Arkansas Nursing Jobs and Salary Information
In the year 2005 the US bureau of labor statistics projected that over 3.1 million qualified nurse jobs will be available by 2014. This will lead to over 700,000 job opportunities for qualified nurses. Having attained a BSN or any other advanced degree means you have high chances of being employed in the state of Arkansas due to lack of enough qualified caregivers in the healthcare sector.
The vice president for the Northwest Health System, Mike Meeks, said that if other projections from the American Hospital Association are true then the country might end up with a shortfall of about 600,000 nurses by 2020. More opportunities are offered by hospitals in Arkansas to fill in vacancies by giving reasonable wages, flexible work schedule and others reimbursing tuition, all incentives to lure more people into this noble profession of caregivers and nurse assistants.
In the state of Arkansas nurses are not only allowed to work in hospitals but also in health companies which have proven to enjoy a very rapid growth. Compared to other areas across the state, rural areas in Arkansas are in dire need of Registered Nurses and Certified Nurse Assistants, which can only mean one thing to caregivers, a high payment rate in addition to such things as job satisfaction.
The inability of nursing schools in the State of Arkansas to accommodate the required number of students to meet the required number leads to an acute shortage of caregivers across the state. If you already have BSN with you and have interest in teaching, the University of Phoenix offers both master’s in Nursing Health Care and certificate in health care education.. With this kind of qualification you qualify to teach in any of the Nursing schools across the state.
Arkansas CNA Certification Requirements
As is with most other states, you will need to complete the minimum 75 hours of coursework and an additional 100 hours in practicals clinical rotation. The 100 hours allows you to work and interact with real patients, as you get to feel the pressure of working in a busy environment. Note that you will be working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or an LPN.
Once you complete the required number of hours, you can then challenge the state-approved examination. After meeting all requirements and passing the competency examination for CNAs, you will be conferred with the prestigious license to practice across Arkansas, a license which is renewable after every 2 years.