The ONLY nursing program in Kansas that achieved a 100% NCLEX first-time pass rate in 2022 and 2023
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Bethel College is valued throughout the Midwest for the quality of our graduates. Let our program help you achieve your goals!
Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program offers students a dynamic course of study that is theoretical and practical. The program prepares graduates to work in various clinical settings and provides the foundation for master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing. Graduates of the BSN program will be prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
BSN coursework emphasizes critical thinking and clinical judgment, integration of knowledge from nursing, biological and behavioral sciences, and the humanities in the planning, implementing, and evaluating of nursing care, application of research findings to demonstrate evidence-based nursing practice, and nursing leadership, and offers a variety of hospital and community settings for clinical experiences.
Why Choose Bethel College?
- faith-based practice
- patient-centered curriculum
- opportunities to serve locally and even overseas
- research experience
- low faculty-student ratio and personalized attention
- simulation & virtual reality experiential learning
- leadership development
The Bethel College nursing program has a competitive yet holistic admissions process for students who wish to enter the nursing program in the final two years of study.
Early Acceptance to the Bethel College Department of Nursing is designed for high-achieving high school students who want guaranteed admission into the nursing program after all prerequisite coursework. The Department of Nursing admits 46 students every fall semester.
Early Acceptance
- Students wishing to seek early acceptance should apply and be accepted to Bethel College within the fall of their final year of high school.
- Students should then complete an application to the nursing program, indicating Early Acceptance, by March 1 of their final year of high school.
Criteria for Early Acceptance
- Minimum 24 ACT Composite score, or 1110 SAT Total score
- Minimum 3.5 high school GPA (can be weighted or unweighted)
- Completion of the Nursing Pre-Admission Test (given by Bethel Department of Nursing staff)
- Two letters of reference
- Oral and written interview
Students selected for the Early Acceptance Guarantee will be notified of their acceptance by May 1 of their final year of high school.
Once approved for Early Acceptance, a student must:
- Provide official high school transcripts with a GPA of 3.5
- Maintain a minimum 2.75 college cumulative GPA
- Earn a C or better (not C-) in all prerequisite courses
- Complete all prerequisite courses before starting nursing coursework.
Failure to meet the above criteria will result in removing Early Acceptance status and requiring reapplication to the nursing program.
Students not selected for Early Acceptance can enroll in prerequisite courses at Bethel College and apply for admission in the fall semester of their second year of college enrollment.
Once you have submitted your transcripts and test scores to admissions and your letters of reference to Tammy Shirley, you can sign up to interview and complete your pre-admission test.
Nursing Admission Requirements
Bethel College offers a 4-year Baccalaureate degree through the generic program and articulation policies. Admission to the Department of Nursing at Bethel College occurs yearly for the fall semester. All students requesting admission to the nursing major will be considered by the Admissions and Progressions committee under the same criteria.
- General education competency as documented in the Bethel College Catalog. (math, oral & writing)
- A cumulative GPA of at least 2.75
- Completion of ALL pre-requisite nursing/required supporting courses with a grade of C (not C-) or better
- An applicant must not have more than 9 hours of general education courses &/or competencies left to complete by Aug. 1st before starting the nursing program.
- Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Pathophysiology must be completed within five years before the start of the fall nursing program. The only exception is if the student holds a current LPN license in Kansas and is employed and working a minimum of half-time or greater.
- Ability to meet Bethel College Department of Nursing Technical Standards for Nursing Practice Policy
Nursing Application Process
Completed application packets will include:
- Application to Bethel College- https://engage.bethelks.edu
- Written essay-a minimum 500-word essay on your interest in nursing and what goal you have as a member of the nursing profession
- Two completed reference forms from-(1) an employer and (2) a minister/rabbi/youth sponsor, academic advisor, or health professional
- Official transcripts for evaluation of previously completed courses requesting to be transferred to meet general education and/or nursing prerequisite requirements
- ACT scores
- TOEFL exam scores-students whose primary language is not English
Upon submission of a completed application packet, arrangements will be made with the applicant for the final step in the application process, which must be completed by July 1st before the fall start of the nursing program:
- Nursing Pre-Admissions Test (NPAT)
- Interview– including oral (informational only) and written components
The Bethel College Department of Nursing utilizes a holistic admission process in considering applicants for admission to the nursing program. Each applicant is assessed using various factors, including unique experiences, attributes, and academic metrics, to determine academic readiness and potential for success.
Licensure Disclosure Statement
Potential Limits to Receiving a Nursing License
The Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) may deny a license to practice nursing as a registered professional nurse if the applicant has been guilty of a felony or guilty of a misdemeanor involving an illegal drug offense unless the applicant establishes sufficient rehabilitation to warrant the public trust. No license shall be granted to a person with a felony conviction of a crime against persons as specified in Article 34 of Chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated and Acts and Amendments. Also considered are the patterns of practice and other behaviors exhibiting an apparent incapacity to practice nursing as described in 65-1120 in the Kansas Nurse Practice Act (https://ksbn.kansas.gov/npa/). All criminal history must be revealed to and will be evaluated by the KSBN before licensure is granted or denied.
Other state boards of nursing also set forth legal limitations for RN licensure. Please consult the state board in question regarding specific legal limitations.
Nurse Licensure Compact
The Nursing Licensure Compact is an agreement among states that allows nurses licensed in a compact state to practice in another state. Kansas participates in the agreement so that nurses licensed in Kansas can practice in other states. States that do not belong to the compact may have additional requirements for licensure than provided for in the Bethel College educational program. More information about the national nursing compact requirements can be found at National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
We recommend students contact the appropriate state licensing agency in their state or the state where they intend to work to seek the most up-to-date information about state licensure/certification requirements before beginning the program.
Goals of the Nursing Program
The goal of the Bethel College nursing program is to prepare pre-licensure baccalaureate nurses for novice positions in diverse settings in healthcare. This preparation allows graduates to work as direct and indirect providers of care, designers, coordinators, and managers of care, and to be a member of the nursing profession and advocate for patients, populations, and the profession.
Mission
The Bethel College Department of Nursing aims to educate exemplary generalist nurses committed to pursuing transformational nursing service, leadership, and scholarship within the global community.
Philosophy
Invoking the mission, vision, and values of Bethel College, we, the Bethel College Department of Nursing faculty, believe that nursing is both an art and a science, a profession requiring lifelong learning and a calling to the service of others. As such, this faculty aims to provide an empowering, student-centered educational experience emphasizing safety through incorporating evidence-based practice, holistic, individualized care, and professionalism.
Nursing Scholarship Information
By posting these links, Bethel College does not claim the validity/reliability or currency of the potential scholarships but makes them available as a service to students and potential students. You should carefully and critically evaluate the requirements of a desired scholarship to determine fit and eligibility. Kansas State Board of Nursing:http://www.discovernursing.com/ Kansas Nurses Foundation:www.ksnurses.com Scholarships for junior nursing students who are residents of six specific Kansas counties or are enrolled in nursing programs in any of those six counties:www.marshasangels.org Scholarships for junior nursing students who are graduates of high schools in six specific Kansas counties and enrolled in no less than 6 credit hours:www.machhealthfound.info Federally funded nursing scholarships:http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/scholarships/nursing/ American Association of Colleges of Nursing:http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/financialaid.htm National League for Nursing:https://www.nln.org/education/training/professional-development-programs/grants-and-scholarships
Additional Links for Individual Scholarships:
- http://www.topekacommunityfoundation.org/field-of-study
- http://www.tylenol.com/scholarship
- http://www.kha-net.org/aboutkha/kherffoundation/scholarshipskherf/
- http://www.bestnursingdegree.com/scholarship
- http://nurse.org/resources/nurse-practitioner/#scholarship
- http://machealthfound.info/fundscholarship.html
An articulation agreement with Eastern Mennonite University is available to two Bethel graduates annually to continue their education. The EMU Master of Science in Nursing program is an online platform designed for working nurses who must maintain commitments and remain on the job while developing leadership for healthcare systems, multicultural settings, school nurse settings, and the nonprofit sector. Full-time students can earn their degree in as little as 24 months. If you want to learn more about this program, don’t hesitate to contact the Bethel College Director of Nursing or visit https://emu.edu/msn/.
Nursing Program Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Bethel College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org/).
