Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 17 - PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESSES (§§ 17-1-101 — 17-107-311) › Subtitle 3 - MEDICAL PROFESSIONS (§§ 17-80-101 — 17-107-311) › Chapter 87 - NURSES (§§ 17-87-101 — 17-87-808) › Subchapter 2 - ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF NURSING (§§ 17-87-201 — 17-87-209) › Section 17-87-201 - Creation - Members

(a)
There is created the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, to be composed of thirteen (13) members to be appointed by the Governor for terms of four (4) years, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
(b)
(1)
Five (5) members shall be registered nurses whose highest level of educational preparation shall be as follows:
(A)
One (1) nursing diploma graduate;
(B)
Two (2) associate degree graduates; and
(C)
Two (2) baccalaureate degree or postbaccalaureate degree graduates.
(2)
Each registered nurse member of the board shall have the following qualifications:
(A)
Be an Arkansas resident;
(B)
Have at least five (5) years of successful experience as a registered nurse in nursing practice, administration, or teaching;
(C)
Be licensed in Arkansas as a registered nurse; and
(D)
Have been employed as a registered nurse for at least three (3) years immediately preceding appointment, two (2) years of which shall have been in Arkansas.
(c)
(1)
Two (2) members shall be licensed advanced practice registered nurses.
(2)
Each licensed advanced practice registered nurse board member shall have the following qualifications:
(A)
Be an Arkansas resident;
(B)
Have at least five (5) years of experience as an advanced practice registered nurse;
(C)
Be licensed in Arkansas as an advanced practice registered nurse; and
(D)
Have been actively engaged in nursing for at least three (3) years immediately preceding appointment, two (2) years of which shall have been in Arkansas.
(3)
One (1) member who is an advance practice registered nurse shall hold a certificate granting prescriptive authority.
(d)
(1)
Three (3) members shall be licensed practical nurses or licensed psychiatric technician nurses.
(2)
Each licensed practical nurse board member or licensed psychiatric technician nurse board member shall have the following qualifications:
(A)
Be an Arkansas resident;
(B)
Have at least five (5) years of successful experience as a practical nurse or psychiatric technician nurse or as a teacher in an educational program to prepare practitioners of nursing;
(C)
Be licensed in Arkansas as a licensed practical nurse or licensed psychiatric technician nurse; and
(D)
Have been employed as a licensed practical nurse or as a licensed psychiatric technician nurse for at least three (3) years immediately preceding appointment, two (2) years of which shall have been in Arkansas.
(e)
One (1) member shall be an at-large licensed registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
(f)
At least one (1) member who is a licensed registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse also shall be a nursing program educator.
(g)
One (1) member shall be a lay person representing consumers of healthcare services.
(h)
(1)
One (1) member shall be sixty (60) years of age or older and shall be the representative of the elderly.
(2)
This member shall be appointed from the state at large, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall be a full voting member.
(i)
The consumer representative and the representative of the elderly positions may not be filled by the same person.
(j)
A member shall not be appointed to more than two (2) consecutive terms.
(k)
Board members may receive expense reimbursement and stipends in accordance with §
25-16-901
et seq.
(l)
The terms of all registered nurse members and advanced practice registered nurse members shall be four (4) years.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 997,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 604,§ 8, eff. 8/16/2013.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 604,§ 7, eff. 8/16/2013.
Acts 1971, No. 432, §§ 3, 4; 1977, No. 113, §§ 1-3; 1979, No. 404, §§ 2, 3; 1981, No. 717, § 2; 1983, No. 131, §§ 1-3, 5; 1983, No. 135, §§ 1-3, 5; 1985, No. 189, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 6-617 -- 6-619, 6-623 -- 6-626, 72-747, 72-748; Acts 1995, No. 409, § 5; 1997, No. 250, § 159; 1999, No. 941, § 1; 2001, No. 149, §§ 1, 2; 2007, No. 205, § 1.