Benedictine College Expands Nursing Program

Published: Monday, December 18, 2017

Nursing Students in the Skills LabBenedictine College’s Department of Nursing has announced the expansion of its program. The Kansas State Board of Nursing has approved an increase of 44%, bumping each class from 25 to 36 students. The new cap will take effect for the Fall 2018 academic year.

“We have a growing demand for nursing education at Benedictine College. Admission to the program has been very competitive and we have not been able to accept all highly qualified applicants due to our size restriction,” said Bill Buron, Ph.D., APRN, FNP/GNP-BC, director of the nursing program and Robert J. Dehaemers Endowed Chair of Nursing. “The Benedictine College Nursing Department would like to admit and educate all strong applicants to the program. This expansion is a great step in that direction.”

Recognized as one of the top nursing schools in the nation by Nursing Schools Almanac, the Benedictine Nursing Program has been operating at capacity for a number of years. With a 100% first time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN) and a 100% placement rate of graduating nurses, Benedictine’s program has seen ever-increasing interest.

Bill_Buron - Director of Nursing“We believe that spirituality and ethics are important aspects of a nursing education,” said Buron, who came to Benedictine in July from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “We feel it is important to have nurses with a strong Catholic-based education in the workforce. That differentiates us from a lot of other nursing schools.”

The philosophy of the Benedictine College Department of Nursing is in concert with the mission statement and philosophy of the college, which emphasizes the Benedictine values and ethics of community, hospitality, respect, stewardship and love of learning. The College began clinical nursing courses in August 2010 with the dedication of the Mother Teresa Center for Nursing & Health Education. That facility includes classrooms, a clinical skills lab, a high-fidelity simulation room, a birthing simulator, faculty offices, additional administrative offices, an area for practicing clinical assessment skills, a computer lab and study areas for students. The college granted its first Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees in May 2012.

The program will now accept 36 junior nursing students into the program each fall. Applicants take a pre-admission test, must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, must have a minimum of 64 hours of college credit, and must meet the prerequisite requirements for nursing. More information is available on the college website at www.benedictine.edu/nursing.

Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas.  The school is proud to have been named one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report as well as one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by First Things magazine and the Newman Guide.  It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging.  It has a mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.

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