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Kentucky Nursing Overview

The current status of Kentucky nursing careers is very bright in a bleak job market. The unemployment rate across the State of Kentucky in March 2009 reached 10.3% according to Kentucky's Office of Employment and Training website. Despite this alarming statistic, Kentucky nursing careers remain available. The occupation of registered nurse actually tops "Kentucky Occupational Outlook to 2016" list of Top 50 Kentucky Occupations. The data from this list is ranked by total annual openings due to growth and replacements. The average annual number of job openings for registered nurses is projected to be 2,083. The average hourly wage in 2007 for Kentucky R.N.'s was $25.85.

Online colleges offering nursing programs in Kentucky


The most challenging aspect of becoming a nurse in the State of Kentucky at this time is similar to the problem that prospective nursing students are facing throughout the United States. A shortage of nursing faculty results in thousands of qualified applicants being turned away frequently. Online nursing programs may be the answer for many students facing this dilema. The educational requirements to become a registered nurse in the State of Kentucky involve obtaining an associate degree. Online nursing programs offering a degree in science with a major in nursing are available and actually may be more appealing to some students.

The State of Kentucky has not yet been hit as hard as many other states with the national nursing shortage crisis, but the supply of nurses is expected to fall short of demand beginning in 2012. It's estimated that by 2020 Kentucky will require an additional 6,800 nurses to fill Kentucky nursing positions in a variety of clinical settings. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis has reported that by 2020 there will be a shortage of more than one million nurses nationwide.

Along with the shortage of qualified nursing faculty to train and mentor prospective nurses are several other factors fueling this impending nursing shortage. Many nurses currently in place within the workforce are aging and will soon be retiring. The baby boomer generation is a huge segment of the nation's population that will soon place a massive strain on the health care system. Nurses are the front-line caregivers who will be needed to provide services to these aging individuals. The culmination of all of these elements will make a career choice in Kentucky nursing a wise decision for those looking for a second career or new high school graduates who desire job security and personal satisfaction from helping others.

Online Colleges Offering Nursing Degrees

Accreditation  

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Accreditation  

Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Accreditation  

Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation  

Western Governors University is the only university to have received simultaneous accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions. Currently, WGU’s "home" accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the same organization that accredits such leading institutions as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and other public and private colleges. WGU is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU is the first online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU’s Health Informatics program is now accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). WGU’s Nursing programs are CCNE accredited.

Accreditation  

Gonzaga University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges/Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges.

Campus Colleges Offering Nursing Degrees

Accreditation  

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Accreditation  

Kaplan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation  

Keiser University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097) to award certificates and degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.

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Nursing Salaries
Certified Nursing Assistant
$23,000
Registered Nursing
$53,000
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
$73,000
Licensed Practical Nurse
$40,000
 * Based on 5 years experience