There are several types of nurses and each of their roles is vital to the healthcare field. Three of the most common roles in nursing are certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs). Each of these jobs correspond with different levels of education, responsibility, and compensation. Regardless of the specific role, there are opportunities to work in the nursing field in the areas surrounding Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers, and all throughout the state of Arkansas.
Certified nursing assistant (CNA) programs
The CNA program takes from several weeks to a few months to complete, and includes courses in communication, medical terminology, physiology, gerontology, interpersonal skills, and many other subjects. CNAs provide essential care to patients, assisting them with everyday tasks such as eating and getting dressed, helping them with their mobility, and checking their vital signs. Nursing assistants provide support for the entire medical team. In the area around Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers, there are approximately 2,140 people working as CNAs, with average earnings between $18,810 and $24,190 per year.
LPN programs typically take from 12- to 18-months to complete, and prepare nurses to provide for basic patient care, take vital signs, monitor basic symptoms, administer medications and injections, perform CPR, and much more. LPNs work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, extended care facilities, and private homes. In the area around Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers, there are approximately 1,180 working LPNs, with average earnings between $35,180 and $44,760 per year.
Registered nurse (RN) programs
There are several types of RN programs to choose from. The most common types of programs are: diploma nursing programs, which take about three years to complete and were much more common in decades past; associate of applied science in nursing (AASN) programs, which typically take two years to complete; and bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs, which typically take four years to complete. In spite of these options, it is becoming increasingly important for RNs to earn bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degrees in order to remain competitive in the job market. In the area around Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers, there are approximately 2,770 working RNs, with average earnings between $45,980 and $65,850 per year.
Major employers in the Fayetteville / Springdale / Rogers area include the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, and Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers.
For the convenience of aspiring nurses, below is a comprehensive list of accredited nursing schools in the Fayetteville / Springdale / Rogers area of Arkansas.