Campus Location: Calmar, Peosta
Program Entry: Enrollment may occur during any term. Fall and Spring terms are the start of the program course sequence.
Award: Associate of Applied Science
Description: The Associate Degree Nursing program prepares you to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the healthcare needs of patients and clients. This comprehensive program includes specific nursing courses as well as core course requirements in the areas of communication, science, math and social science. Classroom activities are closely correlated with selected learning experiences in hospitals and other healthcare settings. After successful program completion, you are eligible to write the National Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse. The program is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing.
This program participates in a state-wide articulation program which facilitates transfer of ADN graduates to four-year institutions within Iowa for the advanced study of nursing.
Nursing courses with a clinical component may not be taken by a person who has been denied nursing licensure by a board of nursing; whose nursing license is currently probationary, suspended, surrendered or revoked in any U.S. jurisdiction; or whose nursing license/registration is currently probationary, suspended, surrendered or revoked in another country due to disciplinary action.
The Northeast Iowa Community College Associate Degree in Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20037.
Program Admission: The ADN program is a ladder-concept program. In addition to the College enrollment process, applicants must complete the HESI A2 admission assessment and achieve a score of 80 on both the reading and mathematics portions. The following courses must be completed with a grade of “C-” or above within five years from the date of application:
BIO 168 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 173 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
PNN 200 - Dosage Calculations
PNN 270 - Introduction to Nutrition
Once completed, students will be accepted into the Nursing program. Students who graduate from the NICC Practical Nursing program are eligible to complete the sophomore year to achieve an AAS in nursing. Students must meet the admission requirements for entry into the Associate Degree Nursing program. Admission requirements are: Cumulative GPA of 2.2 in all Practical Nursing core courses (as noted by 1) and achieve a minimum score of 850 on the HESI PN Exit examination. Advanced-standing students who are current LPNs can articulate into the sophomore year only after meeting program requirements.
Advanced standing students must successfully complete the LPN to ADN Admission Assessment with a minimum score of 850 as an entry requirement to the ADN program. Also required are space availability and Dean of Nursing approval.
A licensed practical nurse seeking admission will need to provide proof of current licensure and complete ADN 232 , BIO 168 , BIO 173 and a life-span growth and development course prior to starting their sophomore year. The advanced-standing students will begin coursework with ADN 232 . All nursing students are required to attend a program orientation prior to entrance into the program. Notification of dates and times will occur after acceptance to the Nursing program.
Introduction to Nursing Concepts is in term one of the Nursing program and is the first clinical course.
Academic Requirements: Students enrolled in health occupations programs must complete all required coursework with a “C-” grade or above and earn a minimum 2.0 grade point average to graduate from the program.
PN students who plan to enter the NICC Associate Degree Nursing program must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.2 in all Nursing core courses (as noted above by 1) and achieve a minimum score of 850 on the HESI PN Exit examination as an admission requirement to progress into the ADN program.
Program Requirements: The College has contracted the services of CastleBranch to review and monitor background checks, health records, training requirements and drug testing. Students will submit the following documentation to their website prior to the designated date:
- Background check - includes a nationwide criminal history search and child, dependent adult and sex offender registry checks.
- Health records - physical and immunizations (MMR, varicella, Hepatitis B, 2 step TB, Tdap and influenza).
- Training - CPR (American Heart Association Health Care Professional BLS or American Red Cross CPR for Healthcare Providers), mandatory reporter of child and dependent adult abuse, HIPAA and bloodborne pathogens.
- Drug testing - prior to clinical participation, random, post incident/accident and suspicion. Students are required to be substance free throughout the program.
- Certification of completion of a minimum 75-hour Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) course from a community college or an approved CNA course provider
- Documentation of the written and skill competency test for the CNA registry
A student who fails to meet this deadline will forfeit his/her seat and it will be offered to another student. The student will then be placed at the bottom of the wait list.
In addition to meeting the above listed requirements upon admission, students must maintain these requirements throughout the program. Failure to remain compliant will result in denial for clinical participation. Clinical participation is required for program completion.
Background checks will be evaluated per NICC’s Program Compliance policy and by the Iowa Department of Human Services, if applicable. Clinical participation is dependent on this evaluation.
All students enrolled in a healthcare program will be required to complete a drug screen prior to entrance into a clinical rotation with a clinical affiliate. Random drug screens will also be conducted on students while enrolled in the program.
Note: A positive report on the criminal, dependant adult abuse, child abuse background screening or drug screen may prevent you from acceptance into clinical and completion of the program.
Students are required to provide documentation of health insurance coverage. Please be aware of the following physical demands during your clinical education courses. Daily activities require bending, stooping, squatting, reaching, pushing and pulling in all directions. You will be asked to lift and carry objects weighing up to a minimum of 35 pounds and also shared weight. Clinical tasks require use of hands for repetitive action such as simple and firm grasping and fine manipulation and walking, including stair stepping. You may also be in contact with communicable diseases and chemical/biohazardous materials and odors. For clinical assessments, visual and hearing acuity is essential. Travel to clinical sites in outlying areas is required at times throughout the program. Students are responsible for any travel costs. You will need to show proof of high school graduation or equivalent prior to taking the NCLEX licensure exam. The Iowa Board of Nursing will no longer review criminal history prior to application for licensure. Students are required to complete each program level within three years.
Exit requirements: Students are required to pass the established benchmarks on the HESI exam in order to graduate from the program. The established benchmarks are stated in the annual District-Wide Policy and Procedure Manual for the Administration of Nursing Programs.
Continuing students who plan to enter the NICC Associate Degree Nursing program must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.2 in all Nursing core courses (as noted by 1) and achieve a minimum score of 850 on the HESI PN Exit examination as an admission requirement to progress into the ADN program.
Class Hours: Classes are scheduled two or three days per week on campus. Clinical experiences are scheduled the remaining days in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare settings and can occur on either the day or evening shift.
Minimum Credits: 82 including nursing admission requirements
Note: The following year rules exist for nursing program coursework. If exceeded, the course(s) will need to be repeated. Nursing courses identified with an ADN or PNN prefix and Anatomy and Physiology courses cannot be greater than five years old. Introduction to Psychology cannot be greater than ten years old.
RN to BSN Coursework: The Iowa state-wide articulation plan for nursing education allows Iowa community college credit from an ADN degree to be accepted in transfer for half (a total of 64 hours) of a Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) at an Iowa college or university program. NICC has formal agreements with the following colleges: Emmaus Bible College, Clarke University, the University of Iowa, Upper Iowa University, Kaplan University, Allen College and Northwestern College in Iowa. Clarkson College in Nebraska, Central Methodist University in Missouri and Augsburg College in Minnesota have such programs, as do other schools in the state. There are also distance learning options around the country. Most require that you have attained your RN license. For further information, contact your NICC advisor.
Concurrent Enrollment Program Option (CEP): Students entering the NICC Nursing program and desiring to purse a BSN (baccalaureate in nursing) degree have the option to apply for admission into the CEP, offered in partnership with Upper Iowa University (UIU). Students must meet the academic qualifications of both the NICC and UIU programs. Students entering the NICC Nursing program at the PN level will participate fully in the NICC Nursing program and take online coursework through UIU at the same time. This maximizes the students’ time and financial investment and helps them to be prepared for nursing practice environments. Once prerequisite courses are completed, students will then complete their PN, ADN and BSN in four years. For more information, visit with an Academic Advisor.
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