Department of Nursing

Karen Landry, PhD, RN, Embree Chair of Nursing

The Department of Nursing at Southern Arkansas University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN). The traditional track for pre-licensure students is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The Bachelor of Science nursing program at Southern Arkansas University located in Magnolia, Arkansas is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404)975-5000

The most recent decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Bachelor of Science nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm

The Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) requires a criminal background check for all graduates applying for licensure. Graduating from a nursing program does not assure ASBN’s approval to take the licensure examination. Eligibility to take the licensure examination is dependent on meeting standards in the ASBN’s Nurse Practice Act and Rules. You will be required to sign a statement, before beginning the nursing program, that states you have read and understood ACA §17-87-312 and ACA §17-3-102 the specific offenses which, if pleaded guilty, nolo contender, or found guilty of will make an individual ineligible to receive or hold a license in Arkansas. You can access the information at:

https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/CBCAct990of2019.Feb20.pdf. Due to the nature of professional training in the field of nursing, successful completion of academic courses provides only a partial indication of student competency. Therefore, all students in the nursing program, with the exception of RN-BSN students, are required to pass a standardized comprehensive computerized exam in order to successfully meet the requirements for the degree. More information concerning this exam is available on the nursing website at www.saumag.edu/nursing to progress in the BSN Student Handbook.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Baccalaureate nursing education prepares the graduate for entry into professional practice as a generalist who provides evidence-based care for persons as individuals, members of families/groups, and communities in both structured and unstructured health care settings. The purpose of the baccalaureate degree in nursing program is to provide both a general education in the liberal arts and sciences and nursing. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program consists of eight academic semesters and includes 59 hours of general education/support courses and 61 hours credit in nursing courses. Clinical laboratory experiences are based in selected community hospitals and allied health agencies. Nursing courses with a clinical component include a 1:1 credit hour to contact hour ratio for theory and a 1:3 credit hour to contact hour ratio for clinical learning experiences. For example, a six-hour credit nursing course consists of four credit/four contact hours of theory and two credit/six contact hours of clinical learning experiences a week. Students are required to complete an average of six contact hours a week of clinical learning experiences over a 15-week semester, or 90 clinical hours. Students must earn a C or higher in all nursing courses.

Transfer Students with Nursing Credit Policy

Those students previously enrolled in another nursing program are considered a Transfer Nursing Student. Transfer requests are considered on an individual basis. Applicants for SAU’s Nursing Program must forward a letter requesting transfer, a Transfer Nursing Student application, and all syllabi pertaining to nursing courses the applicant has successfully completed and attach copies of all unofficial college transcripts. Applicants who are requesting transfer from another nursing program are also required to provide a good academic letter from the program dean/chair/director stating eligibility to reenter their previous nursing program in order to be eligible for consideration in the SAU nursing program. If an applicant has failed any nursing course(s) the academic progression policies will apply (See BSN Progression Policies). Transfer equivalency information for Nursing Curriculum Support Courses can be accessed through SAU Office of Admissions.

Admission Selection for Transfer Students 

Students who meet application requirements will be selected for entry into the nursing program based on grade point average in Nursing Science Core Courses (NSCC), HESI A2 scores, and number of NSCC hours completed on SAU campus. The ranking of admissions is as follows:

1. Students will be initially ranked by grade point average in the NSCCs, HESI A2 scores, and number of NSCC hours completed on SAU campus.
2. If more than one student has the same grade point average in the NSCCs and the same HESI A2 scores, students will be randomly ranked.

Student Nurses Association

The Southern Arkansas University Student Nurses’ Association (SNA) is the local chapter of the Arkansas Student Association (ANSA) and the National Nurses’ Association (NSNA). The NSNA defines the membership and purpose of the organization as “a nonprofit organization for students enrolled in associate, baccalaureate, diploma, and generic graduate nursing programs. It is dedicated to fostering the professional development of nursing students.”

The purpose of the SAU SNA chapter is to improve health care of all people by promoting development of the individual student nurse as a future health care professional; to provide programs representative of fundamental and current professional concerns; to form a network of contacts consisting of, but not limited to, students, faculty, and professional associates; and to aid in the development of the whole person, his/her professional nursing role, and his/her responsibility for the health care of people in all walks of like.

The SNA is actively involved on campus and the community, participating in hundreds of service hours each academic year. ANSA State Convention is held in the fall, Midyear Conference follows, and NSNA National Convention occurs each spring.

Students who join NSNA are eligible to run for an officer, director, or class representative position at the chapter level during the annual election. Members are also eligible to run for positions on the state and national level. The SAU SNA chapter conducts monthly meetings for chapter business.

SAU Student Nurses’ Association http://web.saumag.edu/nursing/sau-sna/
National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) www.nsna.org
Arkansas Nursing Student’s Association (ANSA) www.arknursingstudents.com