Kansas Master of Science in Nursing Programs
The transformation of healthcare is creating many new positions for nurses with graduate degrees in the state of Kansas. There is a shortage of nurses in 25 percent of Kansas’ counties, and the state has taken steps to attract students to this field. There are scholarships available for Kansas residents, and some universities are offering scholarships for nurses that desire to become nursing educators due to their shortage.
In 2006 the Kansas Legislature invested $3.4 million in grant funds to be dispersed over a ten year period to address the nursing shortage by increasing nursing scholarships, increase nursing faculty salaries and supplies and to upgrade nursing facilities and equipment.
Scholarships were awarded at the following universities:
- Fort Hays State University
- Pittsburgh Stat University
- University of Kansas Medical Center
- Wichita State University
- Washburn University
The scholarships are not all based on financial need as some are based on academic performance or an individual’s community activities or service. To learn more about your options for earning your MSN, KS nursing schools are listed below. Choose those that offer the Master’s in Nursing programs you are looking for and request more information today.
Demand for primary healthcare services is strong in Kansas, and is expected to grow as the state’s population ages. Nurse educators and nurse practitioners are in particularly high demand, as the state struggles to graduate more highly trained nurses that can provide primary care services to the populace.
Master’s Nursing Programs in Kansas
Kansas has several accredited universities offering Master’s in Nursing degrees. As an example, the Fort Pace State University is accredited by the Committee on Collegiate Nursing Education, and offers programs in Nursing Administration, Nursing Education and a Family Nurse Practitioner program. It takes, on average, 34 credit hours to complete a Master’s of Science in nursing degree such as those listed above.
The admissions requirements for the graduate program at this University are similar to those at other graduate nursing schools in Kansas, and include:
- Official transcripts of all college credits previously earned
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 from a baccalaureate nursing program
- A current RN license is necessary and FNP students must have a Kansas RN license to practice nursing in Kansas
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with a minimum score of 376 or the GRE with minimum scores of Verbal Reasoning of 140, Quantitative Reasoning of 140 and Analytical Writing of 4.0
- Two recommendations from employers, former teachers or colleagues
- Printed statement about your professional and personal goals on the form included in the online admission packet
- Completion of an undergraduate course in Health Assessment, Pathophysiology and Statistics with a GPA of 3.0
- Demonstration of an aptitude and attitude for advanced professional nursing studies
- An additional requirement for the Family Nurse Practitioner track is one full year of clinical experience as a registered nurse
The University of Kansas Medical Center also offers MSN programs for the Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Informatics, Nurse Anesthetist, Public Health Nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist. Wichita State University has programs for MSN degrees for Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Nurse Midwives. In addition, they offer a dual MSN/MBA program.
The MSN Core Courses in any Master’s program are very similar, and may include:
- Statistics for Health Professionals
- Developing Nursing Theories
- Foundations for Advance Nursing
- Primary Health Promotion
- Healthcare Policy/Politics/Organization/Cost
- Holistic Perspective and Health Potential
- Advanced Research
The core contract courses for the three programs differ from this point forward.
The Nursing Administration Program track includes courses such as:
- Administrative management and health organizations
- Nursing administration in complex organizations
- Experience working with expert nurse administrators
The Nursing Education track has a curriculum that includes planning and evaluation, strategies of teaching nursing, and it includes working with expert teachers in various nursing schools in Kansas.
The Family Nurse Practitioner program has advanced didactic and practicum courses with a focus on acute and chronic health problems, drug therapy, family functioning, women’s and child’s health and the problems experienced by the aging population. Students attend campus one day per week, but the program includes 750 clinical hours of preceptorship experience.
Several universities offer online programs where you complete the curriculum online and the clinical requirements in a facility near your home guided by a qualified preceptor. For instance, the University of Saint Mary offers a Nurse Administrator and a Nurse Educator degree.
Kansas MSN Scholarships and Financial Aid
Once you have graduated from one of these Master’s in Nursing programs in KS, you will be eligible to take the credential examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kansas nurse practitioner salaries average $87,560 annually and nurse anesthetists average $139,550. Nursing university instructors and Clinical Nurse Specialists salaries average $66,220 according to O*Net OnLine.
While these salaries are enticing, you may be concerned about how to pay for school to begin with. There are several options in Kansas to help cover the costs of tuition and enrollment, making earning you MSN easier.
If you fall into the low income bracket, you can visit the Financial Office at your university and fill out a FFASA application, which is a federal student aid program based on income. Many universities have a work study program where you can earn $2,000 to $6,240 annually by working 10 to 30 hours weekly on campus in their work-study program.
There are also many resources for graduate students, and one example is the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) student scholarship programs. They offer $5000 of support to outstanding nursing students who attend AACN member institutions.
There is also a Minority Nurse Faculty Scholarship funded by AACN and the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future. This program is specifically for underrepresented minority nursing students who plan to work as nursing faculty after graduation, and the applicants must be enrolled full-time.
Professional organizations for MSN-prepared nurses in Kansas include Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Kansas Organization of Nurse Leaders and the Kansas State Nurses Association.
Your rewards of achieving a graduate degree in nursing may be an exciting new job opportunity, along with an increase in income. There are several nursing programs in Kansas to choose from, and you can select those below that interest you.
Master’s of Science in Nursing Programs in Kansas
- University of Kansas Medical Center. UKMC offers a wealth of MSN programs, including degree preparation for nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists. Unique MSN degrees at UKMC include Clinical Research Management and a joint MSN-Organizational Leadership/MS-Health Services Administration degree.
- Wichita State University. Wichita State is an excellent option for nurses who desire a career as an advanced practice nurses. The school offers MSN degrees for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and nurse midwives. Nurse managers and administrators may be interested in the dual MSN/MBA program.
