Associate Degree Nursing

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The Associate Degree Nursing program is designed to prepare men and women for general staff registered nursing positions which involve direct care of patients. NIACC offers two routes of entry into the program. One program is designed for beginning students, and the other is for Licensed Practical Nurses desiring to continue their education to become a registered nurse. The program is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326, 404-975-5000, www.nlnac.org). The ADN program articulates with 4-year nursing baccalaureate programs in Iowa allowing graduates to continue their nursing education. The University of Iowa College of Nursing offers an RN-BSN Progression Program on the NIACC campus.

Upon completion of the program, students are awarded an associate degree in applied science and are then prepared to work in a beginning staff nurse position. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam. After passing this exam, the graduate receives registered nurse status.

100% of available NIACC graduates are employed in training-related jobs.
(2007 NIACC Career Graduate Report)

Entrance Requirements:

The applicant must complete the application process through the health professions counselor in the Student Services Office or online. An application to the ADN program, high school transcript, GED scores (if applicable), all college transcripts and results of the ACT must be in the applicant's folder before the admissions committee takes action on acceptance into the Associate Degree Nursing Program. A ranking process will be used by the Admissions Committee in the review of ADN applications. Applicants will receive points for the requirements met and applicants will be ranked by the number of points earned.

All applicants must complete a high school diploma or equivalency program. The date of formal application to the program will be the date the applicant submits a complete application to the ADN program. Final acceptance to the program will be when the applicant has been selected according to the ranking process and has successfully completed all of the prerequisites for the ADN program. The date of application will be factored in if two or more applicants tie for the same rank. Completed applications are reviewed starting in October for the next academic year. Applicants will be ranked by the following criteria

1. One point will be earned for graduating in the upper half of a high school class or for achieving a GED average standard score of 530 or above.

2. One point will be earned for graduating from high school with at least a 3.00 GPA.

3. One point will be earned for an ACT composite score of 20. Students who have not taken the ACT should contact the Admissions Office or go to ACT’s website (www.ACT.org) for information about the test. Some students may have COMPASS or ASSET or SAT scores that were used for initial placement in NIACC courses; these tests will not be used for the ACT ranking points. If an ADN applicant wants to earn this point, then the applicant must take the ACT exams.

4. One point will be earned for achieving a 2.25 GPA with completion of at least 12 credit hours of the prescribed support courses in the Associate Degree Nursing curriculum. If a student has exceeded 12 credit hours from the prescribed curriculum, these courses will also be included in the calculation of the GPA,

OR

two points will be earned for achieving a 3.0 GPA with completion of at least 12 credit hours of the prescribed support courses in the Associate Degree Nursing curriculum. If a student has exceeded 12 credit hours from the prescribed curriculum, these courses will also be included in the calculation of the GPA.

5. One point will be earned for the completion of an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree,

OR

two points will be earned for the completion of a bachelor’s degree.

Applicants who do not meet requirements or those with a poor academic history may meet entrance requirements by successfully completing approved college courses. These options should be discussed with the health professions counselor. Applicants who do not secure a position in the class, must reapply on an annual basis and will be ranked the following year with all new applicants.

Prerequisites:

The following required courses must be completed with a "C" grade or better.

Mathematics

1. Two full-year courses (2 semesters each year) of math in high school (e.g., Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry)

OR

two semesters of college equivalent math (e.g., MAT-063, Elementary Algebra; MAT-102, Intermediate Algebra)

Science

1. Chemistry: two semesters of high school/college preparatory chemistry

OR

one semester of college chemistry

2. Biology: two semesters of high school/college preparatory biology

OR

one semester of a college biology course

Other

1. Successfully complete the 75-hour Nurse Aide Training course (HSC-171 and HSC-174)or the equivalent, submit proof of successful completion of Nurse Aide written and skills tests for placement on the Direct Care Worker Registry, and provide a current CNA certification card.

2. Two semesters of high school computer classes or one semester of a computer application class are strongly recommended.

3. Four to six semesters of high school English and four to six semesters of social studies are strongly recommended.

Computer Technology

Since the NCLEX licensing exam is a computerized test, two semesters of high school computer classes or one semester of a computer application class are also strongly recommended.

It is recommended that 4-6 semesters of high school English and 4- 6 semesters of social studies be taken.

Curriculum

 **Courses which may be taken prior to entry into the ADN program. All prescribed curriculum courses require a “C” or higher grade. Once in the ADN program, courses must be taken in the identified sequence and successfully completed with a “C” or higher grade for a student to progress in the program.

++Two semesters of college level anatomy and physiology (BIO-206, Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO-207, Anatomy and Physiology II) must be completed within five years of beginning the nursing component of the curriculum.

Note: “Healthcare Provider (CPR) Certification” offered by the American Heart Association is required and students are responsible to maintain current CPR certification/recertification while enrolled. The initial certification/recertification needs to be completed prior to Nursing I or any re-entry into the program. A yearly TB test is also required prior to Nursing I or any re-entry into the program. Students must be current with these requirements or will not be allowed in the clinical area.

Upon acceptance, a physical examination providing evidence of current immunization and sound physical and mental health is required. Criminal background checks and adult/dependent abuse checks are required. Results of these checks will be reviewed by the State Department of Human Services to determine eligibility for clinical enrollment. Drug testing may also be required by individual agencies. Cost for requirements is the responsibility of the student.

Criminal background checks and adult/dependent abuse checks will be required. Results of these checks will be reviewed by the State Department of Human Services to determine eligibility for clinical enrollment. Drug testing may also be required by individual agencies. Costs for requirements will be the responsibility of the student.

Students seeking entrance into the ADN program should be aware that nursing courses with a clinical component may not be taken by a person:

1. who has been denied licensure by the Iowa Board of Nursing.
2. whose license is currently suspended, surrendered, or revoked in any United States jurisdiction.
3. whose license/registration is currently suspended, surrendered, or revoked in another country due to disciplinary action.

Students should be aware that travel outside of Mason City is required for clinical experiences. In addition, some clinical experiences may be scheduled during evening/night hours and weekends.

Degree Earned

Students must attain a C grade in all ADN courses and related required courses. An overall 2.0 GPA in the prescribed curriculum and a minimum overall cumulative college grade point average of 2.00 is required from graduation from the ADN program.

Upon completion of the prescribed curriculum, the student is awarded an associate in applied science degree and is eligible for the NCLEX-RN® exam. After passing this exam, the graduate receives registered nurse status and is prepared to work in a beginning staff nurse position.

The job market and beginning salaries for new graduates are predicted to be outstanding. One hundred percent of available NIACC graduates are employed in training-related jobs (2007 NIACC Career Graduate Report).

Articulation into BSN Programs

For graduates wishing to obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing, the ADN program articulates into other BSN programs in Iowa. The University of Iowa College of Nursing offers a satellite RN to BSN Progression Program on the NIACC campus. Through this program, RNs may complete all coursework for their BSN degree locally.

Further information regarding progression in the program and specific program policies is provided to the ADN student in the individual program handbook. Students are provided this handbook during the first ADN class day at the beginning of each year. Students are referred to this handbook throughout the program.

For information on the ADN program at NIACC, e-mail Donna Orton at North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401 (1-888-GO NIACC).

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North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401
641-423-1264 or 1-888-GO NIACC
www.niacc.edu