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Sponsors pull practical-nursing core-curriculum bill after committee questions
Summary
House Bill 1566 would have directed nurse-education administrators to develop a 44-credit core curriculum for practical nursing programs and pilot it; the proposal prompted questions about statutory authority, timing and the State Board of Nursing's position and the sponsor withdrew the bill for amendment and further work.
Rep. Rick McClure presented House Bill 1566 to standardize a core curriculum for practical nursing (LPN/PN) programs across Arkansas. Nurse educators who helped draft the proposal told the committee that program lengths and clinical hours currently vary widely and that a common core could improve portability between programs.
Genevieve White and Cindy Smith, nurse-education administrators, said the proposal was based on a survey of Arkansas programs and review of other states (they cited Mississippi as a reference point). The draft recommended a 44-credit core designed to be modest enough not to financially overburden programs while improving transferability and creating stackable workforce credentials (CNA, medication assistant) for students who leave programs early.
Committee members raised concerns about the bill placing curriculum standards into statute rather than leaving curriculum and program approval with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Several members noted the board had not endorsed the bill; Representative Bentley urged collaboration with the board and recommended pulling the bill to work on it further. Representative McClure asked to pull the bill for review and possible amendment; the chair granted that request and the bill was not advanced in committee at this time.
Key open questions include the effect on program funding, whether the State Board of Nursing will adopt the core in rules, and whether the pilot approach described in the bill will be used before a statewide requirement is set.
