January 2007

Welcome to our e-newsletter from the University of Kansas School of Nursing, “Career Ladder Conversations.” This letter encourages you to consider continuing your nursing education and to think about ways to use education as clinical leaders and educators. Thanks for your interest!

******Thinking About a Bachelor’s Degree?******

Is getting a BSN part of your New Year’s resolution?  Along with a new year come new hopes and dreams.  Make getting your BSN your dream come true.  Take steps now to make those dreams of a BSN a reality.   Read below to see how another RN is making her dreams come true by returning to school for her BSN degree.

Personal Profile

• Name:  Jana Schlosser
• Current Position:  Charge Nurse at Children’s Mercy 6 Henson (Endocrine, Pulmonology, Rheumatology, GI, MedSurg).
• Professional Education:  LPN and RN at JCCC, 2 years of pre-requisites at KU.
• Comments on choosing an online program:  “The online program was something that interested me because of the flexibility.  Knowing that I wanted to go back to school and work on my Bachelors and eventually my Masters, I needed a program that would work with me.  Working online has made going back to school a lot easier than if I had to actually go to a class 2-3 times a week.”
• Challenges: “Self motivation – I’ve tried very hard to set aside time each week for school only.  Most weeks it works out fine and then there are the weeks that I just want to relax.  In the end the flexibility of the online program allows for personal time and professional time.”
• Rewards:  “I can’t wait for the day that I can add the BSN to my badge at work.  Hopefully one day I’ll be able to add MSN as well”.

News in Nursing

According to the 2004 National Sample Survey of registered nurses about 23.1% of the RN population completed additional academic nursing preparation after their initial nursing education.  Of the ADN prepared nurses, 20.7% obtained additional nursing related degrees.

*FAQ’s*

How much time would it take for me to complete my bachelor’s degree in nursing and how would I get started?  Once you’ve completed the prerequisites, you can complete the BSN in one calendar year if you start the RN to BSN program in June.  For guidance about continuing your education, contact the program director at your school or a mentor at the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

For questions about how a bachelor’s degree can advance your career contact:
Jeanne Schott, RN, MS
jschott@kumc.edu

For questions about admission to the KU RN to BSN or RN to MS Nursing program contact, Student Advisor:
Debbie Ford
soninfo@kumc.edu
913-588-1619
or toll-free 888-588-1619