This bill mandates the adoption of a statewide core curriculum for practical nursing programs in Arkansas to enhance consistency in nursing education across the state. It introduces a new section, 6-61-144, which outlines the necessity for a standardized curriculum due to existing discrepancies in clinical hours, class hours, and credit hours among various institutions. The bill emphasizes that no correlation has been found between the length of practical nursing programs and the pass rates for licensing examinations. By implementing this core curriculum, the bill aims to improve practical nursing education through better assessment measures, collaboration among programs, and structured guidance for new directors and institutions.

The bill stipulates that by the 2029-2030 academic year, all practical nursing programs must adopt the core curriculum developed by the Nurse Administrators of Nursing Education Programs. This curriculum will consist of 44 credit hours and allow programs to customize the distribution of didactic, laboratory, and clinical hours. Additionally, it provides options for certified nurse aides and medication assistive persons to receive credit for prior learning. The bill also amends the qualifications for applicants seeking a practical nursing license, requiring completion of the prescribed curriculum while allowing the board to waive this requirement under certain conditions. A multi-phase adoption plan is included, starting with pilot programs in the 2025-2026 academic year to identify and address any implementation concerns.

Statutes affected:
HB 1566: 17-87-304(a)