AASN Frequently Asked Questions
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### ❓ Question 1: [When do I apply to the LPN-AASN Online Program Option?]
**Answer:**
Applications for this program are accepted every semester for students to begin the following semester. You must be currently enrolled or have completed all pre-requisite courses at the time of applying to the program option. The application timeframes are for the a) Fall semester start apply March 15 - May 1; b) Spring semester start apply August 31 - October 15; and c) Summer semester start apply January 5 - March 1.
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### ❓ Question 2: [How does the application process work for the LPN-AASN Online Option, Traditional AASN Program Option, and Paramedic-AASN Program Option?]
**Answer:**
All applications are internal applications to the AASN program options. So, you must be accepted to A-State Jonesboro campus before you apply to any AASN program option you are interested in completing. Internal nursing applications are submitted through Slate, which is the same application software used to apply to A-State Jonesboro campus, be sure to log-in as a Returning Student when completing your application. Select, "Nursing Internal Application" from the application list. Be sure to complete all entrance exams (SPANS and Smarter Measures Assessment).
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### ❓ Question 3: [How will I know my application is received?]
**Answer:** You will get a verification after you submit your application in Slate provided to the email address you used to apply to the program option. Please keep a copy of this for your records and check the email often for communications regarding missing items for your application to be considered complete.
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### ❓ Question 4: [When will I find out if I’ve been accepted?]
**Answer:** Once the AASN Admissions Committee has analyzed all qualified applicants and student ranks have been determined, a decision letter will be posted to your Slate account. You should also receive an email to the email addressed provided in Slate. The time required to process applications depends on the total number of applications, but generally students that apply for a Spring semester start will be notified before Thanksgiving; stuents that apply for a Summer semester start (LPN-AASN Online Option Program only) will be notified around Spring Break; and students that apply for a Fall semester start (LPNs only either online or on-campus) will be notified around the July 4th Holiday. You will receive notification of the decision made concerning your application for admission of denied admission, waitlist admission, or admission to the program option via your Slate account.
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### ❓ Question 5: [How many students are accepted/admitted into the program?]
**Answer:** The number of students accepted/admitted varies by program option and the total number is dependent on clinical site availability. Generally for the LPN-AASN Online option there are 25-35 students admitted each semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer). The Paramedic-AASN program option has about 10-15 students admitted every Spring semester. The Traditional AASN program option has approximately 60-80 non-licensed students (individuals not holding an active LPN license) admitted each Spring semester and approximately 20-30 licensed students (individuals with an active LPN license) admitted each Fall semester. Students admitted to the Traditional AASN and the Paramedic-AASN program options are divided between the Jonesboro and West Memphis campuses.
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### ❓ Question 6: [What is the minimum GPA requirement to be accepted into the program?]
**Answer:**
The minimum GPA requirements vary by program option for the AASN degree. The overall GPA is used as the minimum GPA and can be found in Degree Works or on your unofficial transcript, which are both found in Banner Self-Service.
Traditional AASN Program option: 2.0 overall GPA
Paramedic-AASN Program option: 2.0 overall GPA
LPN-AASN Online Program option: 2.5 overall GPA
**Due to the competitive nature of the application process, meeting minimum program admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Cohort size is limited to clinical site availability.
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### ❓ Question 7: [How many applicants apply and what is the average GPA of those accepted/admitted into the program?]
**Answer:**
Typically, there are 100 - 150 applicants each semester for the AASN program. The average GPA of those accepted/admitted to the program is 3.1 overall GPA.
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### ❓ Question 8: [Do I need to get my flu shot prior to starting the program?]
**Answer:** You will be required to get a flu shot each year that you are in the program. Flu shots are given at every health unit and most pharmacies when the annual flu shot serum is available, typically late September or early October. You do NOT have to get it before starting the program, if you begin prior to September.
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### ❓ Question 9: [When do classes start?]
**Answer:** Classes begin the same day that classes start for the University during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters of each academic year. When you are amitted, you will be required to attend an orientation that is typically scheduled about a week before the first day of class. If the first day of class begins on what is a typical clinical day (Monday, Wednesday, or Friday) then students should expect to meet for the first day of class.
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### ❓ Question 10: [Once accepted/admitted, will I be able to work outside of school?]
**Answer:** It is recommended that a student’s combined employment AND classroom/clinical load not exceed 40 hours per week. However, many students do work full-time hours and are successful in the program. The number of hours worked outside of school is very dependant on the student and the best way for them to learn. If you have too many competing priorities for your time (work, school, family, social engagments, etc.) it can be detrimental to the stuent's performance, both as a student and an employee. Professional behavior regarding patient safety is essential for nursing students; therefore a student cannot work any portion of an 11:00pm - 7:00 am shift immediately prior to clinical.
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### ❓ Question 11: [Who is my academic advisor?]
**Answer:** Prior to admission all students who have declared nursing as their major will be assigned to the nursing advisor. The nursing advisor's name and contact information can be found on the School of Nursing website. When you are accepted to the AASN program option, your advisor will be Samantha Dunavion. Email is the best way to reach your academic advisor.
BSN: Hannah Williamson (hwilliamson@astate.edu)
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### ❓ Question 12: [Whom do I contact for help with my schedule?]
**Answer:** Students should contact their academic advisor for questions pertaining to their course schedule. Prior to admission all students who have declared nursing as their major will be assigned to the pre-nursing advisor. When you are accepted to the AASN program option, your advisor will be Samantha Dunavion. Email is the best way to reach your academic advisor.
BSN: Hannah Williamson (hwilliamson@astate.edu)
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### ❓ Question 13: [What are the pre-requisites for this program?]
**Answer:**
Traditional AASN (On-campus) Program Option: A minimum overall GPA of a 2.0 and the following courses passed with a letter grade of "C" or better:
- Non-licensed Students (individuals without an LPN license)
- ENGL 10103 Composition I
- MATH 11003 College Algebra
- BIOL 24003 and BIOL 24001 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Laboratory
- Licensed Students (individuals with an LPN license)
- Unencumbered LPN license
- ENGL 10103 Composition I
- MATH 11003 College Algebra
- BIOL 24003 and BIOL 24001 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Laboratory
- BIOL 24103 and BIOL 24101 Human Anatomy & Physiology II and Laboratory
- PSYC 11003 Introduction to Psychology
- NURS 22392 and NURS 22391 Health Assessment and Practicum
Paramedic-AASN Program Option: A minimum overall GPA of a 2.0 and the following courses passed with a letter grade of "C" or better:
- ENGL 10103 Composition I
- MATH 11003 College Algebra
- BIOL 24003 and BIOL 24001 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Laboratory
LPN-AASN Online Program Option: A minimum overall GPA of a 2.5, unencumbered LPN license, and the following courses passed with a letter grade of "C" or better:
- ENGL 10103 Composition I
- MATH 11003 College Algebra
- BIOL 24003 and BIOL 24001 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Laboratory
- BIOL 24103 and BIOL 24101 Human Anatomy & Physiology II and Laboratory
- PSYC 11003 Introduction to Psychology
- NURS 22392 and NURS 22391 Health Assessment and Practicum
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### ❓ Question 14: [How do I know if a class I have previously taken can be transferred?]
**Answer:** You can submit an official transcript to the Office of the Registrar for review and courses that are accepted as transfer credit will appear on your unofficial transcript and Degee Works. You can also use the Course Equivalency Tool to search and determine if the course will transfer, click here.
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### ❓ Question 16: [What can I expect once I have been accepted?]
**Answer:** You will receive a letter on your Slate account as notification of being accepted/admitted. A follow-up email will be provided by an Administrative Specialist III to your A-State student email to those accepted/admitted and those on the waitlist. The email sent to your A-State student email has important information that will require your immediate attention to prepare to begin the AASN program. Details of your mandatory orientation is also provided in the information sent to your A-State student email.
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### ❓ Question 17: [What grade average must I maintain once accepted into the program?]
**Answer:** All courses (pre-requisites, general education, and nursing) must be completed with a letter grade of "C" or better.
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### ❓ Question 18: [Is financial aid/scholarships offered for this program?]
**Answer:** Any loan obtained for use at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro Campus may be used to pay for tuition, fees, and course materials for nursing courses, as they would be for any course on campus. All institutional scholarships are applicable to courses taken through the Jonesboro campus for the nursing program (even if the student sits on the West Memphis campus). There are several private scholarships for which students may apply as well. State and Federal grants may also be available to students pursuing an AASN degree. No financial aid is awarded by the program, but financial aid may be reached at https://www.astate.edu/admissions-and-aid/financial-aid-and-scholarships/index.html
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### ❓ Question 19: [If I have completed my prerequisites, what courses would be beneficial to take prior to application and admission?]
**Answer:** You will want to take all the general education courses required to earn your AASN degree, which are all courses not beginning with a "NURS" prefix on the degree plan. Additionally, students wanting to earn a BSN can contact the AASN advisor to ask about a double major in RN-BSN to take courses that will count toward a BSN.
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### ❓ Question 20: [Whom do I contact for help with my application?]
**Answer:** The person to contact for assistance with your application depends on if you plan to attend on-campus or online.
On-campus: Any student that will attend in person (on-campus) at the Jonesboro or West Memphis campus will contact Lisa Montgomery (limontgomery@astate.edu).
Online: Any student interested in the LPN-AASN Online option will contact Tammy Daffron (tdaffron@astate.edu).
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### ❓ Question 21: [I am an LPN and only need Health Assessment and Health Assessment Practicum to qualify for application to the program, whom do you contact for help registering for these classes?]
**Answer:** All LPNs will contact the AASN Advisor, Samanatha Dunavion, to register for classes. Ms. Dunavion will help you determine the best time for you to apply to the program option you want and request permission for you to register for the two classes (Health Assessment and Health Assessment Practicum). The AASN Program Chair controls admission to the courses, so permission is not provided unless requested by the AASN Advisor.
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### ❓ Question 22: [Is there an entrance exam or admission testing for the AASN program?]
**Answer:** Yes, all applicants for the AASN program are required to complete two entrance exam or admission tests. All applicants to the program (traditional non-licensed student/LPN/Paramedic) will complete a SPANS entrance exam and a Smarter Measures Assessment.
The SPANS entrance exam is scheduled and completed with SPIN Learning and there is a fee to take this exam. All fees and scheduling the exam are completed on the SPIN Learning website - look for SPANS Registration.
The Smarter Measures Assessment (no fee for this entrance exam) is completed by every applicant. Go to the Smarter Measures Assessment website and select "First Time User Login." Then you will enter the username and password below that applies to you:
- Traditional Student (on-campus students without a license or LPNs attending in person)
- Username: Traditional AASN Password: traditional
- Paramedic - AASN
- Username: Traditional AASN Password: traditional
- LPN-AASN Online (LPNs not attending online will use the Traditional Student information)
- Username: Online AASN Password: Online1
## Contact / Support
Questions
For program option location/campus and application-specific questions contact the following:
Affirmation
The School of Nursing affirms that all students enrolled in the AASN program must possess those intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the faculty for safe professional practice. The criteria are included in the Nursing Student Handbook and are attached to the application for admission.