Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN —The shortage of registered nurses in Kansas and the nation is expected to increase in the next decade, and the Institute of Medicine recommends that 80 percent of Registered Nurses (RNs) obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) by 2020. In response to these concerns, Wichita State University and Kansas State University have combined resources and started the planning phase of a program that will give students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Health and Human Sciences at K-State, and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) from the College of Health Professions (CHP) at WSU.

Both degree programs will be based in Manhattan, Kansas. A memorandum of understanding was signed by administrators of each university Aug. 30, 2019 to officially initiate the planning phase, which will culminate in an application to the Kansas State Board of Nursing for the satellite program.

“The satellite BSN program will be a wonderful addition to our well-established, quality programs in the School of Nursing, “ said Sandra Bibb, dean of the WSU College of Health Professions. “Our college is committed to leading change in health care education, and this initiative furthers our mission to improve the health of our community in Kansas and beyond.”

“Our land-grant mission is to serve the well-being of our communities, and this unique partnership, which will bring WSU’s excellent nursing program to our campus, will do just that,” said Charles Taber, K-State provost and executive vice president. “Through this program, we will serve the demand for a nursing major at K-State, as well as the growing demand for nurses in Kansas and across the nation.”

Students will enroll in K-State’s College of Health and Human Sciences for the first three years, and, if accepted into WSU’s nursing program, will be WSU students on the K-State campus for the following two years. Students will receive access to all K-State student amenities throughout the program.

John Buckwalter, the Betty L. Tointon dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at K-State, said the program will bring great things to the university.

“We are extremely excited about developing this program with WSU,” he said. “We have students on campus who aspire to be nurses and many more who would have come to K-State if we had a nursing program. This partnership with WSU allows students to graduate from K-State and complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing through WSU in Manhattan, Kansas.”

Richard Muma, WSU provost added: “The students in Manhattan will receive the high-quality education and applied learning experiences WSU is known for, while ultimately improving the quality of care for patients. This partnership is an innovative collaboration that will serve our students and help meet the health care needs of Kansas.”

For questions regarding the program, contact Voncella McCleary-Jones, associate dean of the WSU College of Health Professions and chair of the school of nursing, at voncella.mccleary-jones@wichita.edu, or Shawna Jordan, assistant dean of the K-State College of Health and Human Sciences, at hhs@k-state.edu.

Flood Watch National Weather Service Topeka KS Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Riley-Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson- Dickinson-Geary-Morris-Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage- Franklin-Coffey-Anderson- Including the cities of Marysville, Blue Rapids, Frankfort, Sabetha, Seneca, Hiawatha, Horton, Manhattan, Wamego, St. Marys, Holton, Valley Falls, Oskaloosa, Perry, McLouth, Grantville, Meriden, Nortonville, Abilene, Herington, Junction City, Council Grove, Alma, Eskridge, Maple Hill, Alta Vista, McFarland, Harveyville, Paxico, Topeka, Lawrence, Emporia, Osage City, Carbondale, Lyndon, Burlingame, Overbrook, Ottawa, Burlington, Lebo, and Garnett ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON... The Flash Flood Watch continues for * Portions of east central and northeast Kansas. * From 7 PM CDT this evening through Sunday afternoon * Thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall are expected to develop across the area tonight and continue into the day on Sunday. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected with locally higher amounts around 4 inches possible. This amount of rainfall in a short period of time could cause flash flooding. * Rapid rises of rivers, streams, and low water crossing could occur. Roadways could become flooded. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to see flooded roadways.

By STEPHEN KORANDA

TOPEKA, Kansas — When Gov. Laura Kelly signed a proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in Kansas this week, she hailed the culture and diversity that Latinos bring to the state. She also gave a serious warning.

Carlos Urquilla-Diaz takes down a sign after a news conference at the Kansas Statehouse on Wednesday. He’s a partnership specialist with the U.S. Census and is traveling the state to talk about the importance of the count.
STEPHEN KORANDA / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

If the state’s 350,000 Latinos don’t take part in the 2020 census, she said, Kansas could lose federal money and, potentially, representation in Congress.

“We cannot overstate it,” the Democratic governor told a crowd at the Statehouse. “The 2020 census is critical.”

The census approaches as the national immigration debate is wrapped in intense rhetoric, calls for building a wall on the southern border and an uptick in federal enforcement actions.

“I’m concerned that they will be afraid to be counted,” Kelly said. “I just want to reassure them they have nothing to worry about. Their voice counts.”

That’s why it’s a top priority for the executive director of the administration’s Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission, Audé Negrete.

She said there are multiple challenges: Census documents are printed in Spanish, but some Spanish-speakers may be nervous about talking to a census worker who doesn’t speak the language. She also is combating misconceptions that census data could be used by immigration enforcement.

“If they have a mixed-status family, they might not want the one person to be in danger if they were to answer the census,” she said.

Census data is confidential, and Negrete’s group has been working to let people know that there will not be a citizenship question on the form because the U.S. Supreme Court blocked it.

Why it matters

The federal government uses census data to determine how to distribute funding for everything from school lunches to transportation. Private developers analyze it when planning housing projects and new businesses. So, an inaccurate count could mean the state misses out on federal money and development.

“If only 20 people answer the census but 100 live in a town, we’re going to have resources for 20 but have to serve 100,” Negrete said.

Plus, state lawmakers use census data to redraw legislative districts, which will happen in 2022, and the federal government doles out seats in the U.S. House of Representatives based on the numbers.

Negrete’s group is holding listening sessions around Kansas to get a feel for which issues are on the minds of Latinos. In general, people aren’t asking about the census, and Negrete said she’s bringing up the topic to get ahead of that knowledge gap.

It’s not just state officials working to raise awareness and dispel concerns. The U.S. Census Bureau also has staff working in Kansas.

Carlos Urquilla-Diaz, a partnership specialist with the census, unfurled large banners and distributed printouts with census data ahead of Wednesday’s proclamation signing. He’s been traveling the state meeting with anyone who wants to know about the census.

“We bring information, we teach,” he said. “We go to different communities and we start with the highest elected official, in most cases, of that community.”

Kansas won’t have another shot to get an accurate count until 2030, and Negrete said it has long-term impacts.

“Elections are two years, four years, six years. The census is 10 years,” she said. “It affects everyone.”

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda or email skoranda (at) ku (dot) edu.

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