Photo: 2016 Hesston College graduate Michelle Wilson, Newton, Kan., receives her nursing pin from faculty member Joyce Huber at the Nursing Pinning ceremony May 7. IN January, the college will welcome its first RN to BSN class. Photo by Larry Bartel, Hesston College. 

Starting in January 2017, Hesston (Kansas) College will launch an RN to BSN program for registered nurses looking to complete a bachelor’s level degree.

For almost 50 years, Hesston has educated nurses in an associate degree program where academic success is nurtured in a supportive, student-centered environment. Throughout the program’s history, more than 98 percent of 1,600 graduates have achieved their goal of becoming registered nurses (RN) by passing the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination).

In August 2015, Hesston College launched a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program with approval from the Higher Learning Commission and the Kansas State Board of Nursing – the college’s first four-year degree program in more than 60 years. This program was designed for students preparing for initial RN licensure at the baccalaureate level.

As the next step, the program will now be expanded to serve RNs who wish to return to college to earn a BSN degree. Hesston’s addition of both programs stemmed from a 2010 report from the Institute of Medicine that set a national goal of 80 percent of the nursing workforce having a bachelor’s degree in nursing by 2020. Likewise, according to the American Association of Colleges in Nursing, Hesston alumni and other two-year graduates nationwide are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in increasing numbers.

“With the industry shift, Hesston needed new options to meet employer demands and industry standards,” said Bonnie Sowers, MSN, RN, Nursing Education Director. “The addition of the BSN and RN to BSN programs allows Hesston to continue providing nursing students with exceptional clinical learning opportunities, ensuring they are highly prepared and employable.”

Hesston’s RN to BSN program will be offered as both a full-time, one-year option or a part-time, two-year option. Courses will be offered in a hybrid format with both online and on-campus experiences.

“The RN to BSN courses are scheduled to promote a balance of work, school and family life for students,” said Sowers.

The program will also be offered at a special two-year RN to BSN tuition rate with the price locked for a student’s duration in the program.

“The nursing program has been a strength of Hesston College for decades, in terms of both the number of students served and the quality of instruction,” said Dr. Brent Yoder, vice president of Academics. “The expansion of degree options in this program is a natural growth opportunity. We are excited to meet the needs and desires of students who want to broaden their understanding of the nursing profession and obtain advanced credentials.”

Student applications for the RN to BSN program are being accepted immediately.