FHSU University Communications
Fort Hays State University’s new hybrid pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program opened its inaugural semester this fall, welcoming its first cohort of 10 students.
The program offers a flexible combination of online and face-to-face learning experiences, with theory-based courses delivered online and synchronous class sessions allowing for real-time interaction with instructors and classmates. Lab and clinical experiences are bundled together, enabling students to make fewer trips to Hays while still receiving hands-on training.
“We are excited to offer this type of nursing education to students who are place-bound due to either work or family commitments,” said Tanya Smith, assistant chair of FHSU’s nursing department. “While the program maintains its quality and rigor, having the ability to complete the coursework required on the student’s time schedule instead of a structured schedule has been beneficial to the students in this program.”
For many students, this format provides an accessible path to a nursing degree while balancing life’s many responsibilities.
“This program allows me to work my 8-5 job and still have time to do homework after, versus being on campus all day and having to find an evening job,” said Gabrielle De Waal, an LPN at a clinic in Hays who is also planning a spring wedding. “It definitely is more flexible.”
Angelica Garcia, another member of the inaugural cohort, said the program allows her to focus on raising her son at home.
“I would rather raise my boy with my husband and avoid daycare,” she said. “Everything I would make would go straight to daycare. It’s just so expensive.”
Other students shared how the program’s structure fits into their busy lives:
• Andrea Hensley, Overland Park, a mother of three who also works two jobs, said she applied after hearing about the program through a client at her spa. “If I get in, I’m doing it,” she recalled telling her husband. “And here I am.”
• Janine Van Niekerk, Arapahoe, Neb., a mother of six, called the program “a blessing,” adding, “I previously looked into a traditional BSN, but I couldn’t commit to five days a week. Online is easier to manage.”
During the fall semester, hybrid students spend three to four days on campus and two to three days in a senior living community, with the remainder of coursework online. While students say online learning requires discipline and self-motivation, they also praised the accessibility and responsiveness of their instructors.
Dr. Jenny Manry, chair of the Department of Nursing, said she is ecstatic about the hybrid program.
“We are excited that this program will benefit students and their local communities,” she said. “By educating students in place, we will impact the healthcare in the communities where they reside.”
Admission to the hybrid program occurs once per year, beginning each fall. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the cohort is filled.
For more information or to apply, contact: Dr. Tanya Smith, Coordinator of the BSN Program
Email: [email protected]