Month: February 2016

KCKCC becomes first in Kansas to offer new nursing program

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College is one of the first community colleges in the nation to collaborate with a four-year university in the creation of a program that allows students to earn an associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree in nursing simultaneously.

The Kansas University Community College Nursing Partnership Program is a result of a study done by the KU School of Nursing. Anita Krondak, interim dean of allied health and nursing at KCKCC, said that about three years ago, KU officials met with community college representatives in the state to learn about the nursing curriculum offered at each school and the transferability of those courses.

What came out of that discussion was the KUCCNP Program, which allows students to earn both an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the same time. This allows students to bypass the traditional RN licensure associate degree in nursing step that is typically required prior to starting an RN to BSN program. Currently, KCKCC is the only community college in the state of Kansas and one of a few in the nation to offer such a partnership. This semester, there are more than 10 students in the program, two of which who will be graduating in May.

“This gives our students the ability to study at home, while earning both degrees at the same time,” Krondak said. “This program is rigorous but has huge benefits for the graduates financially and in the job market.”

Prior to entering the program, students must complete all 60 hours of the prerequisite courses required to enter both the KCKCC and KU nursing programs. Once those are completed, students must be admitted to the KCKCC ADN program and apply for admission to the KU School of Nursing. KU will consider KCKCC newly admitted nursing students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5. The programs must be started in the same semester.

“A lot of hospitals give preference to graduates who have a BSN,” Krondak said. “I believe in the long run, we are going to start seeing more and more employers going to a BSN requirement when hiring nurses. I do think that is where we are headed in the next 10 years and this gives our ADN graduates an advantage.”

Students in the KUCCNP Program are required to enroll in at least six credit hours of KU School of Nursing courses each semester in addition to the regular ADN courses. Students in the partnership program will complete their KCKCC coursework on the main KCKCC campus. This includes classes such as Health Assessment, Homeostatic Concepts, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, among others. The KU courses will be completed at the same time in an online format.

“So for students in the KUCCNP program, they can complete an ADN and a BSN for about $40,000. That’s about half price compared to completing the programs separately,” Krondak said. “KCKCC was a great choice for this program because our curriculum was already aligned to do it. It is a financial benefit for students and gives them an edge when they are looking for that first job.”

For more information on the KUCCNP Program, contact the KU School of Nursing at [email protected] or by calling 913-588-1619. Information is also available by contacting KCKCC’s Divison of Allied Health and Nursing at 913-288-7626.

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

KCKCC sweeps Highland; in basketball playoff semifinal at JCCC Tuesday

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

The Blue Devils of Kansas City Kansas Community College will get one more shot at No. 7 ranked Johnson County.

A 73-66 home win over Highland Saturday vaulted the Blue Devils (20-11) into the Region VI Division II playoff semifinals at JCCC (25-5) Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. immediately following the JCCC-Hesston women’s semifinals at 5:30 p.m.

KCKCC’s No. 11 ranked women will be in the other Region VI semifinals Tuesday, playing host to No. 4 ranked Highland at 7 p.m.

Tuesday’s KCKCC-JCCC clash will be the third meeting of the two teams, the Cavaliers winning 86-72 on the road and 71-59 at home. However, JCCC has lost three of its last four games to Brown Mackie, Highland and Hesston.

“Johnson County is really good,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. “We’ve got to be ready for Tuesday because it’s going to be a dogfight.”

KCKCC posted a three-game sweep over Highland, winning the first two meetings in the closing minutes. Saturday they did it to start a second half that started 26-26, holding the Scotties scoreless the first five minutes while surging to a 36-26 lead and staying in front the rest of the way.

Three times Highland got within four points. Dehaven Talley turned back the first two rallies with a three-pointer and two free throws; Mike Lee choked off the final threat with a trey and a layup to help rebuild the lead to 54-45 with 4:10 left.

The Blue Devils were just 7-of-22 from three-point range but all seven treys were critical. In addition to those by Talley and Lee, Kellan Turner and Armonti Shorter each had a pair in a first half that had five ties and six lead changes and Turner had another that pushed KCKCC to its biggest lead of the second half 39-28.

“Quality threes, very timely,” Newton said.

A trio of guards combined for 48 points to lead the Blue Devil offense. Shorter had a career high 20 points including 8-of-9 free throws and six rebounds, Lee had 15 points and Turner 13 including three threes. Lee also came close to a triple double, handing out 10 assists and leading all rebounders with seven. The guard contributions were critical because the Blue Devils’ five big men managed a combined 11 shots, the most four by Jonathan Murray who made three and finished with 13 points.

“Getting out in front the start of the second half was big for us,” Newton said. “We had one opportunity the first half when we got out in front 26-20 but they scored the last six for a halftime tie. It was important in the second half that we got the stops and were able to score. The first half we were able to get stops but couldn’t score.”

Outshot 44 percent to 36 percent, the Blue Devils were 12-of-23 for 52.2 percent the second half, made 20 of 26 free throws and outrebounded the Scotties 16-11.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.

High fire danger today, weather service says

National Weather Service graphic
National Weather Service graphic

Warm, dry, and breezy south-southwest winds will lead to a high fire danger today, the National Weather Service said.

Outdoor burning is discouraged, extreme care should be taken with open flames and cigarette butts should be properly extinguished, according to the weather service.

Rain may mix with snow across the region to the north Tuesday morning and again on Thursday morning, however little to no accumulation is expected, the weather service said.

Springlike temperatures today will be followed by a cold front moving in on Tuesday, according to the weather service.

Today’s high will be about 69, the weather service said, with a south southwest wind of 13 to 20 mph, gusting to 29 mph.

Tonight, there is a 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after midnight, according to the weather service. The low will be around 37, and it will be windy.

Tuesday, expect a big drop in temperatures, as the high will be near 43, the weather service said. There is a 20 percent chance of rain before noon Tuesday. Winds will be from the north northwest at 14 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 24 mph.

Tuesday night’s low will be around 26, the weather service said.

Wednesday’s high will be near 55, with a south wind from 11 to 16 mph in the morning, gusting as high as 23 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, according to the weather service, with a low of 39.

Thursday, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, with a high near 49, the weather service said.