WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Area residents interested in a career in nursing need look no further than Missouri State University-West Plains’ Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program for quality training at an affordable price, according to the program’s director, Barbara Caton.
Established in 1983, the ASN program has a long and distinguished history of developing well-trained nurses for the area’s health care industry. It is approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), while the campus itself is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
“Students don’t have to incur a huge debt to become a nurse, if they approach their schooling wisely,” Caton said. “Those who are eligible for the A+ Program can use their funding here. In addition, the costs of our program are approximately one-third of those at four-year schools, and they are very competitive with the costs at other two-year programs. When you take into account the average salary for a registered nurse in Missouri is $57,020, the cost of our program is priceless.”
She also pointed out that students who ultimately want to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing can obtain their ASN at Missouri State-West Plains and immediately go into the workforce while completing their four-year degree. The campus’ ASN degree easily transfers into the baccalaureate programs at both Missouri State University in Springfield and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Caton said faculty and staff in the nursing department also take a nurturing approach with students to help them succeed. “In many programs, students are told, ‘Look to your left, look to your right; chances are, one of these students will be gone before the end of the program,’” she said. “We say, ‘Look to your left, look to your right; this is your new support system. We want you to succeed.’”
Students enrolled in the program also can be assured of learning their skills on the latest training equipment, thanks in large part to long-term support from the community and the administration at Missouri State’s campuses in West Plains and Springfield, Caton said. Just this past January, university officials completed renovation of Looney Hall, converting it from the campus’ one-stop student services center to classrooms and laboratory space for its allied health programs, including nursing. The $700,000 conversion was made possible with grant money and Tax-Exempt and Build America Bonds accessed with help from Springfield campus officials. A $250,000 federal grant assisted by 8th District Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau) covered the costs of a new allied health simulation lab in the building, and a financial gift from the Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic family funded a classroom and technology center adjacent to the simulation lab.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the community and our administrators. You can look at the changes to Looney Hall and see it,” Caton said.
This support, coupled with the dedication, professionalism and friendliness of the faculty, has created an ASN program in which many can be proud, Caton added. “We have put some really good nurses into the area’s health care industry. I want our graduates to feel as proud of this program as I am of the nurses they have become,” she said.
Area residents interested in applying for the fall 2012 entering class need to submit the required applications for admission to the university and the program by Feb. 1. Those accepted into the program will be notified in early spring.
An informational session about the program is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, in Looney Hall Room 303. This free session will provide information on nursing as a career, educational preparation for nursing, and a description of the classroom and clinical components of the campus’ nursing program. A question and answer session will follow. No appointment or pre-registration is necessary to attend.
“I really believe it’s a smart decision for area residents to consider the Missouri State-West Plains ASN program,” Caton said. “Granted, we’re a competitive program, but the benefits make it worth the application.”
For more information about the ASN program, contact the Missouri State University-West Plains Nursing Department at 417-255-7245, e-mail the department at WPNursing@missouristate.edu, or visit the department’s website at www.wp.missouristate.edu/nursing.