Becoming an RN in Indiana

An Indiana resident becomes a nurse by completing an Indiana State Board of Nursing approved education program and taking NCLEX-RN licensing examination. The program may be approved by either Indiana State Board of Nursing or the board of nursing in another state. Some accredited Indiana programs are at the ADN, or associate’s level, others at the BSN, or baccalaureate level.

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The foundation is a solid background in academics and particularly in the sciences. Students generally take prerequisite courses before admission to the clinical program. Often, strong performance in these classes is a requirement for admission. The clinical program progresses from theory to practice and includes mental health, pediatrics, and obstetrics as well as basic medical/ surgical nursing. Baccalaureate programs include coursework in more advanced nursing concepts like community health and offer preparation for leadership roles.

After program completion, a candidate will need to pass the NCLEX examination. Although states set their own policies, this exam is standard around the nation. If someone has already held an RN license in another state, they may apply for licensing by endorsement instead. Any nursing license that has been held in any state must be listed on the application.

Registered Nursing Education Pathways

Those who already have a degree in another field can fast track their nursing education. The accelerated BSN program can often be completed in a year to a year-and-a-half of intensive year-round study, though some programs do take longer. Actual program length depends on which prerequisites a student completed while earning the first baccalaureate. Advanced placement may offer a chance to get some prerequisites out of the way. Indiana State University, for example, accepts some CLEP and Dantes credits. Students with a military background often opt for the Dantes exam.

Licensed practical nurses are also on a fast track for RN completion. If you have the aptitude and the dedication, Indiana will make the process convenient. You may choose to complete either an ADN or a BSN degree program. Some options are available online. Indiana State University, in fact, draws degree completion students from around the nation to complete the online LPN to BSN program they offer.

Registered Nursing Career Outlook in Indiana

There is good news on the horizon for Indiana’s prospective nurses. At a 2011 summit, the following figures were shared. The years 2008 to 2018 were expected to see 48% increase in demand for RNs in physician’s office settings and 33% increase in home health. Hospitals meanwhile were expected to see 17% growth.

Hiring in the years 2008 to 2011 has been somewhat reduced due to recession. Even though nursing care is a need not a luxury, hiring is subject to short term economic conditions. Often this occurs when a nurse’s spouse is laid off or earns less than the needed amount; nurses choose to return to the workforce, increase the number of shifts that they work, and sometimes delay retirement. Even so, hiring has been good for well-educated nursing graduates. In 2010, the AACN released a research brief detailing how graduates of BSN and entry-level MN programs were doing with securing employment. College deans were surveyed about the students who had graduated during the previous two years. 70% of Indiana’s new BSN and master’s nurses had job offers at graduation. The figure rose to 96% four to six months later.

The Pre-Licensure Nursing Application Process

Nationwide, nursing schools are having a difficult time finding enough qualified faculty or expanding quickly enough to meet demand. According to a 2010 report, Indiana’s nursing schools are operating at above their stated capacity. Still, some candidates who meet basic requirements are being turned away. How can one improve their chances?

Recognize that even associate’s level programs can be competitive. The Harrison College ADN program considers essay, recommendations, and TEAS test scores. ACT or SAT scores are optional, but can improve a person’s chances.

Advisors around the nation share that general academics are important. Communication skills, personal attributes, and health care experience may also make a person more competitive.

Indiana State Board of Nursing Accredited BSN Programs

Marian University

The BSN nursing programs is approved by the Indiana State Board of Nursing.

Programs Offered: BSN

Anderson University
1100 East 5th Street
Anderson, IN 46012
PH: 765-641-3851
Website: www.anderson.edu
Ball State University
2000 West University Avenue
Muncie, IN 47306
PH: 765-285-5571
Website: www.bsu.edu/nursing
Bethel College
1001 Bethel Circle
Mishawaka, IN 46545
PH: 574-807-7475
Website: www.bethelcollege.edu
Goshen College
1700 South Main Street
Goshen, IN 46526
PH: 574-533-3161
Website: www.goshen.edu/nursing
Huntington University
2303 College Avenue
Huntington, IN 46750
PH: 260-359-4360
Website: www.huntington.edu
Indiana State University
749 Chestnut Street
Terre Haute, IN 47809
PH: 812-237-3683
Website : www.indstate.edu
Indiana University East
2325 Chester Blvd
Richmond, IN 47374
PH: 765-973-8257
Website: www.iue.indiana.edu
Indiana University at IUPUI
1111 Middle Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46202
PH: 317-274-2806
Website: http://nursing.iupui.edu
Indiana University – Kokomo
2300 South Washington
Kokomo, IN 46902
PH: 765-455-9227
Website: www.iuk.edu/nursing
Indiana University – Northwest
3400 Broadway Street
Gary, IN 46408
PH: 219-980-6603
Website: www.iun.edu
Indiana University – South Bend
1700 Mishawaka Avenue
South Bend, IN 46634
PH: 574-520-5511
Website: www.iusb.edu
Indiana University – Southeast
4201 Grant Line Road
New Albany, IN 47150
PH: 812-941-2340
Website: www.ius.edu
Indiana Wesleyan University
4201 South Washington
Marion, IN 46953
PH: 765-677-2813
Website: www.indwes.edu/nursingprograms
Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Road
Indianapolis, IN 46222
PH: 317-955-6168
Website: www.marian.edu
Purdue University
1337 Johnson Hall School of Nursing
West Lafayette, IN 47907
PH: 765-494-4042
Website: www.nursing.purdue.edu
Purdue University Calumet
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323
PH: 219-989-2818
Website: www.calumet.purdue.edu
Purdue University – North Central
1401 South US 421
Westville, IN 46391
PH: 219-785-5226
Website: www.pnc.edu
St. Mary’s College
6 Havican Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556
PH: 574-284-4689
Website: http://www.saintmarys.edu/~nursing/
University of Evansville
1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
PH: 812-479-2343
Website: www.evansville.edu
University of Indianapolis
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227
PH: 317-788-3207
Website: www.uindy.edu
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd
Evansville, IN 47712
PH: 812-465-1152
Website: www.usi.edu
University of St. Francis
2701 Spring Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
PH: 219-434-3240
Website: www.sf.edu/nursing
Valparaiso University
836 LaPorte Avenue
Valparaiso, IN 46383
PH: 219-464-5289
Website: www.valpo.edu/nursing
 

Nursing Associate’s Degree Programs Accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing

MedTec

The Associate’s in Nursing program at MedTech College is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible tosit for the state licensing exam, NCLEXRN.

Programs Offered: Associate’s – Nursing

ANCILLA DOMINI COLLEGE
P. O. Box 1, 9601 Union Road
Donaldson, IN 46513-0001
PH: 574-936-8898

BETHEL COLLEGE
1001 West McKinley Avenue
Mishawaka, IN 46545
PH: 219-259-8511

INDIANA BUSINESS COLLEGE
8150 Brookville Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46239
PH: 317-375-8000

INDIANA DABNEY UNVERSITY

5217 S. Hohman Avenue
Hammond, IN 46320
PH: 219-932-2100

INDIANA UNIVERSITY – EAST
2325 Chester Blvd
Richmond, IN 47374
PH: 765-973-8257

INDIANA UNIVERSITY – KOKOMO
2300 South Washington
Kokomo, IN 46902
PH: 765-453-9288

INDIANA UNIVERSITY – NORTHWEST
3400 Broadway Street
Gary, IN 46408
PH: 219-980-6604

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY
FORT WAYNE/PARKVIEW HOSPITAL
2101 Coliseum Blvd East
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
PH: 219-481-6816

ITT Technical Institute
2810 Dupont Commerce Ct.
Fort Wayne, IN 46825

ITT Technical Institute
9511 Angola Court
Indianapolis, IN 46268

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – BLOOMINGTON
200 Daniels Way
Bloomington, IN 47404
PH: 812-332-1559

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – COLUMBUS
4475 Central Avenue
Columbus, IN 47203
PH: 812-372-9925

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – EVANSVILLE
3501 First Avenue
Evansville, IN 47710
PH: 812-429-1383

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – FORT WAYNE
3800 North Anthony Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
PH: 260-480-2086

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – GREENCASTLE
One North Calbert Way, Suite B
Greencastle, IN 46135
PH: 765-653-7410

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – INDIANAPOLIS
1 West 26th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46206
PH: 317-927-7177

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – KOKOMO
1815 East Morgan
P. O. Box 1373
Kokomo, IN 46903-1373
PH: 765-457-0858

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – LAFAYETTE
3103 South Creasy Lane, Box 6299
Lafayette, IN 47903
PH: 765-772-9100

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – MADISON
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
PH: 812-265-2580

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – MUNCIE
(Satellite Campuses – Anderson, Marion & New Castle)
4301 South Cowan Road
Muncie, IN 47303
PH: 765-289-2291

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – GARY
1440 East 35th Avenue
Gary, IN 46409
PH: 219-981-1111

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – RICHMOND
2357 Chester Blvd
Richmond, IN 47374
PH: 765-966-7910

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – SELLERSBURG
8204 Highway 311
Sellersburg, IN 47172
PH: 812-246-3301

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – SOUTH BEND
220 Dean Johnson Blvd
South Bend, IN 46601
PH: 219-289-7001

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – TERRE HAUTE
School of Nursing
7999 US Highway 41 South
Terre Haute, IN 47802
PH: 812-299-1121

IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE – VALPARAISO
3100 Ivy Tech Drive
Valparaiso, IN 46383
PH: 219-464-8514

MARIAN COLLEGE
3200 Cold Spring Road
Indianapolis, IN 46222
PH: 317-955-6168

MEDTECH COLLEGE
7230 Engle Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
PH: 317-845-0300

MEDTECH COLLEGE
1500 American Way
Greenwood, IN 46142
PH: 317-534-0322

MEDTECH COLLEGE
6612 E. 75th St. Suite 500
Indianapolis, IN 46250
PH: 317-845-0100

PURDUE UNIVERSITY CALUMET
2200 169TH Street
Hammond, IN 46323
PH: 219-989-2818

PURDUE UNIVERSITY NORTH CENTRAL
1401 South US 421
Westville, IN 46391
PH: 219-785-5226

ST. ELIZABETH SCHOOL OF NURSING
1508 Tippecanoe Street
Lafayette, IN 47904
PH: 765-423-6408

UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227
PH: 317-788-3206

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
8600 University Blvd
Evansville, IN 47712
PH: 812-465-1152

UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS
2701 Spring Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
PH: 260-434-3240

UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS
Satellite Campus
Campus at St. Anthony’s Hospital
1201 South Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
PH: 260-434-3100

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY
1002 North First Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
PH: 800-742-9198

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY – JASPER
850 College Avenue
Jasper, IN 47546
PH: 812-481-5926