Accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri offer excellent resources for students. These programs combine classroom instruction with practical experiences that let you work directly with patients similar to those you will work with in your future career. Though some programs are best for those who are recent high school graduates and have little work experience, other programs are open to those who already have an RN degree or those who went to college in the past. Some nursing programs are even open to students who studied a topic unrelated to nursing. To see more accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri, visit Nursing Degree Programs in Missouri (A-L) and Nursing Degree Programs in Missouri (M-S).
Truman State University
Department of Nursing
Truman State University is one of the smaller public colleges in Missouri, but many students find that they enjoy the community atmosphere of this Kirskville campus. Founded in the 1860s as both a normal school and commercial school, most of its early programs were educational in nature and taught students who would later work as teachers. As the college continued bringing in new programs and expanding outside of educational programs, it became a college and then later a university. Truman State University, also known as TSU, is a liberal arts college that offers some medical programs and around 6,000 students.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
TSU is home to two of the top accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri. The first is its Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN program. Designed for students who do not have any nursing experience, this program lets them earn a nursing degree and sit for the NCLEX in four years or less. All students have access to the Nursing Simulation Center (NSC), which gives you some practical experience before you begin your fieldwork. The university equipped the NSC with the newest and latest equipment to give students the chance to work with those tools before they do their clinical rotations. TSU requires that you apply for a spot at the university and then seek admission to the nursing program. Those enrolled in the traditional program can spend a semester abroad to gain additional experience in nursing in a foreign country. TSU will award you course credit for the work.
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
If you have a degree in another field, you might hesitate to go back to school for nursing because you think that you need to start all over again. With the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program through Truman State University, you can complete a BSN degree in a shorter period of time than you ever imagined. The university designed this program for students to complete in just 15 months. TSU will take the credits you earned at an accredited college or university to cover some of your required classes before letting you take the required nursing classes. You’ll also have the chance to study abroad, work in the NSC and complete clinical rotations in a hospital or facility near campus. TSU is unique because it evaluates each student separately. Those working for the nursing department will examine your application carefully to determine how many courses you need to take.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
100 East Normal Avenue
Kirksville, Missouri 63501
(660) 785-4000
http://www.truman.edu/majors-programs/academic-departments/about-the-nursing-department/
University of Central Missouri
Department of Nursing
Established as the Normal School No. 2 in 1871, the University of Central Missouri initially focused on educational programs designed for future teachers. Its commitment to its students led to the school becoming teachers college and then later a state college before officially becoming a university. UCM is popular with students who want the feel of a small college on a larger campus. The university has more than 12,000 students and offers more than 200 activities and clubs for those students. Though its fraternities, sororities and athletic organizations are popular, students also help with community organizations and work for the local media.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Since launching its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, UCM looked for ways to give students more experience than they would get in similar programs on other college campuses. The university now requires that all nursing students spend a minimum of one year working in a rural facility and a second year working in an urban center. That gives you the chance to see which type of facility or area you would prefer working in later. This four year program includes classes on using nursing apps, managing and leading others and working in specialized fields of nursing. UCM has membership in several leading organizations and associations that offer additional opportunities for students, including seeing guest lecturers speak and taking part in professional networking events. Students who successfully graduate from this nursing program work in fields like surgical care, community health and pediatrics after becoming certified.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
P.O. Box 800,
Warrensburg, MO 64093
(877) 729-8266
admit@ucmo.edu
https://www.ucmo.edu/nursing/
University of Missouri Columbia
Sinclair School of Nursing
The University of Missouri Columbia goes by several names, but most refer to the campus as simply the University of Missouri because it is the flagship campus in that school system. Unlike other colleges across the state that began as normal or teaching schools, the university opened as a public university that offered a wide range of programs for students living in and out of the state. Students, faculty and locals often call the university MU. According to the lists released by Washington Monthly, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and ARWU, MU is one of the best colleges in the country.
Traditional BSN
Students with an interest in nursing who have yet to attend college can enroll in the MU Traditional BSN program. This program consists of eight semesters of work. When you first enroll, the university will pair you with an established professor working in the program who will serve as your academic adviser. The adviser will help you decide which courses to take each semester and ensure you meet the steps needed for graduation. Though you will take two semesters each year, the university gives you the option of choosing whether to enroll in the fall, winter, spring or summer semesters. Mental health nursing, human anatomy, nursing science and pediatric nursing are some of the required courses. You must also take some clinical classes that allow you to work with some patients after developing the necessary skills in some of your required clinical courses beforehand.
Accelerated BSN
MU offers several other nursing programs for students who have some level of experience. One of those programs is its Accelerated BSN program. This is a great option for those who already have a college degree and those who took courses from an accredited college without graduating. The program lets you transfer in a certain number of credits to cover the prerequisites of the traditional program. This reduces the number of classes you need to take to complete the program. Many students can successfully complete their nursing degrees in around 15 months. You must apply by the middle of October in the year before you start. While the traditional nursing program admits students during various semesters, those in the accelerated program must agree to start at the beginning of the year. Courses you must take before starting include research and math courses like statistics, human anatomy, microbiology, chemistry and some type of nutrition class.
RN to BSN
Some students think that they only need an RN degree. While having an RN degree will give you the chance to take the NCLEX and work in the field, going back to college can help you earn more and advance within a medical facility. MU now offers an RN to BSN program that it designed for students who want to advance their careers and turn their lower level degrees into a higher level degree. This program is open to RN degree holders, currently working nurses and those with a nursing license in Missouri. This 120 credit hour nursing program focuses more on providing you with knowledge you didn’t gain in your previous program of study. You might take classes on nursing practice, ethics and management. RN to BSN students must also spend 90 hours working in a community organization during the last semester spent in the program.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
S235 School of Nursing
Columbia, Mo. 65211
(573) 882-0277
nursing@missouri.edu
http://nursing.missouri.edu/
University of Missouri Kansas City
School of Nursing and Health Studies
Fans of the television series Switched at Birth might know University of Missouri Kansas City because it serves as the main campus on that show. Better known as UMKC, the university opened in 1933 but has a deep connection to Lincoln and Lee University. Plans for Lincoln and Lee University came about in the 1920s and had an affiliation with the Methodist Church. That school then became the University of Kansas City and eventually the University of Missouri Kansas City. As part of the University of Missouri school system, UMKC now has more resources and can offer more opportunities for its students.
Pre-Licensure BSN
UMKC is home to three accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri. Its Pre-Licensure BSN provides students with the fundamentals and foundations needed to take the licensing exam in Missouri. Unlike other schools that only admit students to nursing programs once they complete all prerequisites, UMKC gives students the option to enroll in this program as a freshman. You will spend your first year taking some general electives and showing that you have strengths in math, science and research classes. Sophomore level students then have the chance to begin their clinical rotations. The university requires that all students spend some time working in suburban settings and some time working in urban facilities. You will need to complete a minimum of 128 credit hours of work, which includes those rotations. The university also requires that all nursing students do at least one internship in the medical field before graduating.
Accelerated BSN
The UMKC Accelerated BSN program lets you transfer in the prerequisite courses that you took at another college to earn your degree faster. This program is generally open to those who already have some type of college degree, but the university may admit you based off the work you did in the past, even if you did not complete a degree. Students applying must show that they took science and math courses within the last five years and that they had a grade point average of 2.75 or higher. You will also need to show that you took five specific classes in human nutrition, human development, chemistry, anatomy and microbiology. You’ll also need to show that you took the labs associated with those classes. Instead of spending a year taking prerequisites and three years of advanced courses, you can graduate with a BSN after completing just five semesters of work.
RN-BSN
One of the main differences between a BSN and an RN degree is that a BSN degree requires that you learn more about management and leadership. Whether you want to work as floor manager in a hospital, the head nurse in a community clinic or an office manager for a doctor, you’ll generally need a BSN degree. UMKC has an RN-BSN program that lets you transition from an RN degree to a BSN degree in several years. One unique aspect of this program is that it welcomes nurses from a wide range of backgrounds, which lets you learn from others working in areas and facilities unlike your own. If you passed the NCLEX exam already, you can skip taking nearly 30 hours of work. UMKC also offers a hybrid program of this type that lets you take some of your required courses online and complete clinical work in the field.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
Health Sciences Building
Suite 2319
2464 Charlotte
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 235-1700
nurses@umkc.edu
http://sonhs.umkc.edu/
University of Missouri St. Louis
College of Nursing
The University of Missouri St. Louis, also known as the University of Missouri Saint Louis or more often UMSL, is part of the state’s main public school system. Founded in 1960, it opened as a junior college that offered lower priced admission for local students and served as the only public college in the city. The University of Missouri later merged that campus with several other nearby schools to create the city’s largest public campus. Several of the programs that it now offers, including those in information systems, criminal justice and international business, rank among the nation’s best.
Pre-Licensure BSN
Since starting its own nursing programs, UMSL divided its degree options into two separate programs for students. The first of those programs is its Pre-Licensure BSN program, which is open to incoming freshmen and those who do not have a college degree. The program consists of 120 credit hours of both electives, general required courses and nursing classes. Students can enroll in the traditional program as a full-time student, enroll on a part-time basis or sign up for the accelerated program. Those in the accelerated program must already have a college degree in a field outside of nursing. The traditional BSN program takes 2.5 years for full-time students and 3.5 years for part-time students. Those in the accelerated program can earn their degrees in 15 months. UMSL recommends that nursing students look closely at the requirements of taking the NCLEX exam because graduating from one of these programs may not qualify them to take that exam.
RN to BSN
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse, better known as the RN to BSN, is another program open to students with an interest in nursing. Those who enroll in this program must submit a transcript that shows the student completed an RN program at an accredited college or university. The traditional program requires that students take one class each semester and take that class on campus. UMSL offers these classes later in the evening to accommodate the busy schedules of working nurses. The online option allows students to take their courses over their own computer. UMSL also offers an off campus option for those living in St. Louis. You can earn your BSN degree while taking classes at one of several local facilities, including St. Charles Community College or the Christian Hospital. You’ll complete six semesters of classes over two years in this program.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
1 University Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63121
(314) 516-5000
http://www.umsl.edu/~nursingweb/
William Jewell College
Department of Nursing
Founded in 1849, William Jewell College owes its foundation to a local doctor by the name of Jewell. Citing the need for a good college in the area, Jewell made a large donation that led to the formation of the campus. Though originally affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention, the college later ended this partnership and became its own established college. U.S. News & World Report recognized WJC as one of the best value schools in the country, and the Princeton Review called it one of the nation’s top colleges after looking at surveys completed by current and former students.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
As one of the top accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at William Jewel College offers a direct entry route. Students who received high grades in math and sciences classes in high school may enter the program during their freshman year. All other students will need to complete prerequisites as a freshman that include psychology, anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, math and communications. They must score a C- or higher in all of those courses to enter the program as a sophomore. WJC works hard to limit the number of students who complete their clinical rotations at the same time. Most of these courses feature just six students working under one professor. Students also have the option of enrolling in one of two unique programs associated with the nursing department. They can enter a leadership program or a program that shows them how to use their religious beliefs in the field.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Accelerated Track
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Accelerated Track is a 16-month program designed for students who previously attended college. You can use your official transcript to show that you took all prerequisites and that you completed your degree within the last few years. If you earned your degree more than five years ago, the university may require that you retake some of those prerequisites. The university asks that you have a transcript that shows you took a minimum of 90 credit hours that would work towards a degree earned through WJC. Applicants must meet some other requirements as well, including having a GPA of 2.7 or higher, sending in two or more letters of recommendation and taking a specialized test. WJC also requires that all accelerated nursing students attend an interview session with a representative of the college in person before enrolling.
BSN/RN
Another of the accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri offered by William Jewel College is its RN to BSN program. If you have an RN degree from an accredited college and want to further your studies, you can apply for a space in this program. Before you enroll in this program, you must prove that you took all required courses, which include psychology, fundamentals of nursing, human anatomy, human physiology, college algebra and other advanced courses. Many of these classes must include a laboratory component as well. You must also submit to a drug test and a background check as well. WJC launched this program as a way to help local nurses further their careers, which is why you can take many of the required courses online. Though some programs of this type require that you do more fieldwork and clinical rotations, WJC requires that its students spend more time in the classroom.
Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
500 College Hill
Liberty, MO 64068
(816) 718-7700
http://www.jewell.edu/nursing
Before working as a nurse, you’ll need to take and pass the NCLEX exam. Developing the skills necessary for passing that extensive exam is easy. The top accredited nursing degree programs in Missouri will help you pass that professional test and learn the fundamentals of working with all types of patients.
