Ouachita Technical College

Nursing Programs Offered

LPN Program Details

The Practical Nursing (PN) program is designed to prepare students for employment in the health care field and for the national licensure exam for practical nurses. Students attend classes for three full semesters with the summer off. Class size is limited with 35-45 students accepted in the fall and spring semesters. All students accepted into the Practical Nursing Program will be required to have state and national criminal background checks and will pay all associated fees. Conviction of certain crimes may make the applicant ineligible to attend certain clinical sites. Random drug screening may be utilized at any time during the course of the program at the student’s expense. If any clinical site denies student access for any reason, the student will not be allowed to progress through the program. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) may refuse to issue or shall revoke the license of any person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty of or nolo contendere to any offense listed in 17-87-312 of the Act 1208 of 1999 (see ASBN website).

Students spend time in the classroom and in clinical experiences. Practical Nursing students are prepared for giving direct and primary nursing care under the immediate supervision of the clinical instructor, staff R.N., and/or physicians in the cooperating clinical facilities. Clinical labs are completed in nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Clinical practicum is planned to provide students with varied experiences; therefore, students may have a portion of their clinical experience at facilities in many surrounding areas.

Students who complete the program will be eligible to apply for the National Licensure Exam for Practical Nursing and should have acquired the skills and performance of nursing skills in the health field. Instruction consists of theory and supervised practice in areas required by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. A second criminal background check is required before students will be permitted to sit for the NCLEX exam. Arkansas State Board of Nursing may deny any student with convictions of certain crimes to sit for their NCLEX exam.
New students are admitted twice a year in January and August. 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. Applicants with special needs due to disability must make this fact known prior to admission, so that necessary accommodations may be made.