University of Nebraska Medical Center hears employer feedback; adds twice-yearly admissions to UNK College of Nursing

KEARNEY, Neb. (NCN) - The University of Nebraska Medical Center is taking a flexible approach to expanding its nursing college on the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus.

UNMC leaders asked employers what would be the most helpful way to expand. They said they want a cohort of students who graduate during the winter.

“Being able to know that you’ll have a group of graduates twice a year helps smooth out the hiring process,” UNMC College of Nursing Dean Julie Sebastian said. “It also helps smooth out orientation for new nurses and identifying and assigning people to serve as preceptors for new nurses.”

UNMC’s Kearney nursing college will take its first winter class of 24 students in January 2024. Dean Julie Sebastian says there’s plenty of interest.

“We have strong applications for the College of Nursing and we really want to meet the demand of our employers in rural Nebraska,” Sebastian said. “We think on both sides of the equation, student demand and employer demand, this is a winning proposition.”

The program will continue to be in its existing building but could expand into UNK’S second health education building once it’s completed. The added students and second track is all part of an effort to address the state’s nursing shortage.

“We’ll be graduating up to 32 additional students every year. That’s 32 additional new nurses in the rural marketplace, so that’s critical,” Sebastian said.

Electronic application for admission to the first January cohort at the UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division will open soon. More information on the BSN admission requirements can be found here or by emailing the UNMC College of Nursing Students Services Office.