Aug 22, 2014 09:52 AM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Rasmussen College is expanding the School of Nursing to its Kansas campuses, school officials announced Wednesday.

Enrollment for the Professional Nursing Associate's degree program (ADN) is available for qualified students at the Kansas City/Overland Park and Topeka campuses with classes beginning in October. The ADN program at both locations is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. Rasmussen College also invites LPNs who wish to become registered nurses (RN) to enroll in its Professional Nursing Mobility Bridge Entrance Option, which is also available at both Kansas campuses.

"The expansion of our School of Nursing in Kansas is an example of how Rasmussen College is committed to providing students with the proper educational foundation needed to enter and thrive in the workplace" said Dr. Joan Rich, vice president of the Rasmussen College School of Nursing. "Adding the Professional Nursing Associate's RN degree will help meet the increasing demand of registered nurses in our Kansas campus communities."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the number of registered nurses needed in Kansas is expected to grow 25 percent by 2022 with an estimated 105260 job openings annually. According to the workforce analytics company Burning Glass the Greater Kansas City area had more than 7000 job postings for registered nurses during the past year. Shawnee County had around 370 job postings

"This is an exciting time for the Rasmussen College School of Nursing and for students located near our Kansas campuses that are eager to start their career as a registered nurse" Dr. Dana Bush, dean of nursing at the Rasmussen College Kansas City/Overland Park and Topeka campuses, said in a statement. "Through our career-focused curriculum and practical hands-on opportunities in their nursing courses students that complete our program can be confident they will leave with the skills needed for immediate employment in hospitals physician offices nursing-care facilities and patient-education sites."

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