2022 Eastern Kentucky University Nursing Programs

Located in Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), is a coeducational public institution of higher learning. Its School of Nursing has had an impact on the health of communities for 50 years.

Associate of Science in Nursing - The Associate of Science in Nursing (ANS) program received a continuing accreditation from ACEN, and is approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). To be admitted, a CGPA of at 2.5 or better on a 4 scale is required, along with a completed Nursing Admission Assessment (HESI A2) exam prior to program application. Graduates are conferred an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree.

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing - There are three options to gain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in EKU. The traditional 4-year BSN program, 2nd degree BSN program, and RN-BSN program.

The traditional 4-year BSN program is designed for high school graduates who would like to pursue a nursing education. The curriculum is a blend of professional nursing, general education courses and clinical education. However, for those with baccalaureate degrees in other fields, the 65-credit Second Degree BSN is designed for them. This intensive program can be completed in 21 months in an online course of study.

Another option is the RN to BSN program. This 29-credit hour program is designed for registered nurses and can be completed in as fast as 18 months.

Master of Science in Nursing - EKU offers two tracks for Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)—Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner and Rural Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Both are conducted 100% online with up to 12 hours transfer credit. The former is a 47-credit hour track which focuses on disease prevention and health promotion, while the latter consists of 49 credit hours with emphasis on addressing mental health needs in various clinical settings.

Post-MSN Certificates - Two tracks for Post-MSN Certificates are also offered—as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Both are done fully online with up to 9 hours transfer credit. The former consists of 22-32 credit hours which focuses on acute and chronic health conditions primary care, while the latter is a 25-34 credit hour track which is aimed to meet the mental health needs of the populace.

 Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-MSN DNP concentration in Organizational Leadership) - This 32-38 credit hour program prepares students to become innovators and leaders in improving health outcomes. It is a practice-focused program which is conducted 100% online with up to12 hours transfer credits.

The nursing school at Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution located in Richmond, Kentucky. Its nursing programs are accredited by ACEN, ACME, CCNE and COA.

Degree types you can earn at Eastern Kentucky University include Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nursing, and the school provides its offerings to students via campus and online formats. The level of nursing programs offered to nursing students include Accelerated BSN, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, MSN to DNP, Post Master's NP Certificate and RN to BSN level degrees.

For nursing students in Kentucky, the state average NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is 88.18% and for BSN programs is 88.85%. The average national NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is 85.48% and for BSN programs is 87.22%.

Out of 37 nursing schools in Kentucky, the nursing program at Eastern Kentucky University ranks #4 in the state, and out of more than 1,700 nursing programs nationally, it ranks #69. It's 3-year average NCLEX-RN passing rate is 97.00%, giving the Eastern Kentucky University an overall grade of A.

Nursing Program Stats at a Glance for Eastern Kentucky University

• Grade: A
• NCLEX-RN Passing Rate Average: 97.00%
• Kentucky State Rank: 4
• National Rank: 69

Best Online Nursing Programs for Kentucky Students

In-state nursing schools are preferable to out-of-state programs as your tuition and logistics for attending school will be considerably less than if you attended school out-of-state. Online nursing schools are also an option.

Compare Kentucky Nursing School Rankings