Advancing Professional Nursing in Arkansas Arkansas State Implementation Program Phase 2 Project Plans: Areas of Focus: To prepare and enable nurses to lead change to advance health, the project aims to engage, encourage, and empower nurses to lead change in redesigning health care. Specific goals are to 1) increase nurse participation in health care related boards and community organizations; 2) develop a Young Leaders program for BSN students; 3) develop an awards program recognizing exceptional nurse leaders under the age of 40 years; and 4) identify leadership development opportunities and develop strategies to encourage participation by Arkansas nurses. • Leadership • Education • Infrastructure Contact: Erin Fifer Project Director Arkansas Action Coalition shearonek@archildrens.org Debra Jeffs Project Co-Director Arkansas Children’s Hospital jeffsda@archildrens.org Sandie Lubin Project Co-Director University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences lubinsandraa@uams.edu In addition, the project will also increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. Specific goals are to 1) identify the current state of all nursing programs and requirements; 2) increase the accessibility of information regarding state nursing programs and financial opportunities to the general public; 3) improve awareness and knowledge regarding the IOM Future of Nursing report with intent of increasing nurses’ knowledge about the need for educational advancement; 4) promote BSN progression for LPNs and RNs with non-BSN degrees; and 5) promote the adaptation of seamless progression to BSN and higher degrees in current nursing programs with a plan to increase the diversity of graduates.