Nursing Schools Offer Chance for Students to Get Head Start

Photo above: Nursing students Sarah Mayo and Nelson Omolo at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway (Photo courtesy of UCA)

For decades, the path to becoming a nurse in Arkansas has followed a familiar route: graduate high school, complete prerequisite coursework, apply to a competitive nursing program and spend years working toward licensure. While the traditional model has produced generations of skilled professionals, it can be time-consuming, costly and difficult to navigate, especially for students who discover their interest in healthcare later or lack early guidance.

Colleges and universities across Arkansas now offer an alternative where students can begin their studies before receiving a high school diploma. High school feeder programs are emerging as an alternative pathway in nursing, giving students a head start through dual-credit classes, hands-on training, and direct connections to local colleges and healthcare employers.

Instead of waiting until after graduation to begin, students can move more seamlessly from high school into nursing programs, saving time, lowering costs and enabling them to enter the workforce sooner.

University of Central Arkansas

Since 1967, the University of Central Arkansas in Conway has educated thousands of nurses who work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Through UCA’s traditional pathway, students typically complete 60 credit hours of prerequisite courses during their freshman and sophomore years before applying to the university’s prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Over the past decade, the university has created several dual-enrollment or concurrent credit opportunities through which students can earn credit for courses taken at UCA and transfer them to other institutions. In the realm of nursing, that means students can not only complete their prerequisites but also fast-track their degrees.

Courses such as general psychology, history and composition, often offered through partnerships between high schools and universities such as UCA, allow students to get a head start. In some cases, students arrive on campus at nearly junior standing, accelerating their timeline into the nursing program. That acceleration comes with a caveat, however — readiness.

Susan Gatto, professor and director of the UCA School of Nursing, said the emerging pathway has encouraged many UCA students to apply earlier to the nursing program and has also instilled a level of responsibility needed throughout the nursing career.

“A lot of education is socializing them into the role besides teaching them how to be a nurse,” Gatto said. “We have students who are coming in with almost an associate degree because they can take so many concurrent credits. They haven’t really had a lot of college. They haven’t had a lot of what the kids call ‘adulting.’ When they come into the more demanding or traditionally professional degrees, it makes it difficult because it’s the first time they’ve been away from home, a lot of them.”

Although Gatto said the degree and the field itself require much attention, focus and maturity, the students she has taught have shown dedication and perseverance. The fast-track option has also offered them a unique look into what their future will look like.

“It affords those students the exploration component of nursing,” Gatto said. “It gives them the opportunity to think, ‘Am I cut out for this?’ It’s not just so much that you memorize. You have to apply. Students have to understand how disease processes affect the body and how the body affects disease processes.

“When you get into the nursing classes, you’re being asked to take care of patients, plan their care, evaluate them, and anticipate complications and contraindications of medication. It’s an applied science, and they have to apply their knowledge.”

After students are enrolled in the nursing program at UCA, Gatto said they receive a comprehensive skill set that prepares them for their postgraduate placements and the National Council Licensure Examination.

“We go into the hospital,” Gatto said. “We go into clinics. We go into home health settings and hospice. Wherever there are patients or people, that’s where we are. Nursing is difficult because we require that they take classes, simulation, laboratory and clinical experiences where they’re actually taking care of patients in real settings.”

Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University in Jonesboro is pursuing a similar path to UCA. The university has created several partnerships with local school districts to offer concurrent enrollment to high school students.

Dual credit and concurrent enrollment courses allow students to begin completing prerequisite coursework required for admission into the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.

Through the concurrent credit program, ASU students can engage with nursing-focused coursework and career exploration before receiving a high school diploma.

“They can begin taking prerequisite courses; however, they can’t take designated nursing courses until they are formally admitted to a program,” said Kathryn Flannigan, director of the ASU School of Nursing. “Working as a certified nurse assistant or patient care technician can help with career exploration. At A-State, all incoming freshmen take a First Year Experience Making Connections course, which also assists with career exploration.”

Arkansas State exposes its students to clinical exposure, simulation labs and hands-on learning opportunities early in their academic journey. As well as in-class exposure, students are provided with peer tutors during their first semester.

“Simulation labs and hands-on learning begin in the first semester of the program,” Flannigan said. “Prospective students may participate in camps or events prior to enrollment at A-State, allowing them to interact and learn more about the health professions.

“Students have the opportunity to interact with peer tutors during their first semester. Peer tutors are students who are within two semesters of graduation and assist with skills in the lab setting to provide support and guidance. There is also the opportunity for students to engage with student tutors hired by A-State for general education courses, as well as nursing courses.”

Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus

At Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus, students are preparing for the medical field in myriad ways. They are offered not only concurrent credit courses but can also be certified through a variety of two-year programs before applying to nursing schools.

Tina Smith, vice chancellor of academic affairs, said the partnerships between local schools and districts have bolstered their classes and courses. Across the Ozark campus and affiliate centers, ATU-Ozark currently educates more than 75 high school students pursuing health science-related degrees.

“We currently have seniors who earned their [Certified Nursing Assistant] as juniors and are already working in the field while finishing high school,” Smith said. “Students gain real-life skills like communication, responsibility and professionalism, which translates to any career field. We have the opportunity for high school students to earn their CNA certification, along with courses like medical terminology and human anatomical structures. These programs open doors and help students decide early if healthcare is the right path for them.”

Smith said many CNA students are still finishing out their high school studies. By being enrolled in the course, they receive the opportunity to not only apply for nursing school sooner but also become a higher priority pick in the nursing school admissions process.

“From the college perspective, this creates a strong student pipeline,” Smith said. “It’s a competitive program, so this gives students a fair advantage for the work they’ve already done.”

While in high school, students can apply to these programs at no cost, not only cutting financial stress out of the equation but also allowing students to fast-track a degree into a profession with high demands.

“Healthcare employers are actively looking for qualified workers,” said Bill Mizaur, director of the Arkansas Tech Career Center. “The demand is there, and it isn’t going away. It benefits not just students and colleges but also the healthcare industry by creating a younger, qualified workforce.”

The CNA and practical nursing pathways are among the most popular, he added.

“It allows them to work, gain experience and build a foundation before entering college,” Mizaur said. “We have high school seniors who completed their prerequisites, took the [Test of Essential Academic Skills] exam and were accepted into the practical nursing program before even graduating high school.”

Jefferson Regional School of Nursing

Students at Jefferson Regional School of Nursing in Pine Bluff are prepared for the nursing field through a 17-month pathway designed for those seeking an accelerated timeline. Every student enters as a transfer, having completed prerequisite coursework elsewhere, but once they arrive, the focus shifts quickly from theory to hands-on practice.

That structure is especially appealing to a growing group of students entering the program directly out of high school. With access to concurrent college credit, many graduates can meet prerequisites early and begin nursing training within months of graduating from high school.

“They come in and really just learn our way,” said Michelle Newton, the school’s director. “We seem to have really good success with students coming directly from high school.”

Still, Jefferson Regional’s student population is far from traditional. Classrooms include recent high school graduates alongside working adults, parents and even students with prior bachelor’s degrees in unrelated fields. Ages can range from 17 to 50, Newton said.

The program’s first semester, known as Foundations, plays a critical role in that transition. Over 16 weeks, students are immersed in the basics of nursing through a blend of lectures, simulation labs and clinical experiences. They learn essential skills, from patient communication to wound care and mobility assistance, while also gaining confidence in a healthcare setting during their early exposure to the field.

“Some of our students have never even been around a sick patient,” Newton said. “They’re learning how to introduce themselves, how to communicate — those foundational skills that really matter.”

Support does not stop in the classroom. Jefferson Regional emphasizes consistent, individualized guidance through biweekly faculty advice. These check-ins allow instructors to monitor progress, provide feedback and intervene if students begin to struggle. Instead of waiting for midterms, faculty work proactively to keep students on track.

“[Students] tell us the individualized attention here is what helped them succeed,” Newton said. “Our culture and environment are structured for student learning.”

The program also maintains a strong connection to the local healthcare system. After completing foundational training, many students begin working as patient care technicians, gaining real-world experience while continuing their studies. Some are already employed in healthcare roles when they enroll, taking advantage of tuition support and flexible work opportunities.

Baptist Health College Little Rock

The nursing pathways at Baptist Health College Little Rock are designed to meet students at different stages of their education and career goals, offering both entry-level and advanced options within the profession.

The practical nursing program is a prelicensure pathway that prepares graduates to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses and become licensed practical nurses through the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. LPNs often begin working in long-term care, acute care, clinics and other patient care environments. For many, it serves as a first step into the nursing profession, some choosing to continue their education later to become registered nurses.

In contrast, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a postlicensure pathway designed for already-licensed RNs who want to expand their credentials and strengthen skills in leadership, management and quality improvement.

For high school students considering the PN route, educators emphasize commitment and perseverance as essential. While the program offers a faster entry into the workforce and the opportunity to earn competitive wages early in a nursing career, students must be prepared to balance academic demands with personal responsibilities and extracurricular activities.

Programs such as those offered through Baptist Health play a broader role in addressing workforce needs across Arkansas. Early exposure to nursing in high school helps build awareness of healthcare careers and creates structured pathways into the field. One example of early exposure is Baptist Health’s summer internship program, offered in partnership with the Metropolitan Career-Technical Center in Little Rock.

The paid internship provides hands-on experience in a healthcare setting while reinforcing skills learned in the classroom. Participants who successfully complete the program may be selected for entry into the PN program. The internship is designed as a structured, supportive bridge into healthcare, helping students stay engaged in their career pathway while avoiding the need for supplemental summer employment.