Des Moines Area Community College Nursing Program Review

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), founded in 1966, has six campuses throughout Iowa, mainly located in the central region of the state. DMACC offers classes in Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, Des Moines, and West Des Moines. In addition to its six campuses, DMACC serves students through many different learning centers in different parts of Des Moines, in Perry, and in Ames.

DMACC has over 35,000 students in its degree programs, and enrolls an additional 30,000 in its noncredit classes. Included among its programs are several in the field of nursing, all of which are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and approved by the Iowa State Board of Nursing.

Practical Nursing Diploma Program

The Practical Nursing Diploma program trains students for careers as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). This program provides a quick entry into the nursing field, as it takes only two semesters to complete, on a full-time basis. DMACC offers this program on multiple campuses: in Ankeny, starting in the fall and the spring; in Boone, starting in the fall and the spring; in Carroll, starting in the fall, and in Newton, starting in the fall of odd-numbered years. If a full-time course of study isn’t feasible, DMACC also offers the program on a part-time basis in the evenings. In order to complete this track of the Practical Nursing Diploma program, students must attend classes on the Urban campus, in downtown Des Moines. The evening option begins in the fall of even-numbered years, and takes four semesters to complete. Regardless of whether they are enrolled part-time or full-time, students in the program must complete thirty-six credits. After finishing the Practical Nursing Diploma program, students have two options. They may either progress into upper-level nursing courses in the Associate Degree Nursing program, or they may take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) and enter the nursing field as LPNs.

Associate Degree Nursing Program

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program prepares students to work as Registered Nurses (RN). On a full-time basis, students can complete the program in five semesters. They must earn seventy-one credits in total. The ADN program is available in Ankeny, starting in the fall and the spring; in Boone, starting in the fall and the spring; in Carroll, starting in the fall; and in Newton, starting in the fall. The ADN program is also available on the Urban campus in Des Moines on a part-time basis. Classes are offered in the evenings. Students enrolled part-time take nine semesters to complete the program, starting in the spring semester. Graduates of the ADN program earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree, with a major in nursing. They are prepared for the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Associate Degree Nursing Program – Advanced Standing Program

The Advanced Standing track (also called the LPN to RN track) of the ADN program is designed for LPNs who wish to become RNs. If an LPN has completed the necessary prerequisites (anatomy, physiology, English composition, introductory psychology, and developmental psychology), she can complete the ADN program in just three semesters. DMACC offers the Advanced Standing program on three different campuses. In Ankeny, the program begins in the summer and fall. In Boone, the program begins in the summer. In Carroll, the program begins in the summer. While some courses may be available in the evening, DMACC does not provide a full evening program for students on the LPN to RN track.

Nurse Aide Training Program

DMACC regularly offers nurse aide training courses, to prepare students for careers as Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA). The basic Nurse Aide training course takes seventy-five hours to complete, and includes both classroom instruction and clinical training. Once a student has completed this class, he has the option of taking the advanced Nurse Aide training course, which requires an additional seventy-five hours. While this will help him in his career, it is not required in order to take the state certification exam. Both nurse aide training courses are offered numerous times each semester, on the campuses in Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, and Des Moines. Classes are available during the day and in the evening, and can range in length from two weeks to two months.

Contact:
Des Moines Area Community College – Ankeny Campus
2006 South Ankeny Blvd.
Ankeny, IA 50023

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Other campuses:

Boone Campus
1125 Hancock Dr.
Boone, IA 50036

Carroll Campus
906 North Grant Rd.
Carroll, IA 51401

Newton Campus
600 N. 2nd Ave. West
Newton, IA 50208

Urban Campus
1100 7th St.
Des Moines, IA 50314

West Campus
5959 Grand Ave.
West Des Moines, IA 50266