Missouri's only professional organization for all registered nurses is partnering with a college for a program that will provide tuition assistance for students earning an online bachelor's of science in nursing or an online master's of science in nursing.

Students who earn a bachelor's degree in the field may be suited for work in administrative positions, research, consulting and teaching, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the coming years, there will be a high demand for nurses with that degree for four advanced practice specialties, including nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists, it added.

The new program in Missouri will provide a special tuition rate for members of the professional organization, as well as a waived application fee and designated admissions representative to provide enrollment assistance.

"As healthcare evolves and becomes available for millions of new patients nationwide, the role of nurses is expanding, making our mission to promote and enhance registered professional nursing practice more important than ever," said Jill Kliethermes, CEO of the professional organization.