Becoming an RN in Missouri

One becomes a registered nurse in Missouri by completing a degree program and passing the licensing examination. Most degree programs are at the ADN (associate’s) or BSN (baccalaureate) level. There is also one hospital-based program, Lutheran School of Nursing, at St. Alexius. This program dates back more than a hundred years to a time when hospitals, not colleges, had the primary responsibility of educating nurses. There are also direct entry master’s programs.

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There is an array of choices, but programs all share certain commonalities. They qualify a nurse to practice according to the RN scope of practice defined by the Missouri Board of Nursing. All four programs include coursework that prepares a candidate to work with patients across the lifespan. A prospective nurse can expect to get an introduction to mental health as well as medical-surgical nursing. The BSN degree, however, will prepare a person for more positions. It’s a requirement for military nursing and is preferred by many magnet hospitals. It also can open up more leadership roles and give a better foundation for specialized education down the road.

After graduation, the school should send an official transcript to the Missouri Board of Nursing. This will qualify the candidate to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Candidates can work under Graduate Nurse status for up to 90 days or until receipt of NCLEX scores. (The NCLEX may be retaken, but a person can’t work as a nurse during the interim period.)

Registered nurses licensed in Missouri are also eligible to accept employment in other Nurse Compact states.

RN Education Pathways

Missouri rewards health care professionals who have closely related job descriptions. LPN to RN programs are becoming commonplace around the nation. The Missouri Board of Nursing classifies some as ‘one plus one’ programs and others as ladder programs. If you enroll in a one plus one program, you can expect to do one year of full time study beyond that of what was required for your LPN license. Ladder programs award variable advanced placement.

In Missouri, paramedics also have the option of enrolling in RN bridge courses. After completing prerequisites and a transition course, students may be granted advanced placement in the RN track.

Even if you’re not in a health field, your prior education can shorten your path to licensure. Second degree BSN students have fewer courses to complete, as they get credit for general studies, and, in many cases, for some nursing prerequisites. Many second career nursing students choose to enroll in accelerated BSN programs. These programs compact the nursing curriculum into an intense year-round study. Sometimes four semesters of work get accomplished in as little as three semesters (spring, summer, and fall).

Registered Nursing Career Outlook in Missouri

The AACN reports that even during the recent recession, highly educated nurses have done better than graduates in most fields. A report, released in November of 2010, gave employment information for registered nurses who entered the field at the BSN and MSN levels over a two year period. 77% of Missouri’s new graduates had job offers at the time of graduation; fully 92% did after another four to six months.

17% growth in demand for RNs was anticipated for the years 2008 to 2018.

The Application to Nursing School Process

Enrolling students isn’t enough to alleviate the nursing crisis; there can many obstacles that prevent students from completing the program. Traditionally, nursing programs have seen a fair amount of attrition. Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences notes that students are admitted on the basis of their potential to complete the program and become licensed.

Some programs are more rigorous and intensive than others. An interview can play a big role in the process at the higher levels. This is a time for both the applicant and the school to feel comfortable that it is a good match. Jewell College notes that the school interviews accelerated BSN candidates months in advance of the program entrance date. Students are not just deciding whether nursing is right for them; they’re deciding what level of pacing they can handle. Jewell is among the schools that offer multiple second BSN programs.

Missouri State Board of Nursing Approved ADN Programs

National American University

National American University is located in Kansas City, MO. An Associate’s in Nursing is offered at this campus location. The program is approved by the Missouri Board of Nursing.

Bolivar Technical College- ADN
2001 W Broadway
Bolivar, MO 65613

Chamberlain College of Nursing – ADN
6150 Oakland Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63139

Columbia College Nursing Education Center- ADN
1001 Rogers Street
Colombia, MO 65216

Columbia College, Lake Ozark ADN
900 College Blvd
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Concorde Career College- ADN
3239 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111

Crowder College- ADN
601 Laclede
Neosho, MO 64850

Crowder College/ Nevada
Moss Higher Education Learning – ADN
600 West Edwards
Nevada, MO 64772

East Central College – ADN
1964 Prairie Dell Road
Union, MO 63084

East Central College at Rolla Technical University – ADN
1516 Bridge School Rd
Rolla, MO 65401

Fort Leonard Wood Satellite
ADN
Lincoln University
Truman Ed. Ctr., 268 Constitution St. Ste 5
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College – ADN
4484 Duncan Avenue
St. Louis MO 63110

Hannibal La-Grange College- ADN
2800 Palmyra Road
Hannibal, MO 63401

Jefferson College Bi-Level Program ADN
100 Viking Drive
Hillsboro, MO 63050

Lester L. Cox School of Nursing and Health Sciences – ADN
1423 North Jefferson
Springfield, MO 65802

Lincoln University
Nursing Science Dept – ADN
100 Elliff Hall
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Metropolitan Community College – Penn Valley ADN
3201 Southwest Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64111

Mineral Area College – ADN
PO Box 1000
Park Hills, MO 63601

Missouri State University- West Plains (ADN)
128 Garfield Avenue
West Plains, MO 65775

Moberly Area Community College – ADN
College and Rollins Street
Moberly, MO 65270

National American University ADN
7490 NW 87th Street
Kansas City, MO 64153

North Central Missouri College
ADN Program
1301 Main Street
Trenton, MO 64683

Ozarks Technical Community College – LPN to RN Program
1001 East Chestnut Expressway
Springfield MO 65802

Park University
Ellen Finley Earhart Nursing Program – ADN
8700 N.W. River Park Drive
Parkville, MO 64512

Sanford Brown College/ St Charles ADN
100 Richmond Center Blvd.
St Peters, MO 63376

Southeast Missouri Hospital – College of Nursing and Health Sciences ADN
2001 William
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

Southeast Missouri Hospital – College of Nursing and Health Sciences ADN
1230 1st Street
Kennett, MO 63857

St Charles Community College- ADN Program
4601 Mid River Mall Drive
St Peters, MO 63376

St John’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences of Southwest Baptist University ADN Program
4431 South Fremont
Springfield, MO 65804

St. Louis Community College- Flo Valley
Department of Nursing- ADN
3400 Pershall Road
St. Louis, MO 63135

St. Louis Community College- Forest Park
Department of Nursing- ADN
5600 Oakland Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

St. Louis Community College- Meramee
Department of Nursing- ADN
11333 Big Bend Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63122

State Fair Community College- ADN Career Ladder Program
3201 W 16th Street
Sedalia, MO 65301

Texas County Technical Institute RN Bridge Program
ADN Bridge Program
6915 So Hwy 63
P.O. Box 314
Houston, MO 65483

Three Rivers Community College – ADN
2080 Three Rivers Blvd.
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

Three Rivers Community College – ADN Bridge Program
103 Kathleen
Sikeston, MO 63801

 

Missouri State Board of Nursing Approved BSN Programs

Central Methodist University

School Branding

The BSN program at the Central Methodist University is approved by the Missouri Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam.

Central Methodist University – St. Louis, 111 West Port Plaza Drive, Suites 633 and 634, St. Louis, MO 63146

Avila University- BSN Program

11901 Wornoll Road
Kansas City, MO 64145

Central Methodist University- BSN Program, Dept of Nursing
411 Central Methodist Sq.
Fayette, MO 65248

Chamberlain College of Nursing- BSN
6150 Oakland Ave
St. Louis, MO 63139

College of Nursing at the University of Missouri St. Louis- BSN
8001 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121

College of the Ozarks- BSN Program
P.O.Box 17
Point Lookout, MO 65726

Goldfarb School of Nursing- at Barnes Jewish College
BSN Degree
4483 Duncan Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

Graceland University School of Nursing- BSN Program
1401 West Truman Road
Independence, MO 64050

Lester L. Cox College of Nursing and Health Sciences
BSN Program
1423 North Jefferson
Springfield, MO 63141

Maryville University os St. Louis- BSN Program
Department of Nursing
650 Maryville University Drive
St. Louis, MO 63141

Missouri Southern State University- BSN
3950 East Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801

Missouri State University/ Springfield BSN
Department of Nursing
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897

Missouri Western State University- BSN
Department of Nursing
PS203 4525 Downs Drive
St. Joseph, MO 64507

Research College of Nursing- BSN

2525 East Meyer Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64132

Sinclair School of Nursing at University of Missouri- Columbia- BSN
S410 Nursing School Bldg.
Columbia, MO 65211

Southeast Missouri State University- BSN
Dept of Nursing
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

St. Louis University- BSN
3525 Caroline Street
St. Louis, MO 63104

St. Lukes- BSN Program
8320 Ward Pkwy, Ste 300
Kansas City, MO 64114

Truman State University- BSN
Barnett Hall 223A
Kirksville, MO 63501

UMKC- Kansas City
School of Nursing- BSN
2220 Holmes Street
Kansas City, MO 64108

 

University of Central Missouri
Department of Nursing BSN
Warrensburg, MO 64093

William Jewel College
Department of Nursing- BSN
500 College Hill
Liberty, MO 64068