Arkansas Health Care Association Launches Nursing School

(Arkansas Health Care Association)

The Arkansas Health Care Association (AHCA) on Wednesday announced the launch of a nursing school for association members with employees pursuing a practical nurse (LPN) license.

The program is set to begin this month in Little Rock, Rogers and Jonesboro with an inaugural class of 71 students. Before being admitted, students passed pre-requisite courses provided through Ozarka College, a community college in Melbourne.

Through the program, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) at AHCA member facilities can take courses to advance to roles as medication assistant-certified staffers (MA-Cs). Then, MA-Cs can apply to the AHCA School of Nursing to become an LPN.

The ACHA represents more than 90% of the licensed long-term care facilities in Arkansas. The organization provides training, education and assistance to care facilities, and it promotes high-quality care for patients and strict professional standards for staff.

“We are proud to lead the nation with this innovative initiative,” Rachel Bunch, president of the AHCA School of Nursing, said in a news release. “Our program creates a structured advancement path for members of the AHCA School of Nursing consortium, and will help fill the critical gap in LPN staffing within nursing facilities in Arkansas.”

AHCA said the program aims to address time constraints and financial hurdles that nursing staffers face when trying to advance their careers. The program offers flexible scheduling and affordable tuition subsidized through public and private funding.

The federal Health Resources and Services Administration projects that by 2037 there will only be enough LPNs across the U.S. to meet 64% of the need.

In Arkansas, a growing population of seniors underscores the need for long-term sustainability in nursing care. One study projects that Arkansans over age 60 will make up more than 26% of the population by 2030.

“Upskilling our existing workforce is one of the brightest pathways we can pave for Arkansas’ future,” Arkansas Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers said in the release. “Too often, dedicated employees are held back by financial barriers that make career advancement seem unattainable. This initiative breaks down those barriers and offers a ladder of opportunity.”