Laryssa McKinney Blunt has a passion for speaking, encouraging, and motivating in whatever environment she resides. A lifelong resident of Hot Springs, AR, Laryssa was educated in the Hot Springs School District. GO TROY!!! She received her Licensed Practical Nursing Certification (LPN) from Quapaw Technical Institute in 1998, her Associate of Science Degree – Registered Nursing from National Park Community College in 2007, her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) from Arkansas Tech University in 2013, and her Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) – Family Nurse Practitioner from Arkansas State University in 2018. Laryssa’s 30 years of nursing experience has afforded her various employment opportunities; including vocational health sciences instructor, family practice nursing, intensive care nursing, mental health nursing, maternal child nursing, and community health nursing. Laryssa is the first black nurse practitioner from Hot Springs to practice in Hot Springs. She is currently employed as an acute care nurse practitioner for CHI St. Vincent’s Convenient Care Clinic.
Understanding the power of paying it forward, Laryssa is the founder and co-supporter of the annual Blunt-Welch Scholarship awarded annually to a National Park College LPN to RN student. Laryssa has contributed to and presented this scholarship since 2008.
April 2021 Laryssa was accepted into the Hot Springs Area Alumnae Chapter - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc which allows her to continue to serve her community in the areas of sisterhood, service, scholarship, and social action.
Laryssa attends Union Missionary Baptist Church in Hot Springs where she serves as church hostess, chairperson of the UMBC Body & Soul Health Ministry, Women’s Ministry member, and Assistant Sunday School Teacher. Laryssa has been married to her husband Dane for 20 years, and they have two daughters: Alyson (Hot Springs) and Dana (Lewisville, TX). Her 2 daughters have afforded her the pleasure of 5 beautiful grandchildren.
Laryssa’s favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
