Nursing Schools in Iowa - IA

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Nursing schools in Iowa have experienced a decline in enrollment in the past years and have graduated only 200 nurses a year recently. This number is not high enough to keep pace with the growing demand in Iowa for well qualified nurses. Iowa is experiencing a severe nursing shortage. Male candidates are being heavily recruited by nursing schools to try and alleviate the nursing shortage. Another key factor affecting the nursing shortage is that there are not enough nursing educators working as nursing faculty at the Iowa nursing schools. What this means is that Iowa nursing schools are turning away hundreds of qualified candidates each year because they do not have the staff to teach them. Learn more: How to become a Registered Nurse in Iowa

Online Nursing Schools in Iowa

Many hospitals and health care agencies in Iowa are now seeking registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees in nursing and this is limiting the number of candidates they have to fill openings since many registered nurses have not returned to nursing school for advanced education. Helping alleviate the nursing shortage in Iowa are online nursing schools with limited or no waitlists and plenty of virtual class room for registered nurses or LPNs looking to earn an RN to BSN or LPN to BSN. Schools also offer master’s in nursing programs including nurse educator master’s degree programs. Take a minute to request nursing program and financial assistance information from the schools below, so that you may weigh your nursing school options.

Nursing Job Outlook in Iowa and Iowa Nursing Salaries

According to an Iowa Public Broadcasting special in 2003, by 2009, it is projected that 64 percent of the current registered nurses will be retired or over the age of 65. By 2010, surveys indicate that almost half (49 percent) of Iowa's nursing teaching faculty plan to retire. What all this means is that there will continue to be a nursing shortage in Iowa even with the measures the state government and nursing agencies are doing to counter the trend. What it means to a new nursing graduate or a registered nurse looking to further their career with an advanced degree is that there will be job security, higher wages and many other benefits for those that choose a career in nursing.

Nursing salaries for a RN at Iowa Health Systems Hospitals are $19.58 to $30.35 per hour according to their website job postings. A registered nurse mentioned that in Southwestern Iowa, in a more rural location of Iowa, she made $19 per hour working in a local hospital. Ottumwa Regional Hospital posts salaries for their RNs at $17-$22 per hour. As you can see there is quite a range depending on location and experience, one can expect an average hourly salary range from $17 to more than $30 an hour.

Associate's Degree Nursing (ADN) Programs Approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing

Des Moines Area Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, Urban PH: 515-964-6324	Eastern Iowa Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Scott Community College-Bettendorf, Muscatine Community College, Clinton Community College PH: 563-441-4001	Hawkeye Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Waterloo PH: 319-296-2320	Iowa Central Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Fort Dodge, Storm Lake, Webster City/Goldfield PH: 800-362-2793
Iowa Lakes Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Emmetsburg, Algona, Spencer, Spirit Lake PH: 800-242-5108	Iowa Valley Community College District Campuses Offering LPN: Ellsworth Community College, Marshalltown Community College PH: 641-752-7106, ext 5726	Iowa Western Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Council Bluffs, Clarinda, Shelby County Center PH: 800-432-5852, ext 3392	Western Iowa Tech Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Sioux City, Denison PH: 800-352-4649
Kirkwood Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Cedar Rapids PH: 319-398-4989	Northeast Iowa Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Peosta, Calmar PH: 800-728-7367, ext 204	North Iowa Area Community College Campus Offering LPN: Mason City PH: 641-423-1264	Northwest Iowa Community College Campus Offering LPN: Sheldon PH: 712-324-5061, ext 216
Southeastern Community College Campuses Offering LPN: West Burlington, Keokuk PH: 866-722-4692	Southwestern Community College Campuses Offering LPN: Creston, Red Oak PH: 641-782-7081

BSN Programs Approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing

Allen College 1990 Heath Street Waterloo, Iowa 50703 PH: 319-226-2000	Briar Cliff University 3303 Rebecca St Sioux City, IA 51104 PH: 800-662-3363, ext 1662	Clarke College 1550 Clarke Drive Dubuque, IA 52001 PH: 563-588-6361	Coe College 1220 First Avenue NE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402 PH: 319-399-8120
Dordt College 498 4th Ave NE Sioux Center, IA 51250-1697 PH: 712-722-6689	Nursing Department Luther College 700 College Drive Decorah, Iowa 52101 PH: 563-387-1057	Morningside College Morningside Avenue Sioux City, IA 51106 PH: 712-274-5154	Mount Mercy College 1330 Elmhurst Drive NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-4797 PH: 319-368-6471
Northwestern College 101 7th St. SW Orange City, IA 51041 PH: 712-707-7086	St. Ambrose University 518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803 PH: 563-333-6000	University of Dubuque 2000 University Avenue Dubuque, IA 52001-5099 PH: 563-589-3000	College of Nursing University of Iowa 101 Nursing Building 50 Newton Road Iowa City, IA 52242-1121 PH: 319-335-7018
Upper Iowa University 605 Washington St. Fayette, Iowa 52142 PH: 563-425-5318 Campuses offering RN-BSN: Fayette, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids	William Penn University 201 Trueblood Ave Oskaloosa, IA 52577 PH: 641-673-1010

(Source: Iowa Board of Nursing)