Arkansas has one of the largest shortages in nurses in America. In almost every area of the state and in every specialty there are more jobs than there are workers to fill them. The Arkansas Board of Nursing has implemented many proposals and policies to help alleviate this shortage but there still remains a gap.
The Arkansas health care system on the whole is efficient and works well. However, due to the nursing shortage, over the past couple of years there has been a decline in the quality of the health care that can be provided. This has led to an increased demand in nurses.
Not only are nurse practitioners in high demand, but also educators and administrators who promote and educate nurses are in demand as well. The crux of the issue in Arkansas is that there are not enough nursing professors and teachers. For this reason, if you are planning on practicing in Arkansas it is recommended you do an online program: you will get a guaranteed quality education and you will be able to help alleviate the shortage.
The US Department of Health and Services has created a designation for areas with dire health care workers shortages. There areas are known as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). Arkansas comes under this area. To be under this area an area means that the federal government provides funding to help avert a health crisis in the area.
Consequently, the wages of nurses in HPSA like Arkansas are relatively much higher than in surrounding areas. If you are a nurse in Arkansas you can expect to be well paid, get some great experience, and you can also expect that you will be able to get many opportunities for advancement.
