fee of malpractice insurance.

Note: random drug screening may be used anytime during the program at the student's expense.

LPN/LPTN to RN Transition
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Degree Plan: General Education Course Requirements

Course No. Course LEC LAB SWE SCH
1st Year -- 1st Semester
ENGL 1313 English Composition I 3 0 0 3
MATH 1313 College Algebra 3 0 0 3
PSYC 2303 General Psychology 3 0 0 3
**BIOL 2454 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 3 2 0 4
**HOME 1323 Basic Nutrition 3 0 0 3
*CHEM 1434 General Chemistry I (optional) (3) (2) (0) (4)
  15 2 0 16
1st Year -- 2nd Semester
ENGL 1323 English Composition II 3 0 0 3
COMP 1123 Introduction to Computers 3 0 0 3
PSYC 2323 Developmental Psychology 3 0 0 3
**BIOL 2464 Human Anatomy & Physiology II 3 2 0 4
BIOL 2474 Microbiology 3 2 0 4
*SOCI 2313 Introduction to Sociology (optional) (3) (0) (0) (3)
  15 4 0 17

* Highly recommended elective, but not required for the AAS Degree.
** General education course required in the college's LPN program.

LPN/LPTN to RN Transition
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Degree Plan: Nursing Course Requirements

Course No. Course LEC LAB SWE SCH
2nd Year -- Summer Semester
NURS 2116 Nursing Process I 6 0 0 6
NURS 2122 Nursing Practicum I 0 0 8 2
  6 0 8 8
2nd Year -- 1st Semester
NURS 2218 Nursing Process II 8 0 0 8
NURS 2224 Nursing Practicum II 0 0 16 4
  8 0 16 12
2nd Year -- 2nd Semester
NURS 2318 Nursing Process III 8 0 0 8
NURS 2324 Nursing Practicum III 0 0 16 4
  8 0 16 12

COMPLETION AWARD:  Associate of Applied Science Degree (65 credit hours)

The LPN/LPTN to RN Transition program is accredited by the
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC),
61 Broadway, New York, NY 60001; (212) 363-5555, extension 153.

SEARK Home Page | Site Map | Educational Programs 
Educational Departments | WDC Home Page | Nursing & Allied Health