*Important – please read*
DMACC NURSING PROGRAM CURRICULUM CHANGES – EFFECTIVE FALL 2024
DMACC Nursing has announced significant changes to the current nursing programs. Effective as of Fall 2024, DMACC’s stand-alone Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) will no longer be available. Effective after the Spring 2025 admitted cohort, DMACC’s stand-alone Practical Nursing (PN) program will no longer be available.
With the approval of the Iowa Board of Nursing, the Iowa Department of Education, and the DMACC Curriculum Commission, the current stand-alone degree options are being replaced with a ladder program consisting of prerequisites, followed by one year (two semesters) of Practical Nursing courses and then, if a student qualifies, one year (two semesters) of Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) courses. At the end of the first year, students may choose (but are not required) to take the NCLEX-PN to become an LPN. The first semester of the new ladder program courses will begin in Fall 2024.
The Nursing website is now in the process of being updated. Please keep this in mind as you review the website; information currently listed may no longer be applicable to your situation. Soon, additional information sessions (face-to-face and online) regarding the new ladder program will be added to the website.
What are My DMACC Nursing Degree Program Options?
Nursing Ladder Program - the new Ladder Program will launch in August 2024 and includes prerequisites followed by one year (two semesters) of Practical Nursing courses and then, if the student qualifies, one year (two semesters) of Associate Degree Nursing courses. Admission requirements for the new ladder program
- Year 1 of the Ladder Program (Practical Nursing): students successfully completing Practical Nursing courses in the first year of the Ladder Program will earn a diploma and be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurse Licensure (NCLEX-PN.)
- To progress into the second year of the Ladder Program, students ARE required to meet a scoring requirement of either a 92% on the ATI PN Predictor Probability Score (test is given in class near the end of first year) -OR- achieve a score of 65% or higher on the ATI TEAS Adjusted Individual Total Score.
- To progress into the second year of the Ladder Program, students ARE NOT required to take the NCLEX-PN.
- Year 2 of the Ladder Program (Associate Degree Nursing): students successfully completing Associate Degree Nursing courses in the second year of the Ladder Program will earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree and be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurse Licensure (NCLEX-RN.)
Advanced Standing LPN to RN (starting in Fall 2025) - current LPNs who meet admission requirements have the opportunity to complete the RN year (second year) of the program and prepare for the NCLEX-RN to become licensed as a Registered Nurse. Advanced Standing LPN to RN Application Checklist
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN Stand-Alone program) – ENTRY INTO THE ADN STAND-ALONE PROGRAM IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR NEW APPLICATIONS. Teachout of existing ADN Stand-Alone cohorts will run through the end of 2025. A student completing this program earns an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree and is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurse Licensure (NCLEX –RN). There are three timeline options.
Entry Requirements are the same for each option:
- ADN Standard
- THIS OPTION IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR NEW APPLICATIONS.
- Nursing courses completed in 2 years.
- No summer nursing courses in the Standard program.
-
Ankeny & Boone: Fall and Spring starts every year.
-
Carroll: Fall start every year.
-
Urban: Fall start every year.
-
ADN Evening/Weekend
- THIS OPTION IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR NEW APPLICATIONS.
- Nursing courses completed in 2.75 years.
- Only one nursing course per semester.
- Evening/Weekend program includes summer nursing courses.
-
Urban: The current E/W program began in March 2023.
-
ADN Accelerated
- THIS OPTION IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR NEW APPLICATIONS.
- Nursing courses completed in 1.5 years.
- Accelerated program includes summer nursing courses.
-
Newton: Fall start every year.
Current LPNs, Paramedics, and some Military Medics will be eligible for a
Healthcare Professional Exemption. The exemption gives credit for Term 1 (ADN110 and ADN140) to qualified students, which allows the student to begin the nursing program in Term 2.
Practical Nursing (Stand-Alone Program) - A student completing this program earns a diploma and is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurse Licensure (NCLEX –PN).
PN Entry Requirements.
- PN
- Nursing courses are completed in 1 year.
- The Stand-Alone PN program runs from January to December (Spring/Summer/Fall terms) at the DMACC Capitol Center in Des Moines (through the Urban campus).
- Includes summer nursing courses.
- Urban Spring 2024: The current PN program cohort started in January 2024 at the Urban Campus and will graduate in December 2024.
- The final Stand-Alone PN cohort will start in January 2025 at the Urban Campus (DMACC Capitol Center).
Where Do I Start?
1-Apply for Admission on the DMACC website.
Applying online for admission to DMACC is quick, easy, and FREE. This will create your personal DMACC record and ensures accurate tracking of your progress through the nursing entry process.
2-Complete a Nursing Information Session.
Invest 60 minutes in attending an on-campus Information Session or join remotely; check this link for available session dates: Nursing Information Session. It is a great way to help determine if nursing is the path for you. Learn about requirements for admission, what to expect in nursing classes, and options available after graduation. Completion of the Nursing Information Session is a prerequisite and is also required prior to making an appointment with an advisor.
3-Browse through the FAQ section of the Nursing website.
Scroll through the FAQ section (in menu to the left) for quick answers to common questions from our students.
4-Contact an Academic Advisor Prior to Registering for Classes.
An advisor can assist you in creating an effective plan/timeline for successfully completing your entry requirements, as well as answer any questions you might still have after attending an Information Session and reviewing the website. Contact the Advisor for Health Programs on the campus you are interested in attending to schedule an appointment. Click on the “Program Contacts” in the menu to the left.
Accreditation
The Associate Degree Nursing Program and the Practical Nursing Program are both approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing.
The Associate Degree Nursing Program at Des Moines Area Community College at the Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, and Urban campuses located in Ankeny, Iowa; Boone, Iowa; Carroll, Iowa; Newton, Iowa; and Des Moines, Iowa is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN). The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the DMACC Associate Degree Nursing Program is "continuing accreditation" status. ACEN has scheduled the next accreditation site visit for Fall 2025.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program.
ACEN
3390 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 866-747-9965 or
404-975-5000
FAX: 404-975-5020
Iowa Board of Nursing
River Point Business Park
400 S.W. 8th Street, Suite B
Des Moines, IA 50309-4685
Phone: 515-281-3255
FAX: 515-281-4825