JBU, Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium sign agreement

Partnership facilitates seamless pathway in JBU’s online RN to BSN program

Representatives from John Brown University and Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium (ARNEC) signed a memorandum of understanding this week to increase opportunities for students to advance their careers without leaving their communities.

The partnership creates a seamless path for nursing students to earn an associate's degree from an institution within the ARNEC consortium and then complete their bachelor's degree at JBU, through JBU's online RN to BSN Program.

ARNEC's consortium includes Arkansas State University-Newport, Black River Technical College, Cossatot Community College, Ozarka College, South Arkansas Community College, University of Arkansas Hope/Texarkana, University of Arkansas Morrilton and University of Arkansas Rich Mountain. Through ARNEC, licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses in Arkansas can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree with the flexibility to work full time in their community.

"We believe that this partnership will encourage many students in the rural communities who want to achieve their academic goals in higher education to know that they can," Dr. Stacey Duke, JBU's dean of online undergraduate programs and strategic initiatives, said. "JBU looks forward to building on this agreement to meet the nationwide need for nurses throughout Arkansas."

JBU's RN to BSN program equips students for management roles in the nursing industry and for graduate studies to pursue additional training opportunities leading to independent practice roles such as nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.

Students who graduate with an ARNEC designated degree/program, complete ARNEC's designated program courses and holds a GPA of 2.0 or higher are eligible for admission at JBU under the terms of this agreement.

ARNEC offers an LPN/LVN-to-RN transition program. Graduates receive an Associates of Applied Sciences (AAS) in Nursing, which prepares them to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. ARNEC's program provides a high-quality, comprehensive, accessible, and affordable Registered Nursing program to students in rural Arkansas.

General News on 04/17/2019