ADN Advanced Placement Track

Students may also enter the ADN program by advanced placement. Students seeking advanced placement must meet all program admission requirements as well as all Level I progression requirements.

Advanced placement students are only licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed psychiatric technical nurses (LPTNs) who are granted advanced placement in the ADN program.

LPNs and LPTNs who seek admission to the ADN program within 12 months of graduation may apply to the program without having work experience.

LPNs and LPTNs who seek admission to the ADN program after 12 months of graduation may apply to the program provided that they have during the past 12 to 24 months at least 1,000 hours of nursing employment in an acute- or long-term care setting.

LPNs and LPTNs who seek admission to the ADN program after 12 months of graduation and during the past 24 months do not have at least 1,000 hours of nursing employment in an acute- or long-term care setting will be required to take the NLN Nursing Accelerated Challenge Exam (NACE) I PN to RN exam and the NLN Normal Nutrition Achievement test. Applicants must achieve a minimum decision score of 75 on the NACE I PN to RN Exam and the 70th percentile or above on the Normal Nutrition Exam to be considered for advanced placement.

LPNs or LPTNs who receive advanced placement will enter Level II of the ADN program. Upon successful completion of Level IV of the ADN program, seven (7) semester credit hours will be awarded for NG 107, Concepts of Nursing Care for Patients with Chronic, Stable Conditions. 

A limited number of spaces may be available for students seeking advanced placement.  Once a LPN or LPTN enrolls in Level I of the ADN program, advanced placement is no longer an option for progression.

*Refer to the ADN Program Information Packet to review Tables I and III included in the Arkansas Progression Model.

Advanced Placement

Admission

  1. Students seeking advanced placement must contact the Dean of Allied Health to discuss placement in the program.
  2. Applications may be obtained from the ADN program administrative assistant on the Helena-West Helena campus.
  3. Students seeking advanced placement must (1) meet all traditional program admission requirements by October 1st, (2) meet all Level I progression requirements, (3) meet Drug Dosage Calculation Exam requirements, and (4) demonstrate competency of Level I skills.  
  4. The completed application must be received in the Nursing Department Office on the Helena-West Helena campus by October 1st to be considered for the spring semester. Applications received after October 1st will not be considered.
  5. Students seeking admission by advanced placement will be ranked from highest to lowest by the score earned on the ATI Critical Thinking Exam and admitted on a 1:1 ratio with students seeking readmission until either group or space available is exhausted.
  6. When two (2) or more advanced placement applicants have an equal score on the ATI Critical Thinking Exam, applicants will be admitted according to the date and time the application was received in the Nursing Department Office on the HWH campus.
  7. Applicants who are not selected or who elect not to enroll must complete the entire admission process which includes, but is not limited to:  (1) submitting another application to the program, (2) repeating the Nelson-Denny Reading and ATI Critical Thinking Exams within three (3) months of the application deadline, (3) meeting Drug Dosage Calculation Exam requirements, and (4) demonstrating Level I skill competency requirements to be considered again.
  8. Rare exceptions to the Advanced Placement policy may be made by the Promotion and Graduation Committee.

Skill Competency Exam

The Drug Dosage Calculation Exam will be given to all students seeking advanced placement to Level II in the spring of 2023 on the following date:
HWH and Stuttgart Readmission Applicants

       • Thursday, November 17th, 2022, at 9:00am

Demonstration of skill competency is a prerequisite for all students seeking admission to Level II by advanced placement. Skill competency evaluation times will be posted on the program webpage. A maximum of two (2) opportunities will be offered to demonstrate competency. Any missed skill competency evaluation will be counted as a "fail". Applicants who fail to demonstrate skill competency will not be eligible for enrollment. 

Drug Dosage Calculation Exam

The Drug Dosage Calculation Exam is a prerequisite for all students seeking admission to Level II by advanced placement. The applicant must pass the exam before enrollment. A maximum of three (3) opportunities are offered to score 90% or above on the exam. Only a basic calculator with the capacity to add, subtract, multiply, and divide can be used. No calculators with advanced functions are allowed.  Any missed exam will be counted as a fail. Applicants who fail to score a minimum of 90% on the Drug Dosage Calculation Exam will not be eligible for enrollment.