Nursing, Associate in Applied Science Degree

New State of Iowa program can pay your tuition, click here to find out more about the Last Dollar Scholarship. 

Program Description for Nursing


Eastern Iowa Community Colleges provide students with the choice of either the Practical Nursing Diploma program or the Associate Degree Nursing ADN program.

The Practical Nurse program of study is 11 months/ 47 credit hours. Twenty-seven of the total number of credit hours is offered in nursing. The PN cares for the sick, injured, convalescent, and disabled, under the supervision of physicians and registered nurses.

The ADN program is 22 months/ 73.5 credit hours. Fifty-four of the total number hours are offered in nursing. The RN works to promote health, prevent disease and help patients cope with illness.

With just one year of formal preparation in the Practical Nursing program, students are academically qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Practical Nursing. After completion of the two-year ADN program, students are academically qualified to take the NCLEX for Registered Nursing.

The clinical component of the course of study is a strength of the programs. There are two clinical days per week, on average, in both programs. This is a combination of direct patient care, care conferences, observational experiences and nursing simulation laboratory experiences.

Award Options for Nursing

Job Outlook for Nursing

Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster than the average and, because the occupation is very large, 581,500 new jobs will result, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation. The graduate will earn approximately $41,600 in Iowa and the surrounding area. Most RNs top salary in this area will be approximately $62,000. (These projections are for RNs that have no higher degrees.)

For details, please visit this link http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ new window

 

University of Iowa and EICC Announce New 3+1.5 Nursing Partnership


The University of Iowa College of Nursing
and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) have entered into an exciting new agreement, allowing EICC nursing graduates to seamlessly transfer to the University of Iowa (UI) and complete their Bachelors of Nursing Science (BSN) degree in a year and a half.

This articulation agreement, which is called “RN to BSN 3+1.5,” is significant for both EICC nursing students who wish to pursue their BSN, and the healthcare community as the need for nurses continues to rise. By enrolling in this online program, qualifying EICC students who have completed their nursing degree can continue their education by attaining their BSN through UI’s Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program.

See the full University of Iowa/EICC 3 + 1.5 Nursing Program articulation agreement here new window



According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the national average compared to other jobs. The Iowa Board of Nursing reports that nearly half (44.9%) of registered nurses in Iowa are 50 years old or older. This partnership will enable EICC graduates to help fill the void of the aging and retiring nursing workforce while allowing them to continue working in their communities as they complete their degree.

 

Significant Points for Nursing

According to the Department of Labor Statistics, overall job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be very excellent, but may vary by employment and geographic setting. Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016, and because the occupation is very large, many new jobs will result.

In fact, registered nurses are projected to generate 587,000 new jobs, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation.

Everyone learns differently, and it's no secret that nursing classes can be challenging. In addition to the academic support areas and peer tutoring opportunities available at each college, the nursing program has adopted the Assessment Technologies Institute's (ATI) program.

ATI can help students identify areas in which they need additional academic help and then offers both online and traditional reading materials, videos, practice assessments and internet sources designed to do just that. Please note there is a charge to nursing students for the ATI program. The cost is $125 per semester once the student formally enters the nursing curriculum.

 

Factsheet - ADN (PDF),  Factsheet - PN (PDF)

Locations: Clinton Community College, Muscatine Community College, Scott Community College

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