Laws & Rules

The Arkansas Nurse Practice Act is the most important piece of legislation related to nursing practice. The Arkansas Nurse Practice Act states in Subchapter 2, Section 17-87-203, Powers and duties, that “The Arkansas State Board of Nursing shall have the following powers and responsibilities:

1. (A)  Promulgate whatever regulations it deems necessary for the implementation of this chapter.
2. (B)  No regulation promulgated hereafter by the board shall be effective until reviewed by the Legislative Council and the House Interim Committees on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor and the Senate Interim Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor or appropriate subcommittees thereof of the Arkansas General Assembly.”

The regulation, when it becomes effective, is part of the ASBN Rules.  

To practice nursing in Arkansas, it is your responsibility to be informed on both the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act and ASBN Rules. The Arkansas Nurse Practice Act and ASBN Rules can be downloaded free of charge 

Nurse Practice Act

• Nurse Practice Act
• Subchapter 1 – General Provisions 
• Subchapter 2 – Arkansas State Board of Nursing
• Subchapter 3- Licensing
• Subchapter 4 – Educational Programs 
• Subchapter 5 – Nurse-Midwives
• Subchapter 6 – Nurse Licensure Compact
• Subchapter 7 – Medication Assistive Persons
• Subchapter 8 – Alternative to Discipline Act

Rules 

• Chapter 1 – General Provisions
• Chapter 2 – Licensure: RN, LPN, and LPTN
• Chapter 3 – Registered Nurse Practitioner (RNP)
• Chapter 4 – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
• Chapter 5 – Delegation
• Chapter 6 – Standards for Nursing Education Programs
• Chapter 7 – Rules of Procedure
• Chapter 8 – Medication Assistant – Certified
• Chapter 9 – Insulin and Glucagon Administration
• Chapter 10 – Alternative to Discipline
• Chapter 11 – Full Independent Practice Credentialing Committee

Position Statements

• Position Statements (full)
• 94-1 Role of the RN in the Management of Patients Receiving Moderate Sedation, Anesthetic Agents or Neuromuscular Blocking Agents For Therapeutic or Diagnostic Procedures
• 95-2 Transmission and Accept of Verbal Orders
• 97-1 Stapling and Suturing Superficial Wound Closure
• 97-2 Assistance Self Medication
• 98-1 Analgesia by Specialized Cath
• 98-2 Intrauterine Pressure Cath
• 98-6 Decision Making Model
• 99-1 Collagen Plug
• 00-2 Telenursing
• 03-1 School Nurse Guidelines in Patient Care Settings other than Schools
• 03-2 Assistive Personnel Applying  Measuring TB Skin Test
• 06-1 Pronouncement of Death
• 08-1 Expedited Partner Therapy
• 14-1 The Performance of Stapling Suturing or Application of Tissue Adhesive
• 18-1 APRN Scope of Practice Decision-Making Model
• 20-1 Nurse Driven Standing Orders
• 21-1 Practice of Aesthetics
• Teaching Content Related to IV Therapy Guidelines
• Delegation Model

Resources

• Criminal Background Checks
• LPN/RN Decision Making Model
• APRN Decision Making Model