Kansas RN to BSN Bridge Programs
According to the Kansas State Board of Nursing’s 2012 annual report 856 Kansas RNs graduated with their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degrees in 2012. The current landscape in the state reflects the ever increasing drive to increase the educational level of nurses within the state.
If you are ready to join the growing number of Registered Nurses who want to expand both education and career opportunities, BestNursingDegree.com can help. We have compiled a listing of all the available nursing programs in Kansas that offer an RN to BSN route, including those that offer online and distance education options. You can find these schools, which many working nurses prefer, in our featured box below.
Curriculum of RN to BSN Programs
Application to most RN to BSN programs in Kansas requires an RN license, an official transcript from your Associate’s or diploma program and completion of the prerequisite courses. Common prerequisites include Statistics, English Composition, and Public Speaking.
There are campus based programs, as well as online RN to BSN programs in Kansas, giving you several options for enrollment. Online nursing programs in Kansas usually offer a good deal of flexibility, with class work available 24 hours a day according to your own schedule. Both options are usually available as a part-time or full-time study plan, according to your needs. Some programs offer up to 25 hours credit for prior coursework completed, facilitating the ease with which a Bachelor’s of Science can be completed.
Clinical requirements are often required, and usually focus on community health and population based nursing. By earning your Baccalaureate degree, you will be preparing yourself for an expanded role within broad practice settings, which is reflected in the clinical design of RN to BSN programs in Kansas.
The typical courses required to complete an RN-BSN program include:
- Dimensions of Professional Nursing
- Using Technology to Enhance Client Safety
- Nursing Practice within the Healthcare Organization
- Pathophysiology
- Health Assessment
- Applied Pharmacology
- Nursing Leadership
- Nursing Research and Evidenced–Based Practice S
- Current Issues in Healthcare Organization
- Public Health and Community Nursing
- Senior Project or Capstone Course
Careers for RN to BSN Graduates in Kansas
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reports that the supply of nurses could fall 36 percent below requirements by 2020. This is a great time for you to enroll in an RN-BSN program, as many nurses are reaching retirement age, deepening the nursing shortage even more. As more nursing jobs become available, it is likely that as a Bachelor’s prepared nurse, you may be able to take advantage of administrative, management and other leadership positions in many healthcare settings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics for Kansas reports a mean average annual salary for RNs of $56,410 as of May 2013.
After completing one of the RN to BSN nursing programs in Kansas, you should be prepared to work in various roles including management, utilization review, staff education and specialized units such as wound care, infusion and home health.
The available settings and practice locations where you can be employed often expand as a result of earning your Bachelor’s in Nursing degree. Case management positions in home healthcare are quite often available, and this includes the Visiting Nurses Association. Management positions are also available in nursing homes, Hospice, public health, physician’s offices and as occupational health nurses in industry. The Kansas State Board of Nursing also employs registered nurses as senior investigators in simulation training, which is a growing trend in healthcare education. Most of these positions require a BSN degree, as there is a greater degree of independent thinking and decision making in most of these roles.
If you are a Registered Nurse who wants to advance, then this may be an excellent time to enroll in a Kansas RN-BSN program. Please request information from our list of schools, so you can learn about all of the programs available, including online RN to BSN programs in Kansas. The more information you have the better able you are to make a well-informed decision about how to proceed with your education and your career.
BSN Schools to Consider in Kansas
- Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg): The program can be completed in one year of full-time study, although many nurses select the part-time option. Hybrid courses are offered with online and campus study available. A nurse may also elect to attend all classes on campus. The client/family theory and practicum capstone course meets one evening per week on campus.
- Fort Hays State University (Hays): This online program allows students to choose one of three start dates per year and to progress at their own rate. Distance learning includes electronic discussion boards, e-mails, and phone calls. Course offerings include healthcare ethics, healthcare legal aspects, and population-focused care. The program is open to RN students from any state.
- Southwestern College (Wichita): This largely online program also requires individualized practicum projects for community health, culturally competent nursing care, and nursing management. Students may progress at their own speed. An objective of this CCNE accredited program is to educate nurses capable of leadership in an ever-changing healthcare system.
