• Employment of LPNs is expected to increase over the next several years.Scrub Nurse image by Mary Beth Granger from Fotolia.com
  
  Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are entry-level nurses who assist physicians and registered nurses (RNs) with basic patient care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects practical nursing employment opportunities to increase by 21 percent by 2018. LPN training programs are usually one to two years in length, culminating in a vocational certificate. Students in the Jonesboro, Arkansas area will find several schools offering LPN training, either in Jonesboro itself or within about an hour's drive.
  
  

Arkansas State University Newport: Technical Center Jonesboro

• This school is part of the vocational arm of Arkansas State University. Its Jonesboro location offers a technical certificate in practical nursing that can be completed in one year. The curriculum is a combination of classroom study and on-location clinical experience. Topics covered include pharmacology, nutrition, mental health, and nursing for specific applications (e.g., medical/surgical, geriatrics, children). Classes start twice a year, in the spring and fall semesters. Prerequisites for admission to the program include a high school diploma or GED, as well as minimum test scores on the COMPASS exam and the Nursing Entrance Exam (NET).
  
  Arkansas State University Newport: Technical Center Jonesboro
  
  5504 Krueger Drive
  
  Jonesboro, AR 72401
  
  870-932-2176
  
  asun.edu
  
  

Arkansas State University Newport: Technical Center Marked Tree

• Located about 40 minutes south of Jonesboro in Marked Tree, this location of ASUN's technical center offers a one-year practical nursing program starting only in the spring semester. This program is essentially the same curriculum and requirements as the program in Jonesboro, offering instruction in basic nursing principles, specific applications, and blending classroom with clinical instruction.
  
  Arkansas State University Newport: Technical Center Marked Tree
  
  33500 Highway 63 E
  
  Marked Tree, AR 72365
  
  870-358-2117
  
  asun.edu
  
  

Arkansas State University Newport

• Located about an hour southwest of Jonesboro in Newport, the ASUN practical nursing program is a bit more selective and intensive than the technical school programs in Jonesboro or Marked Tree. Prerequisite college courses include anatomy/physiology, introductory psychology, and college math and English. Admission is based on a cumulative point system, with points given for COMPASS and NET test scores, general education fulfillment and GPA, and previous medical certifications (e.g., nurse assistant, paramedic). Topics include nutrition, pharmacology, and applied nursing in a variety of situations. The program culminates in a certificate after one year. ASUN also offers an LPN to RN bridge program for those who wish to continue to an associate degree.
  
  Arkansas State University Newport
  
  7648 Victory Blvd.
  
  Newport, AR 72112
  
  870-512-7800
  
  asun.edu
  
  

Arkansas Northeastern College

• Located a little over an hour northeast of Jonesboro, this college in Blytheville offers a one-year LPN program combining classroom with clinical experience. Topics covered include nursing of mothers and infants, care of the mentally ill, body structure and function, and legal/ethical concepts. Admission criteria include high school diploma or GED, plus minimum COMPASS test scores. Contact the college directly for more specific entry requirements.
  
  Arkansas Northeastern College
  
  2501 South Division St.
  
  Blytheville, AR 72315
  
  870-762-1020
  
  anc.edu