Iowa RN Programs

How to Become a Registered Nurse in Iowa

In the state of Iowa there are three different ways to become a Registered Nurse. The quickest is a hospital based diploma program, although these are rare and not a lot of people have the opportunity to take advantage of them. This program takes about three years to complete. The average RN salary in Iowa is $61,790 a year, or $30 an hour.

The second is an associates degree in nursing (ADN) offered through junior and community colleges. The associates degree is utilized by around fifty percent of the registered nurses in Iowa and can be a stepping stone to a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) and Master’s degree. The associates degree will take from two to three years to complete and will qualify a person for an entry level registered nurse position. Associate programs are also offered through private colleges but usually the credits from that college cannot transfer over to be used towards a BSN or Masters later.

The third path to becoming a registered nurse in the state of Iowa is through a college or university with a BSN. A bachelor degree will take around four years to complete. Many registered nurses with an associates degree will eventually return to school to obtain their bachelor’s or even master’s degree. Many health care employers will offer tuition reimbursement programs for registered nurses who wish to continue their education. In the state of Iowa there are also online programs through colleges and universities that give a registered nurse with an associate degree the opportunity to receive their BSN through online courses. Registered nurses with a BSN or Master’s Degree are qualified for higher paying positions. The higher level of degree qualifies them for management; assistant head nurse or head nurse, assistant director or director, and many administrative positions. Iowa nurses are also moving toward the business side of health care. Employers find that they are beneficial in health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development and quality assurance.

Both the associate and bachelor path require lower level college courses in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, algebra, statistics, sociology and psychology. Both require supervised clinical hands on experience in a hospital, home health care, nursing care facilities, public health departments or other health care setting. The BSN gives advanced training in nursing practice and theory, communication, leadership and critical thinking courses. This training has become more important as the nursing field grows more complex.

All three programs require that upon completion the student must pass the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse and a criminal background check through the Iowa Board of Nursing. Upon satisfaction of this final requirement the student becomes a legal registered nurse.

Iowa Associates Degree RN Programs

Accredited Iowa RN Schools

See our complete list of qualified pre-licensure RN schools in Iowa that meet the registered nursing education requirements. The Iowa Board of Nursing is the organization responsible for making sure that each Iowa nursing program provide adequate education to prepare students to become an RN. Before receiving a nursing license the graduating student will need to take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam in the state of Iowa.