Online ABSN for Missouri Residents
Missouri is the place to become a Registered Nurse.
Employment opportunities for Registered Nurses (RNs) are expected to increase 16.2 percent in Missouri by 2028, with an average of 5,530 openings each year.
In Missouri, Registered Nurses earn an annual mean wage of $71,860, with the top 10 percent earning $94,340 per year. The top-paying metropolitan area for registered nurses in Missouri is Kansas City, with an annual mean wage of $76,580, followed by St. Louis, with an annual mean wage of $75,170.
There’s a lot to love about the Show-Me State—including the many possibilities for your career. Engage next-level education, create new opportunities, and improve patient outcomes as an RN in Missouri.
Ready to make a change? Let’s find the online ABSN program that’s right for you.
Get Started on Your Missouri Nursing Career Sooner
An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program can be completed in under two years.
Nurses with a BSN are becoming the industry standard, with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing strongly encouraging nurses to obtain bachelor’s degrees. Employers are also seeking to fulfill the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation of an 80 percent bachelor-holding workforce.
Universities nationwide are offering a host of accredited, online ABSN programs with various specializations open to residents of Missouri. More than ever before, you can choose a career path that best suits your interests, background, and career goals.
16.2%
increase in Missouri nursing jobs by 2028
5,530
nursing job openings per year
$71,860
average salary for a nurse in Missouri
How to Get Your Nursing License in Missouri
According to the Missouri Board of Nursing, the state’s nursing licensure requirements are*:
- Graduation and transcripts from an approved ADN or BSN program
- Passing score on the NCLEX exam
- Application (there is no fee for first-time applicants)
- Criminal background check
Missouri is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. Nurses with an NLC license can practice in their home state and any other Compact state or US territory that honors the Compact.
* The information in this resource is up to date as of March 2024. Remember that state-specific requirements for licensure change often, so you should also check the official nursing board website for your state to verify the current standards.
Find Your Passion and Your Specialty as a Nurse in Missouri
Specializing gives nurses the opportunity to focus on a specific area of care and hone their clinical skills. Nurses who specialize can also choose from a wide variety of work environments.
Here are just a few examples of available nursing specialties:
- Clinical Development Specialist
- Geriatrics Specialist
- Hospice Nurse
- Home Health Care
- Infection Control
- Labor and Delivery Nurse
- Nurse Educator
With nearly 3 million nurses nationwide, those who pursue a specialty are in prime position to receive top pay in their field—especially as experience is gained.
Rockhurst University Online ABSN Program
Rockhurst is a Jesuit University located in Kansas City, Missouri. Their Saint Luke’s™ College of Nursing and Health Sciences is committed to preparing the health care workforce of tomorrow by offering undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate programs for adult learners with an emphasis on the education of the whole person. Rockhurst's hybrid accelerated nursing is a full-time program that prepares you to become a skilled nurse in just 16 months.
Admission requirements for this nursing degree program are outlined below:
- Bachelor’s degree in any field
- 2.7 cumulative GPA or higher
- Resume
- Completion of prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C, including:
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II with lab (8 credits)
- Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
- General Chemistry or Organic Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
- Nutrition (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Life Span/Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
Some of the many benefits of Rockhurst's online ABSN program include the following:
- Clinical placement services – Rockhurst's clinical placement team works closely with you to provide a seamless placement experience, ensuring your rotations meet University and national guidelines. Based on your goals and where you live, your placement coordinator will identify an appropriate site and preceptor for you within a reasonable driving distance.
- Holistic nursing education – Guided by Jesuit values, Rockhurst University prepares advanced practice nurses to care for the needs of the whole person through rigorous academics, rich and varied clinical experiences, and a spirit of inquiry and reflection.
- Proven academic excellence – Rockhurst’s BSN program boasts a 100% graduate employment rate.
