Nebraska Methodist College Nursing Program Review

Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) was founded in 1981 to offer a diploma in nurse training. The college started under the Methodist Health System to which it is affiliated to up-to date. As the college was expanding, it started offering other allied health programs besides nursing. In 1989, the college was allowed to start offering four year baccalaureate nursing program and master programs were introduced in 2000. Nebraska Methodist College has so much to offer for the prospective nursing student since it is ‘health’ college only.  Students enjoy its benefits of a small, private dedicated health institution of higher learning.

Nursing Programs at Nebraska Methodist College

Nursing was the pioneer program at this Methodist Health System affiliated program. The program has therefore been developed and improved over a long period to ensure students get the best out of their studies. Nebraska Methodist College starts preparing future nurses from the Nursing Assisting level all the way to the Master level.  Several track options for the Bachelor and Master of Science in nursing dominate the nursing program list. All bachelor and master programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. It is also well known for its numerous online nursing program options.

Nurse Aide

The nurse aide is short but intensive course that trains students to become nursing assistants with emphasis on the aging population. The course takes five weeks to complete with classes being held at Josie Harper campus of Nebraska Methodist College. The last three days of the program involve an intensive clinical experience at Methodist Hospital. Classes meet every Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays, but students can be called upon for testing on Wednesdays. A sixth week is needed for State examinations and testing so that students can become certified in this field and be entered in the state’s Nurse Aide Registry.

Medication Aide

Candidates of the medication aide course must have completed a nurse aide course to be allowed to apply. In addition students must be currently listed in the state’s Nurse Aide Registry and provide prove of current placement as a nurse aide. The course includes the medication aide basics outlined on the states Medication Aide Act and takes four weeks to complete on a full-time basis. Over 7 admission cycles are done each year.

Nursing (BSN) Traditional

The traditional Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) at Nebraska Methodist College takes four years to complete. This pre-licensure program has a strong emphasis on community based nursing and takes a holistic approach to nursing. One interesting thing about the program is that students start on clinical nursing experience from the 2^nd semester of the freshman year. All courses are offered in a mixed version, such that general education and support courses are covered in tandem throughout the program.

Qualified candidates can place their applications at any time of the year but enrollment occurs in fall and spring semesters. After completion of the 127 required credits, students are awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and become eligible to write the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses (RN).

Nursing (BSN) Accelerated

This program is designed for those interested in changing their careers and switching to nursing. Candidates with a non-nursing associate or bachelor’s degree from a nationally accredited institution are welcome to apply. Students engage in an intensive study program to ensure they complete all nursing and supporting courses in 15 months of full time study

Courses for this Accelerated (ACE) program are offered in a hybrid format with majority courses being offered on-site and some selected ones online.   A minimum of 74 credits must be completed at Nebraska Methodist College to be allowed to graduate with a second degree in nursing. Students also become eligible to take the NLCEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. On a further note, there is a dedicated ACE BSN scholarship for students enrolled in this program; The Kathryn Montgomery ACE Scholarship.

LPN to BSN Degree Completion Program

This program is designed for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who want to make the transition into professional nursing. Candidates must have active and unrestricted LPN licenses besides meeting other general admission requirements. LPNs achieve the Advanced Placement status by completing 2 LPN transition courses. After passing the transition courses, 11 credits are awarded to the student BSN account. Upon admission, students must complete all support and general education courses in Phase I before progressing to the nursing courses in Phase II. Completion leads to eligibility to write the NCLEX-RN exam.

Online RN to BSN

The online registered nurse (RN) to BSN at Nebraska Methodist College is open to RNs who wish to take their education a level higher by completing a baccalaureate nursing degree. Candidates must have active licensures as RNs and must be holders of an associate or diploma in nursing. The curriculum for the program consist of 60 credits hours – 33 in nursing and 27 in general education.  Courses are offered online for 18 months but can also be completed on a longer part time basis. Only two courses have a clinical component that requires on-campus visits.

The program is completed in 2 phases whereby during phase I, all general education courses are completed. Phase II of the program is exclusively for the nursing major courses. There is also a special RN to BSN program for RN employees of Nebraska Methodist Hospital as explained below.

RN to BSN Nursing Academy NMH Nurses

This program is similar to the generic RN to BSN track above with regard to the admission requirements, number of courses, curriculum delivery mode and progression phases. However, to join this program, candidates must have worked at the Nebraska Methodist Hospital for at least 2 years. Through appraisal and service executive approval, RNs are able to join the nursing academy and study as a cohort group until completion.

The benefits of joining the academy include getting full sponsorship for completion of the 60 credits required. However, as pay back for the sponsorship, all nurses in this NMH nurses Academy must work for at least 24hrs/week during the period study and extend after graduation for another five years.

Graduate Nursing at Nebraska Methodist College

At graduate level, Nebraska Methodist College has two entry options for its 2 Master of Science in nursing (MSN) tracks as explained below:

RN to MSN Nurse Educator & RN to MSN Nurse Executive

This program is designed to help the RN to progress faster in completing master level education. The curriculum is designed to avoid repetitive mirroring of courses hence saving time. RNs take 18 credits of RN to MSN bridging courses that help cover concepts of the BSN curriculum and then progress to take the 36 MSN courses. The two tracks are available on both full time and part time study plans. 

Students taking the Nurse Educator track can take advantage of The Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP).  Although this is a federal loan, it is the only of its kind in the state and Nebraska Methodist College students are the only ones who receive such funding. However, the loan can only be granted to students who are enrolled in the full time study plan.

Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive

The two tracks are exclusively offered online and each carries an equal course load of 36 credit hours. Both programs can be completed in two years of full time study but part time study plans can be made on request. The candidates for this program must be BSN-Prepared and must have current unencumbered RN licensure prior to application. Qualified candidates of the full time Nurse Educator track can to benefit from the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) financial assistance.

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Nebraska Methodist College offers two Post- MSN certificate programs in the two tracks mentioned above i.e. Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive.  Both programs are offered online and consist of 14 credit hours each. Ideal candidates for these post-master’s programs are MSN graduates although Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS) graduates with non-nursing fields may be considered on an individual basis.

Contact:
Nebraska Methodist College
720 North 87^th Street, Omaha,
NE 68114