Overview
Home of the nation’s only active diamond mine, Arkansas was acquired by the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The state is largely rural with its largest city, Little Rock, having a population of just under 200,000. The nursing shortage is acute in Arkansas because the state’s nursing schools aren’t graduating enough nurses to keep up with the loss of RNs.
Nursing Education in Arkansas
The state offers abundant opportunities for prospective nursing students. Major universities as well as many community and technical colleges offer programs for RNs as well as LPNs and LVNs. Nurses in rural areas of Arkansas can get help pursuing their RN degree through the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium. Many organizations and educational institutions offer scholarships for Arkansas nursing students..
Outlook for Nursing in Arkansas
Unlike many urban areas, Arkansas has many opportunities for RNs. Hospitals are unable to fill openings left by retiring nurses. At $30.11, the mean hourly wage is squarely in the 50th percentile, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010 edition.
Some of the top employers of Registered Nurses in Arkansas include Baptist Health Medical Center - Little Rock, Saint Vincent Infirmary Medical Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Medical Center, White County Medical Center North, and Northwest Medical Center - Springdale.
Nursing Degree Programs in Arkansas
Transition programs for nurses:
Graduate programs for nurses:
- All Masters in Nursing Programs in AR
- All DNP and PhD in Nursing Programs in AR
- All Nurse Practitioner Programs in AR
Entry level nursing programs:
