The University of Arkansas -Fort Smith has announced the return of its nursing program at the Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing.
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing approved the two-year associate’s degree plan on May 16 following earlier approvals from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees.
The program offers an “affordable and accelerated” route for students aspiring to become registered nurses, UA Fort Smith said in a news release. The program is unique in its tailored curriculum developed in collaboration with health care providers and regional hospitals.
The university said tuition reimbursement programs from Mercy and Baptist hospitals, alongside extensive private scholarships through the UAFS Foundation, should allow nearly all students to enroll with no out-of-pocket tuition cost.
Clinical agencies in the state’s River Valley region currently need well over 200 nurses, according to the release.
“It’s the perfect time for the ADN program to return to UAFS,” Brooke Gray, program director, said in a statement. “COVID impacted every community and demonstrated the need for nurses at all levels, especially those bedside acute care professionals. This program breaks down potential barriers for students by allowing them to earn a degree in just two years and quickly enter the workforce.”
Sign up for Daily E-news
