The birthplace of American figureheads such as Johnny Cash and General Douglas Macarthur and full of natural recreational spots such as the Ouchita Mountains, the Ozark, and the Mississippi River, Arkansas has much to be proud of. If you live in this former frontier state and have been seeking information on the profession of a Licensed Practical Nurse, you may find this page helpful. Information on being an LPN in Arkansas and LPN licensing in Arkansas is provided in four sections. The first section discusses what LPN schools might be look, while the next section covers some typical things than an LPN may do, and the third section goes into LPN licensing information for Arkansas. Finally, section and the end of this page lists some schools in Arkansas where you might be able to find Practical Nursing programs.

LPN Courses in Arkansas: Basic Info

To become an LPN, students usually need to take part in an LPN program that has the following elements: classes, labs, and also clinicals. Classes may be both general education, such as psychology and English, and nursing classes. The nursing courses may cover a variety of medical topics. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in labs, which allow them to perform practical skills under the watchful eye of a teacher. They can then take these practical skills to their clinicals, which may happen near the end of a person’s schooling. Clinicals allow LPN students to gain real-world experience working with patients in a medical setting. Clinicals typically (when available) give a student the chance to have some initial responsibility and then as the students gain more knowledge and skills through the LPN schooling program, they get to have more responsibility with the patients.

Typical Job Functions of LPNs in Arkansas

Many job duties make up the LPN profession. LPNs may assist in a variety of tasks such as wound care, helping patients with daily living skills, and other various responsibilities. Patient status monitoring can include duties such as hearing a patient’s concerns and relaying this information  to other medical staff which may include doctors, as well as taking and recording different medical measurements (height, weight, etc.). Some duties may require a person to be specially educated, such as working with IVs, assisting with dialysis, and working with catheters. LPNs may perform many other miscellaneous tasks, as well, such as billing insurance, completing other paperwork, administering medication, bottle-feeding infants, lifting and moving patients, and even supervising aides and assistants. Many different medical settings are employers of LPNs, such as nursing homes, hospitals, children’s homes, medical clinics, and doctor’s offices. LPN job duties tend to vary according to location.

Information on LPN Licensing in Arkansas

LPNs working in Arkansas must be licensed by the Arkansas Board of Nursing or, since Arkansas is a Nursing Licensure Compact State, by the state in which the LPN resides. Some information follows on the licensing process by the ASBN; however, since laws often change, the most accurate and comprehensive information can be found on the ASBN’s website.

First, applicants must either graduate from a state-approved LPN program, complete a portion of an RN program according to specified criteria, or have graduated from an RN program but failed the NCLEX-RN. Applicants must also complete an online application, pay appropriate fees, and have fingerprints done for a criminal background check. A verification of graduation from the LPN schooling program and an official transcript needs to be mailed to the ASBN. Finally, an exam (the NCLEX-PN) must be taken and passed. If the applicant wants a temporary permit that allows him or her to practice as a graduate nurse for 90 days or until exam results are received, an extra fee must be submitted.

The NCLEX is the standard exam that LPNs across the country must take. Six hours are allowed to complete this computerized exam, and students must reach a preset standard in their answers in order to pass. There is no minimum percent of correct answers, nor are students graded against one another. The computer determines which questions and the order of questions to give to each examinee according to the examinee’s previous response to a question; thus, the exam is highly personalized, and the length can vary between less than 100 and more than 200 questions.

Again, for information regarding fees and for more information, visit the Arkansas State Nursing Board’s website.

Arkansas: Colleges That Might Offer Practical Nurse Schooling

Arkansas Northeastern College
1032 West Kings Highway, Paragould, AR 72450
(870) 239-3200

Arkansas State University
2105 Aggie Rd, Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 972-2100

Black River Technical College
1410 Arkansas 304, Pocahontas, AR 72455
(870) 248-4000

Cossatot Community College
183 College Dr, De Queen, AR 71832
(870) 584-4471

National Park Community College
101 College Dr, Hot Springs, AR 71913
(501) 760-4222

Northwest Arkansas Community College
One College Drive, Bentonville, AR 72712
(479) 636-9222

Ozark College
1 Industrial Pl, Point Lookout, MO 65726
(417) 334-6411

Phillips County Community College
1000 Campus Rd, Helena, AR 72342
(870) 338-6474

Pulaski Technical College
3000 W Scenic Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72118
(501) 812-2200

South Arkansas Community College
300 SW Ave, El Dorado, AR 71730
(870) 862-8131

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 686-7000

University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
2005 White Dr, Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 612-2000

University of Arkansas Community College at Hope
2500 S Main St, Hope, AR 71801
(870) 777-5722

University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
1537 University Blvd, Morrilton, AR 72110
(501) 977-2053

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