Kirkwood Community College

Nursing Programs Offered

ADN Program Details

The Associate Degree (ADN) program is five semesters in length with graduates gaining eligibility to take the exam that leads to a license as a Registered Nurse (RN). The first two semesters of the Practical Nursing PN and ADN programs are identical and provide a core of knowledge and skills common to both Practical and Registered Nurse roles. Students are granted a diploma in Practical Nursing after the first two semesters and may take the exam that leads to a License as a Practical Nurse (LPN). Nursing students have the option of exiting the program at that time or continuing if the requirements are met. The nursing program begins each semester; fall, spring and summer. An additional section of Evening/Weekend Nursing is also available each Fall.

The ADN program participates in a statewide articulation program that facilitates the transfer of ADN graduates to four-year colleges and universities in Iowa for a BSN.

LPN Program Details

The first two semesters of the Practical Nursing (PN) and Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs are identical and provide a core of knowledge and skills that are common to both nursing roles. Kirkwood nursing classes cover medical, surgical, geriatric, maternal-child, mental health and home health nursing over the five-semester program. Patient care skills are learned in a supervised lab setting. Clinical experience begins in the first semester. Students receive clinical experience in all of the major areas of nursing and complete their clinics in area hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, mental health facilities, home health agencies and a variety of specialty clinics.