UAMS College of Nursing Offers Preparatory Course for Prospective Students
| Eleven years after undergoing a life-changing procedure to treat a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, Thomasine Williams hopes to walk the halls of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as a student instead of a patient.
“The goal of my life has always been nursing,” she said.
Williams was among 10 prospective students who recently took the next step in their academic journeys by participating in Nursing Bound, a new preparatory course offered by the UAMS College of Nursing. The two-day program provided a firsthand look at life in nursing school as well as tips to help them succeed during the examination and admissions processes.
Many of the lessons focused on improving their scores in the Assessment Technologies Institute Test of Essential Academic Skills, a standardized exam that serves as an important component in the college’s admissions. Faculty members from the College of Nursing covered subjects such as mathematics, physical sciences, reading comprehension and writing, and they asked practice questions to help the students apply what they learned.
The program also offered opportunities for attendees to learn about how UAMS prepares students for their nursing careers. During a visit to the College of Nursing’s Innovative Practice and Simulation Center, participants used manikins to practice blood-drawing techniques and conversed with faculty members about the college’s simulation and clinical training.
Students from the UAMS College of Nursing shared their experiences and offered tips for success in studying, time management and balancing academic and personal lives.
Another segment featured a panel of nursing students who shared their experiences and offered strategies for success in studying, time management and balancing academic and personal lives. Jasmine Johnson, a student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, told the attendees that nursing school is far more rigorous than their undergraduate experience. However, she noted that they don’t have to face this challenge on their own, as the staff and faculty are always there to provide support.
“Not once have I talked to someone in this program and felt like they weren’t willing to help me when I needed it,” she said.
Ava Coleman, assistant director of student enrollment in the College of Nursing, encouraged the prospective students to approach their nursing education with the same focus and commitment as they would for a full-time job.
“If you’re dedicated to nursing and you know that this is what you want in life, then you can succeed in this program,” she said.
Williams said her commitment never wavered, even as her treatment put her career plans on hold. She said she has seen significant improvement since the 2014 surgery, which involved the implantation of electrodes to treat her OCD using deep brain stimulation.
The past 11 years have comprised a series of “tiny, tiny steps,” she said, which included earning an Associate of Science in Health Sciences degree from Arkansas State University-Beebe in 2024. Now, she is planning to apply to the UAMS College of Nursing for the 2026-27 school year to pursue a career in geriatric nursing.
“We all have a purpose in this life,” she said. “When you know it and you feel it’s within you, then you can’t give up.”
Williams said the UAMS College of Nursing is the only program that she has considered, citing the support and warmth of the college’s faculty.
In addition to the Nursing Bound program, the College of Nursing also held an informational session for high school students. Coleman said the two-hour event provided an introductory look at the college’s BSN programs and admissions requirements, which will help the teens make informed decisions when they enroll in undergraduate courses.
Coleman noted that the college recently updated its BSN program prerequisites, increasing the number of elective hours and offering undergraduate students more flexibility in tailoring their preparatory courseload. The college has removed statistics and nutrition from its list of required courses, though it still recommends that students take them as electives, Coleman said.
More details about the new prerequisite guidelines can be found here.