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°Ä¿Í×ãÇò and Keypath Education will launch four new online and hybrid degree programs, including two online graduate programs, one online graduate certificate program and one hybrid undergraduate degree designed to further °Ä¿Í×ãÇò’s goal to become a regional leader in healthcare education and to help fill the need for skilled, compassionate healthcare providers.

The new programs scheduled to launch in August 2022 are:

• Hybrid Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
  • Dual Track Program: FNP and AGACNP
• Second Master of Science in Nursing, FNP
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate

With so many nursing students living in rural areas — including 25% of Missourians — these programs will be offered predominately online with campus residencies to build and assess clinical competencies. The hybrid ABSN involves a two-week clinical residency at health centers in or near Kansas City for hands-on instruction, skill-building and direct patient care experiences. These offerings expand Rockhurst's on-campus programs to enable future and existing students to meet the healthcare needs of diverse populations through rigorous academics, rich and varied clinical experiences and a spirit of inquiry and reflection.

“By partnering with Keypath Education to offer these nursing programs in low residency format to students outside Kansas City, Rockhurst graduates will be able to serve the varied and complex healthcare needs of individuals and organizations in rural areas. These programs will provide opportunities for students to develop a meaningful career while addressing healthcare disparities in their communities,” said Kristina Henry, DNP, associate dean for nursing and chief nursing academic administrator.

As one of 27 Catholic, Jesuit higher education institutions in the United States, °Ä¿Í×ãÇò offers a learner-centered, service-oriented, and community-minded approach, developing reflective leaders who are ethical, inclusive, and compassionate professionals committed to promoting justice for all.

 “At °Ä¿Í×ãÇò, we are committed to caring for and being with others in and outside the classroom and to offering a learning environment that emphasizes social justice and service,” said the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., president of °Ä¿Í×ãÇò. “By partnering with Keypath Education, Rockhurst will be able to extend our reach to a more diverse student cohort of nursing professionals who will put ‘cura personalis’ [care of the whole person] into action.”

"Across the state of Missouri, we’re seeing a shortage in health professionals as 70 out of 114 counties were designated as health professional shortage areas for primary care according to Rural Health Information Hub," said Steve Fireng, global CEO at Keypath Education. “This suite of programs from °Ä¿Í×ãÇò will enable students who live outside of the local Kansas City area the ability to upskill and reskill to become registered nurses and nurse practitioners and directly impact the lives of Missourians across the state.”