An Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Nursing and a career as a Registered Nurse are available to students who successfully complete the requirements of the Associate Degree Nursing curriculum. As members of the nursing profession, registered nurses are accountable for their own nursing practice. The Associate Degree Nurse utilizes more complex nursing knowledge and skills to assess, plan, provide, evaluate and manage nursing care for patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and a variety of community-based healthcare settings.
Upon successful completion of the nursing curriculum, the student is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurse Licensure (NCLEX-RN).
For more information about the Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing program, please visit our website at www.dmacc.edu/programs/nursing.
Locations: Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton.
Selected liberal arts courses in this program are offered at other campuses.
The Practical Nursing program is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing. The Associate Degree Nursing program (ADN) is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing and, in addition, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Inc., 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, 866-747-9965.
Associate Degree Nursing starts:
Ankeny, Boone-Fall and Spring semesters
Carroll, Newton-Fall term only
Students who start a program on one campus will not be permitted to transfer to another campus mid-program. For example, a student starting the Nursing program in Boone must complete the program in Boone.
Program Entry Requirements
1. Complete an application for admission to the Nursing program.
2. Attend Nursing information session, registration meetings and a Nursing program orientation for ADN levels.
3. Submit proof of high school graduation, HiSET (formerly GED) or equivalent
4. Successfully complete the ACT with a minimum composite score of 20, OR successfully complete the COMPASS with a minimum score of 81 reading and 70 writing.
5. Complete ALEKS Math Assessment.
6. Submit proof of completion of 120-hour State of Iowa approved Certified Nurse Aide Program or equivalent. Submit proof of successful completion of Nurse Aide written (NRAO 858) and skills (NRAO 859) tests for placement on the Direct Care Worker Registry. A transcript indicating you passed both tests, or a Registry card will serve as verification.
7. Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in required program support courses and cannot be on Academic Probation.
8. For English Second Language students: Current DMACC Policy for International Students and the Admissions department for the TOEFL and/or the ESL COMPASS required scores.
9. Entry Requirement courses
- Anatomy and Physiology*(BIO 168)
- Intro to General Chemistry* (CHM 122)
- Intro Biology w/Lab* (BIO 104)
- College Algebra (MAT 121) equivalent or MAT 157
- Introduction to Psychology (PSY 111)
*Entry Requirement Science Courses. The following conditions apply:
- A grade of C or better (not C-) is required for all courses.
- Course work in the above sciences*: Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry and Biology, must be recent; that is no more that 5 years old.
- Before an applicant can be placed on the wait list, the Registrar will evaluate recentness of science course work to determine eligibility for the wait list.
- Credits earned more than 5 years prior to consideration for placement on wait list are not acceptable and will have to be repeated before the applicant may be placed on the wait list, unless a score of 50% or higher is achieved on the Science portion of the TEAS-V. In this case, the 5 year will be waived.
10. Compete required Nursing program admissions testing (TEAS-V) with satisfactory minimum scores in reading (71%), mathematics (65.3%), English and language usage (62%), and science (33.3%). Effective August 1, 2015 only 3 attempts permitted to achieve the required TEAS-V scores. A wait time of 30 days between attempts is required.
Criminal background checks must be completed by each student. Criminal convictions or documented history of abuse may delay or prevent students from participating in clinical education experiences. Results of the criminal record/child and adult abuse registry checks will be released to the Department of Human Services, which will determine if the crime or founded abuse warrants prohibition from clinical education experience. Students unable to participate in clinical education will be unable to complete the Nursing program. In accordance with DMACC’s contract with affiliated agencies, results of the criminal record/child and adult abuse registry checks will be released to contracted agencies only upon their request.
Proof of immunizations and annual TB testing are required of all Nursing students. A physical exam must be completed within one year prior to program entry. Completion of the Student Health and Immunization Record form and current certification by either the American Heart Association (CPR for the Healthcare Provider) or American Red Cross (CPR for the Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider) are required prior to beginning clinical rotations. Proof of a current seasonal flu vaccination is required of all Nursing students prior to the start of Spring semester or earlier if clinical agencies set an earlier deadline.
The Nursing program utilizes www.CertifiedBackground.com to track immunizations, health records and CPR certification of each student after their acceptance into the program. Students must wait for directions, which will be provided at the required Nursing Registration meeting, before uploading their CPR and health records. Students are responsible for the cost of this service and any related expenses.
All nursing and liberal arts support courses must be successfully completed with a grade of “C” or above. In order to progress to the next semester, these courses must be successfully completed in the semester identified or in a previous semester.
Graduation Requirements
To earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Nursing, a student must complete all coursework as prescribed in Semesters 1-5, meet the progression requirements and have a grade of “C” (not C-)or above in all ADN and pre-requisite/co-requisite courses in the curriculum. In order to progress to the next semester, these courses must be successfully completed in the semester identified or in a previous semester. Students must successfully complete the required standardized exit exam taken during Semester 5 of the curriculum.
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