Accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri are granted by some of the highest ranked universities in the Midwest. Lying among the Ozark Mountains, Missouri is America’s 18th most populous state with over 6.1 million residents. Although the capital is Jefferson City, Missouri’s largest urban areas are St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia. At $225 million GDP, the state economy places 26th in the nation with a thriving healthcare sector. Missouri operates around 160 hospitals, including two that are nationally ranked. Yet, Missouri is the 14th least healthy state in the United States with limited availability of physicians. Demand for qualified nurses will remain high to help Missourians improve their medical well-being. The BLS reports that Missouri has the country’s fifth highest concentration of nursing jobs offering an annual mean wage of $58,040. To see more accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri, visit Nursing Degree Programs in Missouri (A-L) and Nursing Degree Programs in Missouri (T-Z).
Catherine McAuley School of Nursing
Initially established in 1872 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, Maryville University of St. Louis is an accredited private non-profit Christian liberal arts institution serving around 6,400 students from its beautiful 130-acre suburban campus of St. Louis, Missouri’s second largest city. Cited among the nation’s 100 best private values in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Maryville is ranked the 161st best university and 131st top college for veterans in America by the U.S. News and World Report. The CCNE-accredited Catherine McAuley School of Nursing is also distinguished as the 171st best nursing school nationwide.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
With great emphasis on project-based learning, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Maryville strives to equip undergraduate students with the market-relevant education for goals in professional nursing practice. Three distinct degree tracks are offered. First, there’s a traditional track for first-year freshmen majoring in nursing. There’s a second, “fast track” option for students who have completed 65 hours of general education courses. Finally, there’s an RN to BSN completion track for licensed nurses. BSN classes are available in a daytime, evening, or part-time weekend format. Students benefit from the university’s partnership with the Sisters of Mercy Health System. For graduation, nurses must have at least 128 total credits, including clinical practicum and a senior capstone.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
650 Maryville University Drive
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 529-6822
lalbers@maryville.edu
https://www.maryville.edu/hp/nursing/
Missouri State University
Department of Nursing
Enrolling more than 22,650 students, Missouri State University is a premier public state-funded, co-educational institution headquartered on a main 225-acre urban campus in Springfield with satellite locations in West Plains, Mountain Grove, and abroad in Dalian, China. Known for winning the 2014 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, MSU is ranked the 64th best regional college, 16th top public school, and 49th best university for veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News. The Department of Nursing is accredited by the CCNE to prepare competent professionals at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Featuring a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 96 percent, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program allows Missouri State undergraduate students to build a strong foundation in science and nursing theory for in-demand health professions. Over four years full-time, students are trained with the skills and clinical judgment to successfully care for patients across the age spectrum. Within the 120-credit curriculum, students take courses ranging from human anatomy and nutrition to mental health and pharmacology. Aspiring nurses must complete at least 624 clinical contact hours, including 40 percent acute hospital-based and 60 percent community-based training. There’s also an online BSN-C program delivered to licensed nurses with an associate’s degree. BSN students could declare a Health Care Management Minor.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
901 S. National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5310
KathrynHope@MissouriState.edu
https://www.missouristate.edu/nursing/undergraduate/
Missouri Valley College
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), Missouri Valley College has been a four-year private Christian liberal arts institution on a scenic 150-acre rural campus in Marshall within Saline County since 1889. Offering over 30 majors and seven pre-professional programs, MVC maintains a close-knit community of around 1,700 students. Washington Monthly ranked Missouri Valley College the 314th best baccalaureate institution nationally. Within the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, students can choose from three bachelor’s degrees in nursing, exercise science, and athletic training.
Nursing Major (BSN)
Admitting cohort-based learning groups, the Nursing Major (BSN) at Missouri Valley College educated undergraduate students for providing safe, compassionate nursing care to individuals and families in diverse communities. Using a 2+2 curriculum, the program involves completing two years of prerequisite general education before entering professional nursing courses. Pre-nursing students study human anatomy, public speaking, statistics, nutrition, microbiology, developmental psychology, and pathophysiology. The highly competitive major only selects the top 20 candidates each year. Nursing classes are held at the Fitzgibbon Hospital campus. While there’s an emphasis on rural health, students are trained in all nursing specialties from neonatal and pediatrics to adult gerontology. Graduates qualify for initial RN licensing in Missouri.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
500 East College Avenue
Marshall, MO 65340
(660) 831-0895
vandykep@moval.edu
http://www.moval.edu/snhs/nursing/
Missouri Western State University
School of Nursing & Health Professions
Situated on a 723-acre urban campus in St. Joseph near the Missouri River along Interstate 29, Missouri Western State University is an accredited public co-educational higher learning institution delivering bachelor’s and master’s programs to over 5,700 students. Named the 93rd best baccalaureate college for civic engagement in America by Washington Monthly, MWSU has a student-faculty ratio of 17:1 and average retention rate of 61 percent. The School of Nursing & Health Professions is dedicated to providing intensive learning experiences that prepare students for standards-based, holistic practice.
Traditional BSN (Pre-Licensure)
MWSU’s Traditional BSN program is nationally accredited through the CCNE to lay the foundation for successful practice as a registered nurse. Requiring 124 credits, the curriculum begins with general education before science and nursing courses to satisfy the Missouri pre-licensure requirements. Students receive hands-on training in high-tech patient simulators and medical equipment for skill development. Clinical experiences are also arranged at healthcare facilities across the Greater Kansas City area. Nursing courses will cover topics like health promotion, holistic assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, nutrition, microbiology, health psychology, and nursing leadership. Taking the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) V will be required starting in Spring 2017. There’s also an Early Acceptance BSN option for freshmen.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
4525 Downs Drive
St. Joseph, MO 64507
(816) 271-4415
nursing@missouriwestern.edu
https://www.missouriwestern.edu/nursing/bsn-licensure/
Research College of Nursing
Division of Undergraduate Studies
Affiliated with Rockhurst University, Research College of Nursing is a private non-sectarian, non-profit health sciences institution enrolling around 400 aspiring nurses with a student-faculty ratio of 13:1 for individualized attention. Located adjacent to Research Medical Center on an urban campus in Missouri’s largest city of Kansas City, Research is accredited by the CCNE and Missouri State Board of Nursing with an NCLEX-RN exam pass rate of 88 percent. The Division of Undergraduate Studies offers two tracks for qualified students to obtain their bachelor’s degree for nursing practice.
Traditional BSN Program
Spread over four years full-time, the Traditional BSN Program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for undergraduate students seeking the qualifications required to practice as a registered nurse in Missouri. Featuring direct entry for freshmen, the program simply requires having a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Rooted in a liberal arts core, the 128-credit curriculum includes courses on cellular biology, physiology, nutrition, health assessment, adult health nursing, mental health, pharmacology, child health nursing, maternal-child health, and public health. Students complete their entire first year at Rockhurst University before segueing into the professional nursing sequence. Traditional BSN graduates will be eligible for taking and passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
Accelerated BSN Program
Available for completion in just 12 months, the Accelerated BSN Program is designed for students at Research College who already have a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college in a non-nursing field. It’s required that students have completed at least two science courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, or chemistry. This can be satisfied at Rockhurst University prior to enrollment. Accelerated BSN applicants should carry a minimum cumulative collegiate GPA of 2.8. During the full-time program, students will take introductory nursing theory classes while engaging in clinical practicum. High-achieving majors could qualify for the Honors Program. Outside the classroom, students can join the Research Student Nurses Association or Student Nurse Christian Fellowship.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
2525 East Meyer Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64132
(816) 995-2800
Glenna.Mahoney@researchcollege.edu
http://researchcollege.edu/future-students/undergraduates.dot
Saint Louis University
School of Nursing
Tracking back to 1818, Saint Louis University is the second oldest private non-profit Jesuit research institution in the United States that serves over 13,500 students annually from its spacious 271-acre urban campus in St. Louis along the banks of the Mississippi River. Noted as one of Barron’s 220 “Best Buys in College Education,” SLU is currently ranked the 96th best university and 78th top college for veterans nationally by the U.S. News. Even more importantly, the School of Nursing is acclaimed for being America’s 51st best nursing school with the 103rd best online graduate nursing degrees.
Traditional Four-Year Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (TBSN)
SLU’s Traditional Four-Year Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (TBSN) is a direct entry program available for freshmen to begin introductory nursing courses beginning in the first year of study. Featuring an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91 percent, the program equips students with the values, skills, and knowledge for entry-level generalist practice. Thanks to artificial intelligence in the state-of-the-art clinical simulation labs, students gain hands-on training before clinical practicum. Classrooms are strategically located across from Saint Louis University Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. All classes are taught by master’s or doctoral-prepared nurses who excel in various specialty areas. If desired, traditional BSN students can spend two years abroad in Madrid, Spain, with the International Nursing Option.
Accelerated One-year Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
Offering admissions on a rolling basis, the Accelerated One-Year Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows graduates with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field to help meet the growing demands for qualified nursing professionals. SLU students complete an intensive, three-semester program leading to a CCNE-accredited bachelor’s degree to satisfy RN licensure requirements. The program welcomes any students who have earned at least 77 credit hours at a regionally accredited institution. Bachelor’s degree holders catch up with interactive nursing courses, simulation labs, and clinical experiences in the St. Louis area. The same students may be interested in the 21-month Accelerated Master’s of Science in Nursing (AMSN) program too.
Registered Nurse to Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Delivered online in convenient eight or 16-week sessions, the Registered Nurse to Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program offers the flexibility for working RNs to further their clinical education for advancement into specialty or supervisory nursing positions. Nurses can transfer in up to 64 credit hours earned an accredited colleges. First, students will complete pre-nursing core courses in the School for Professional Studies (SPS). Then, RNs will spend just two semesters full-time taking BSN nursing courses. The 65-credit curriculum delves into evidence-based practice, community health, nursing research, health assessment, health policy, therapeutic nutrition, and management. RN to BSN students benefit from 24/7 access to course materials, faculty mentors, and online library resources.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
3525 Caroline Street
St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 977-8900
slunurse@slu.edu
http://www.slu.edu/nursing/majors-and-degrees
Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences
Undergraduate Programs
First founded in 1887 at All Saints Hospital, Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences is a fully accredited private non-sectarian nursing school affiliated with Saint Luke’s Health System on a distinctly urban campus in Kansas City near Lee’s Summit. Growing five-fold in the last decade, Saint Luke’s enrolls around 500 students striving to become nursing leaders. Saint Luke’s Hospital has been nationally ranked by the U.S. News is seven adult specialty areas, including cardiology and urology. Just four blocks north on historic Westport Road, two undergraduate programs are available for earning the coveted BSN.
BSN Track
The BSN Track at Saint Luke’s consists of two years of general education prerequisites before finishing two years of upper-division nursing coursework for specialization. Featuring CCNE accreditation, the program is structured to produce safe, effective baccalaureate nurses who provide holistic patient assessments and treatments. The 122-credit curriculum involves courses in health promotion, pathophysiology, professional ethics, pharmacology, adult health nursing, community health, nursing leadership, and developmental psychology. Starting in the junior year, future nurses will complete clinical practicum every semester. There are two fully simulated hospital rooms, one birthing room, and three debriefing rooms for practice. All BSN Track students must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN for graduation.
RN-BSN Track
Offered in a traditional on-campus, online, or mixed hybrid format, the RN-BSN Track at Saint Luke’s College is ideal for registered nurses with valid state licensure who seek advanced training with flexibility to progress their generalist career. Eligible applicants must hold an accredited associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) for entry into this 30-credit program. Over just three semesters full-time, RNs complete their bachelor’s degree with courses ranging from nursing informatics and public health to pharmacology and evidence-based care. The program utilizes a “flipped classroom” approach in which key concepts are reinforced with application in simulation labs and clinical placements. If desired, RN-BSN graduates can continue into the MSN Adult/Gerontology Acute Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator program.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
624 Westport Road
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 936-8700
info@saintlukescollege.edu
http://saintlukescollege.edu/content/our-programs
Southeast Missouri State University
Department of Nursing
As the state’s sixth largest public four-year teaching institution, Southeast Missouri State University is home for over 11,900 students annually on its picturesque 400-acre rural campus in Cape Girardeau just 175 miles north from Memphis, Tennessee. Consistently named a “Best Midwestern” college by Princeton Review, SEMO is ranked the 92nd best regional college, 30th top public school, and 71st best university for veterans by the U.S. News. Thanks to the Department of Nursing, SEMO is also recognized for being America’s 115th best school for nursing education. In 2015, 95 percent of baccalaureate graduating students passed the NCLEX-RN on their first try.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
SEMO’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program has excelled in promoting students’ professional growth for competent nursing practice since 1968. Undergraduates are given the in-depth knowledge and technical skills to function in any entry-level nursing specialty. The four-year, full-time program covers 120 total credits ranging from organic chemistry and microbiology to nursing assessment and healthcare policy. Clinical practicum experiences are required in adult health, maternal-newborn nursing, mental health nursing, elderly care, and pediatrics. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the University Honors program and active Sigma Theta Tau chapter. If needed, appointments for tutoring are available in Crisp Hall. Having a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 is required for admissions.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 651-2585
contact@semo.edu
http://www.semo.edu/nursing/bsn/
Nursing is a multi-faceted profession that often places RNs in unexpected life-or-death situations where a patient’s life hangs in the balance. Having a diploma or associate’s degree may satisfy the RN licensing requirements in Missouri. However, the AACN recommends that 80 percent of registered nurses be educated at the baccalaureate level. Earning a bachelor’s degree will provide more breadth and depth of clinical experiences for better skill mastery. Research shows that BSN-prepared nurses lower the odds of patient mortality by 10.9 percent! Although tuition can be steep upfront, investing in a BSN will pay off with higher salary and room for advancement into APRN roles. If you’re studying in the “Show Me State,” select one of these accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri for quality training.
