Becoming a nurse in Kansas first requires completion of an accredited nursing program. Potential students have plentiful options of where to do this, with many choices for Kansas nursing schools, online or campus-based. These institutions include the University of Kansas, Fort Hays State University and Kansas City Community College.

With a nursing degree and a license, nurses may seek positions in one of a number of settings--hospitals, medical offices, clinics, schools and more. A sampling of the state's major health care employers includes these:

• Lawrence Memorial Hospital
• Via Christi Health System
• Overland Park Regional Medical Center
• Other facilities in the HCA Midwest Health System

The number of community hospitals in Kansas is higher than the national average, according to the Think Kansas website, and many hospitals offer progressive health care, education and research.

Why choose online nursing schools in Kansas

Kansans boast a rich quality of life, true to the state's cowboy and pioneering history. The U.S. Census Bureau counted a population of about 2.9 million people in 2010. The Sunflower State encompasses big cities, small towns, wide open spaces and 24 state parks. Typically, commuting times are short and traffic is minimal compared to many U.S. cities. In terms of the economy, the major industries in the state include the following:

• Advanced composites and plastics
• Animal health
• Aviation and aerospace
• Bioscience
• Manufacturing
• Transportation and logistics

As a bonus, Kansas' cost of living is among the lowest in the nation, at 8th lowest of all states in the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center's 2nd quarter 2011 figures. Licensed practical and vocational nurses in the state earned a mean annual salary in 2010 of $36,820, while registered nurses earned $57,470, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.