Eastern Kentucky University

Nursing Programs Offered

Accelerated BSN Programs
ADN Programs
BSN Programs
DNP Programs (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
MSN Programs
RN Programs
RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN Program Details

EKU has a flexible, individualized tract for the registered nurse student who is pursuing a BSN while juggling a job and family responsibilities. Through our education Outreach project, we offer nursing courses at sites in Corbin, Danville, Manchester, Hazard, Somerset, and Richmond. All required nursing courses are generally taught in the evenings. Clinical experiences are also offered at or near each Outreach site. In addition, EKU offers most general education courses at the Extended Campus Sites.

BSN Program Details

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program combines general education courses with professional nursing theory and clinical education. The nursing program prepares you to function as a generalist and lays the foundation for graduate study in clinical specialties, research, teaching, supervision, and/or administration.

MSN Program Details

Advanced nursing preparation at the graduate level will provide you with experiences for growth and leadership in the evolving health care system. The program at EKU focuses on individuals, families, and communities in rural under-served areas.

The EKU MSN program has the following options:

-Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner
-Rural Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
-Advanced Rural Public Health Nursing with a choice of an area of concentration in either Administration or Nursing Education

Accelerated BSN Program Details

EKU offers an accelerated (16 month full time) BSN option for those holding a baccalaureate degree in another field of study. A minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 must be met on the graduating GPA of the bachelor's degree you previously received. Admission is competitive.

Pre-requisites include (15-16 credits) Anatomy (BIO 171), Physiology (BIO 301), Microbiology (BIO 273 or CLT 209), Nutrition (NFA 201), and Statistics (STA 215 or STA 270). The science and the nutrition classes must be completed within the last five years prior to entering the program. These may be completed full time or part time at EKU or other institutions. To compare equivalences from the classes you have already taken go to this Transfer link.

Nursing requirements (64 credits), including both theory and clinical. These may be earned only at EKU’s Department of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing as a full-time student.

Applicants are admitted to EKU’s 2nd degree accelerated program once each year in August. Applications are due March 1st of every year for the program that begins the next August. Students will be admitted to the nursing coursework in August, complete coursework in December of the following year, be eligible for graduation from EKU in December, and be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The Second Degree Accelerated Baccalaureate Program in Nursing leads to a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree.

Due to the intensive nature of the coursework, you are strongly encouraged not to have outside employment during the accelerated program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Details

The post-MSN Doctorate in Nursing Practice at Eastern Kentucky University is a 36 to 39 credit hour program. Coursework and immersion experiences focus on organizational leadership. Graduates of the DNP program will have specific competencies derived from the "Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice" (American Association of Colleges of Nursing 2006).

Admission Requirements: Admission is competitive and limited to available space

Ky (or compact state) RN license (unrestricted)
Master's degree in nursing from accredited program
Graduate GPA of at least 3.0