(AS PUBLISHED IN THE 2019 EDUCATION GUIDE TO NURSING)
Professional Advancement with Competitive Price, Substantial Scholarships, and Student Support
Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing (KSN) has announced exciting opportunities to help you become a nurse or advance your nursing skills.
RN-BSN: Competitive Price, Complete in Two Semesters
KSN offers an outstanding RN-BSN program in which RNs can complete their BSN in just two semesters, and for the lowest cost of any degree program the university offers. Classes meet one day per week for four hours. No course prerequisites, nursing exams, care plans, or clinical hours are required. Denise Burton, chair of the RN-BSN program, has particularly reached out to those who attended schools which did not have nursing accreditation, stating “We accept students’ RN licenses regardless of whether they graduated from an accredited institution or not.” Burton further noted that many of our students go on to earn advanced degrees. RN-BSN classes meet at the OKCU campus, at Mercy Hospital OKC, and at Norman Regional Hospital.
BSN and MSN: Nearly $500,000 in Scholarships for New Students
KSN recently received a gift creating “The Kramer Way” scholarship which will provide $400,000 for ten new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students and $90,000 for six new Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) students over a two-year period starting in fall 2019. The scholarship is named for the school’s commitment to its core values of caring, kindness, and respect.
In addition to helping students earn their first degree, the school’s BSN program also allows those who have a degree in another field to earn a BSN in just 18 months. “The scholarship is critical because many candidates exhaust their financial assistance while earning their first degree but this will allow them the financial ability to become a nurse,” said Dr. Lois Salmeron, dean of the Kramer School of Nursing.
Salmeron also indicated that few scholarships are available for graduate study, further making this opportunity unique. The school’s MSN program offers tracks in nursing education or leadership and features distance learning as well as a low-residency model which enables nurses living in communities outside of Oklahoma City to successfully complete their degree.
DNP: Student Support Eases Clinical Placement for FNP and AGACNP Students
KSN offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with two tracks, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), which can be completed with part-time study over four years. The school also offers certificate programs in each track. Additionally, the school has added a clinical liaison who manages clinical placement for the students.
Dr. Gina Crawford, chair of DNP programs, noted that while online schools have proliferated in recent years, attending a classroom environment allows students to experience individual interaction, hands-on skills workshops, and greater support from classmates, faculty, and staff. “The faculty get to know students’ strengths and weaknesses, and can evaluate their competency. Those in the AGACNP program are well prepared for management of acute, critical, and emergency care; while those in the FNP program are ready for primary care.”
Gabrielle Stuehm, a current FNP student added that “the OKCU Kramer School of Nursing FNP program has been such a wonderful experience for me. I believe that having weekly hands-on experience in class has put me at a great advantage in my post graduate education. The faculty has always been available to me when I need further understanding; additionally, the faculty wants us to succeed and do well in the FNP program. I am so grateful that I have been able to continue my education at OKCU.”
Information Available
Information about Kramer School of Nursing academic programs, continuing education events, and campus facilities can be found by visiting www.okcu.edu/nursing or calling (405) 208-5900.