Katherine Drewery, MSN/FNP, an instructor at the JRMC School of Nursing, demonstrates the SIM Man manikin to a newly recruited student.

But that’s a short-term forecast, says seasoned professionals. In the years to come, nursing should prove to be a stable career path, with great benefits and pay.

Because of their partnership with Arkansas State University, Mid-South Community College now offers an associate degree in applied science in nursing and bachelor’s degrees in nursing and radiologic technology.

Don Threm, the college’s publicity coordinator, says nursing is a big program. 

“Nurses are still in demand,” he says. 

And the labor department agrees. According to its website, health services and education are “projected to grow by 18.8 percent,” and add nearly 5.5 million jobs in the next five or so years.

But partnerships often go beyond the classroom. Arkansas State Hospital serves as a major rotation site for child/adolescent fellows from UAMS.

Carol Hampton, one of two nurse recruiters at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), says there’s a need for RNs with advanced degrees such as BSNs, MSNs and PhDs. Advanced degree nurses coordinate nursing programs and promote evidence-based practices. 

“We’re accepting applications and currently need RNs for programmatic positions,” Hampton says.

The White River Medical Center in Batesville is looking for registered nurses (RNs) but they’re also trying to “grow their own.” The hospital is offering its licensed practical nurses (LPNs) the chance to further their careers through scholarship programs and tuition reimbursement.

“We are very aware of the research and trends in healthcare that encourage education and professional development of nurses so hospitals can deliver optimal patient care. Research shows that facilities with a higher concentration of registered nurses on their clinical staff have better patient outcomes,” says WRMC chief nursing officer Dede Strecker, RN, MSN.

Teresa Phillips, nurse recruiter at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, says her hospital is hiring more RNs at this point than LPNs. 

“RNs are preferred in most departments because they have more education and are able to perform more bedside tasks,” she says.

For WRMC’s public relations coordinator Sheila Mace, filling positions is about more than just meeting a quota. 

“It’s about having the right employees in the right position, and that includes nurses,” she says. “In the long run, the employee is happier, which in turn lowers turnover and the costs associated with retraining. It also creates a more efficient staff and ultimately raises overall patient care. It’s a win all the way around,” she says.

Arkansas State University isn’t the only four-year institution that’s formed a partnership. For instance, the University of Central Arkansas is teaming up with Arkansas Tech University. These partnerships are allowing nurses from smaller communities to work toward a registered nurse degree without quitting their jobs or moving to a larger city.

Arkansas Tech University nursing department chair Dr. Rebecca Burris says given today’s growing and changing healthcare demands on professionals, she recommends “getting a bachelor degree if at all possible.”

Baptist Health Schools of Little Rock enrollment coordinator Melissa Jackson says they are seeing more out-of-state applicants, with the bulk of their students coming from central Arkansas and around the state.

“It says something about the quality of education in Little Rock,” she says. “They work hard to keep their standards high and offer programs that vary in length, including one-year certificates and two-year associate degrees. They also partner with several colleges and universities, such as Arkansas Tech, UCA, Harding, Henderson State, Pulaski Technical College and more.

The right stuff

It takes more than heart to be a nurse. A nurse must be smart as well as compassionate.

Renee Freeman, marketing coordinator at Conway Regional Medical Center in Conway (CRMC), says they have no problem keeping their hospital staffed. Conway Regional offers scholarships, tuition reimbursement, internships and part-time jobs to help nurses reach their education goals.

John Patton, CRMC spokesman, says education is popular at the Conway hospital. A recent survey showed that 64 of the hospital’s unlicensed personnel were currently working on a degree, with 60 LPNs working toward an RN degree.

For those who want a career in nursing, there are plenty of opportunities for students to find their calling in the nursing profession, says Arkansas State Hospital assistant administrator Becky Webber. There are lots of jobs outside the traditional hospital setting: nurses are needed in private practice, community clinics, assisted living, schools, psychiatric hospitals and more. For those who are interested in teaching at the college level, educators are needed as well.

The mental health field, says Webber, has its own unique challenges but is very rewarding work. 

Hard work pays off

It was not long ago that Chad Cornelius, director of nursing at Pinnacle Point Behavioral Care System, was a staff nurse working on the floor.

“I graduated nursing school in 2006, and immediately went to work here,” he says. 

Cornelius quickly rose through the ranks of the nursing staff. A few months after going to work for Pinnacle Point, he had the title of supervisor. Just one year later, he went to work as a field clinical assessor. In the summer of 2009, he was named director of nursing.

Working in the mental health field “takes a special person with patience, compassion, and love,” Cornelius says.

No matter what field you choose, opportunities are out there. Carol Hamption, nurse recruiter at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System in North Little Rock, says nurses are needed in a variety of fields, including women’s health, outpatient, clinics, infection-control, and informatics.

But many professionals believe nursing offers more than just a stable work environment and rewarding job opportunities.

Joyce Cloud, business development director at Pinnacle Point Behavorial Care System, says they not only promote from within, but offer nurses competitive benefits packages, performance-based bonuses and education support.

According to Dr. Sue McLarry, department chair and associate professor of nursing at ASU, the profession comes with a certain satisfaction that is exemplified in the traditional pinning ceremony.

“You have to be a graduate of a given school to wear its pin,” says McLarry. “Now that nurses rarely, if ever, wear caps, the pin has acquired the significance of the cap, really becoming the badge of being a trained and qualified nurse.” 

“Today, graduates have to pass licensing exams before they can practice, but the pinning ceremony at ASU signifies that they have acquired the knowledge and skills they need to practice,” McLarry says.  n