Iowa LPN Programs

Directory of state-approved LPN training classes

Iowa, as well as many other mid-western states, is facing a tough challenge finding enough skilled nursing personnel to staff its nursing homes, hospitals and elderly care facilities. Indeed dot com gives the average LPN salary in Iowa of $58,672 per year in 2024.

Practical nurses are responsible for monitoring patients, measuring and recording vital signs, monitoring mental and physical conditions and dietary requirements. The licensed practical nurse maintains patient’s medical charts with daily updates and works with a team of other skilled health care professionals to provide total patient care. Often the licensed practical nurse is responsible for giving the patient medications and injections amongst other things. To meet the growing shortage of nurses while demand is outpacing supply dramatically, Iowa has expanded it’s nursing educational programs. There are now at least 15 community colleges throughout the state that have diploma nursing programs or two-year Associate degrees in nursing.

Minimum requirements for entering the LPN diploma program at Hawkeye Community College are a high school diploma and a passing score on either the ACT or the Compass examination. The training course is three semesters long and includes a total of 42 credits. The cost for the licensed practical nursing course is roughly $8,000 and includes tuition, books and supplies.

Amongst the courses required to receive a Practical Nursing diploma at Hawkeye Community College are three human anatomy and physiology courses, two with labs and one as an overview, plenty of nurse-specific courses such as fundamentals I and II, client care, nutrition, clinical practice, psychology, med/surg, nursing A and B, nursing practice, mental and psychiatric patient care. There are also a handful of nursing courses on issues, thought and perspectives, as well as mental health nursing.

Hawkeye Community College has a 78.2% placement record, meaning that 78.2% of the students that complete the licensed practical nursing course go on to find jobs in nursing. In Iowa, there are current opportunities for licensed practical nurses in nursing care facilities, home health, elderly communities, care facilities and psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals.

List of LPN Programs in Iowa (IA)

Iowa LPN Schools

Our directory lists all Iowa schools that currently offer approved practical nursing programs. The Iowa state board of nursing is the regulatory organization in charge of approving LPN education programs. To gain approval, educational institutions must demonstrate to the board of nursing that their program sufficiently prepares students with the knowledge and skills expected of a licensed practical nurse. The on-going approval of a program depends largely upon their graduation rates and the NCLEX pass rates of their graduates. If a program starts to produce poor results in either of these two categories they can quickly lose their state approval or be placed on probationary approval status until their results improve.

Required LPN Classes in Iowa

The specific course work required in practical nursing programs can differ from institution to institution. However, there are some subjects that are almost always included in most programs. Typical LPN classes include Anatomy & Physiology, Basic Nursing Skills, Nutrition, Math for Nurses, Psychology and Pharmacology. Topics covered within these subjects prepare students with the knowledge base required to perform the work of a licensed practical nurse.

How to Become an LPN in Iowa

Start the process by researching available education programs to find one that suits your schedule and preferences. The next step is to enroll and complete an LPN training program that is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Most LPN programs take roughly one year to finish. Upon successful completion of all course requirements you are eligible to challenge the NCLEX-PN exam. After passing the test you can register with the state of Iowa as a licensed practical nurse and begin searching for employment.