The healthcare field is growing all across the nation, and Kansas is no exception. In Kansas, there are approximately 19,000 nursing assistants, 6,500 licensed practical nurses (LPNs), 27,000 registered nurses (RNs), and 3,000 nurse practitioners, midwives, and anesthetists. You can join their ranks by completing a nursing program for one of these positions.
Nursing programs vary widely in cost, duration, and rigor. It generally takes two months to become a nursing assistant, a year to a year and a half to become an LPN, and either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to become an RN. There are usually nursing assistant and LPN programs available at community colleges, where you can also pursue an associate’s degree to become an RN. The primary advantage of community colleges is that they are more affordable than traditional universities, and it is generally easier to gain admission.
Public and private universities focus on four-year bachelor’s degrees toward becoming an RN. Public universities are usually more affordable than private universities and tend to be larger, but private universities offer more prestige and smaller classes. The choice between these options is often based on finances and personal preference.
It is important to consider that employers tend to favor more educated candidates for their open positions. Therefore, if you want to become an RN, you may want to consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
If you’re ready to jump-start your nursing career, we’ve compiled below a list of Kansas’ top schools and organized them by class size.