ROGERS, Ark. — The Arkansas Health Care Association is celebrating a major milestone: the first-ever graduating class from its School of Nursing.
Twenty-one students in the Rogers cohort walked the stage Tuesday night, marking the completion of a program designed to address Arkansas’ growing nursing shortage while creating new opportunities for workers already in the field.
The program is unique and described as the only one of its kind in the country. It allows certified nursing assistants working in long-term care facilities to continue their jobs while completing a 10-month program to become licensed practical nurses or LPNs at no cost. They have to be nominated for the program…