§ 17-87-201 - Creation -- Members.
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) Six (6) members shall be registered nurses whose highest level of educational preparation shall be as follows:
(A) Two (2) diploma-school graduates;
(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) of which shall have been in Arkansas.
(c) (1) One (1) member shall be a licensed advanced practice nurse.
(2) The licensed advanced practice 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 nurse;
(C) Be licensed in Arkansas as an advanced practice nurse;
(D) Have been actively engaged in nursing for at least three (3) years immediately preceding appointment, two (2) of which shall have been in Arkansas; and
(E) Have a certificate granting prescriptive authority.
(d) (1) Four (4) 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) of which shall have been in Arkansas.
(e) One (1) member shall be a lay person representing consumers of health care services.
(f) One (1) member of the board shall not be actively engaged in or retired from the profession of nursing, shall be sixty (60) years of age or older, and shall be the representative of the elderly. This member shall be appointed from the state at large, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall be a full voting member but shall not participate in the grading of examinations.
(g) The consumer representative and the representative of the elderly positions may not be filled by the same person.
(h) No member shall be appointed to more than two (2) consecutive terms.
(i) Board members may receive expense reimbursement and stipends in accordance with 25-16-901 et seq.
(j) The terms of all registered nurse members and advanced practice nurse members shall be four (4) years.