Master’s in Nursing Schools in Iowa

Many people consider nurses to be the backbone of the health care industry. As such, we are called upon to maintain the highest levels of education possible, in order to maintain our ethical responsibility to provide the care our patients deserve. You can do this, and simultaneously take your nursing career one step further with a Master’s in Nursing. This degree builds upon your knowledge of patient care and nursing theory to shape you as a leader in your field. There are several MSN programs in Iowa, as well as specialized graduate level programs for nurses.

Featured Programs:

Working With Your MSN in Iowa

If you enjoy the patient care aspect of your job, you may interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or advanced nurse specialist. Advanced practice nurses in Iowa enjoy full practice rights. This means that, as an advanced practice nurse, you do not need the oversight or supervision of a physician to carry out your job duties. Iowa has many primary care shortage areas, and as a Master’s-level nurse, you can address the needs in those areas.

The nursing shortage in Iowa has also increased the need for skilled nurse educators, according to the Des Moines Register. A significant number of nurses in Iowa are near retirement age, creating a demand for nurse educators that can provide high-quality education and help prepare new nurses to fill those absences left by retiring nurses.

The patient education and individual care that nurses offer play a large part in patient satisfaction. The Sioux City Journal notes that the Orange City Area Health System recently received a national award for patient satisfaction. When you become an advanced practice nurse, nurse leader, nurse research specialist, or nurse educator, you can improve the state of health care quality in Iowa by furthering the care that results in this type of recognition.

According to the Des Moines Register, state leaders are concerned about the impending nurse shortage, and the Nurse Residency Task Force of the Iowa Action Coalition is working on a project aimed at increasing the education of nurses. As a result the masters level nurse practitioner program is seeing the most growth at the graduate level.

Becoming an Adult Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is one of your choices in the RN–MSN programs. There is a need for psychiatric–mental health nurses who have the skill to provide comprehensive care to clients who are in need of psychiatric services, and those who are at risk for mental illness. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses in Iowa earned a median annual wage of $66,640 (O*net, 2014).

Another option is an advanced practice nurse in Diabetes Nursing. A diabetic educator may be employed by hospitals, doctors’ offices, home health or wellness programs. Assessing an individual’s specific educational needs and identifying their self-management goals is one aspect of this position. The American Association of Diabetics Educators offers a certification for this career. Iowa health educators annual income was $50,430 (O*net, 2014).

Returning to graduate school, particularly through online courses works very well for the working nurse. You may position yourself in a roll to expand your career and income. Contact schools below to learn more about your options.

What You Can Expect From Your MSN Program

The Iowa Action Coalition is working hard to address the nursing shortage and promote nurses to move from one degree to the next, as only 26 percent of Iowa’s nurses currently have a bachelor’s degree. The national average is 50 percent, and there is certainly a need for nurses with their graduate degrees, as nursing faculty is required to teach incoming nurses.

Iowa has a number of outstanding campus-based and online accredited nursing graduate programs. This is an excellent time to return to college for your graduate degree as this degree can advance your career and provide job security in the ever changing healthcare industry. To find the Master’s in Nursing degrees in Iowa that can best fit your needs, contact the schools on our site for program information today.

The University of Iowa has several master’s in nursing programs. The Nursing Anesthesia program is ranked number 11, and the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is ranked number 12 by the US News and World Report. This university has a number of other excellent nursing graduate programs including; a Clinical Nurse Leader, Nurse Anesthetists, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and MSN program.

If you are interested in an evolving nursing role recently developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing then the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) role is a position that collaborates with the leaders from the practice and the education arena. As a clinical expert you would be focused on the improvement of the quality of patient care, plus you would help professional nurses to thrive in the healthcare system.

The admission requirements for MSN programs in Iowa typically include:

Baccalaureate or advanced degree in Nursing with approximately 2 years of experience
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Graduate from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited nursing program
Completion of prerequisite course by the start of the program – Upper-level statistics
Statement of purpose
Supplemental Information form
Resume
Copy of RN license
Three recommendations including email addresses completed on recommendation form
Statement of Disclosure

This program requires 39 course hours and 535 clinical hours for graduation.

The required courses include:

Leadership and Management Essentials
Clinical Nurse Leader Seminar
Evaluating Evidence for Practice
Health Systems, Finance and Economics
Clinical Education in the Care Environment
Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advance Clinical Practice
Leadership in the Microsystem
Quality and Safety
Health Promotion and Assessment for Advance club clinical Practice
Applied Epidemiology
Healthcare Infrastructure and Policy
CNL Capstone Clinical Immersion (6 credit hours)

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers a CNL Certification exam. The certification is based on the national standard of requisite knowledge and experiences, so it will help you advance in your career when employers see this credential on your resume.

As of 2013 the average annual salary for Clinical Nurse Leaders is $79,290 annually according to O’Net OnLine. Salaries are based on your education, your credentials, your experience and your employer. Clinical Nurse Leaders work in a variety of settings, and there are many available positions in Iowa. Of course, this is just one of the graduate nursing careers you can look into, and there are several foci and specialties that may interest you as well.

Be sure to visit the Financial Aid Office of your University and complete a FAFSA application, which is a federal grant program based on income, to see if you qualify. The Iowa Nurses Association also has a loan program created for Iowa students who serve in disenfranchised areas in Iowa. Nurse Educators also can qualify for their loan forgiveness program.

The Health Resources and Services Administration also have scholarships and loans, plus a program similar to the one in Iowa. The Nurse Corps participants can receive 60 percent of their total qualifying nursing education loan balance if they serve for two years in an approved NHSC facility. Many other loans and scholarships can be found on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing webpage.

It is possible to attend a Iowa graduate nursing program online, which can allow you to work in an area of your choosing and maintain your current responsibilities without sacrificing your education. Earning your master’s degree may also earn you the respect of other nurses, and it will help nursing as a whole. Take some time to request information from the Iowa nursing schools that offer master’s degree programs today to learn more.

Iowa RN to MSN Bridge Programs

Nursing is a career field that has plenty of room for upward growth, particularly if you’re willing to further your education and expand your knowledge in specialty nursing areas. In Iowa, there’s a growing need for nursing professionals at all levels and in all specialties. If you’re interested in earning an MSN, you may want to attend one of the RN-to-MSN bridge programs in Iowa. These programs give you the chance to work in nursing education, leadership, advanced nursing practice, or policy formation. There may be opportunities for considerable growth in this area; the VT Digger reports on Fran Keller, an Iowa nurse who won the Breakthrough in Nursing Award.

Generally speaking, you can complete an RN-to-MSN bridge program more quickly than you can complete separate BSN and MSN programs. If you attend school full-time, plan on spending about three years in school. Part-time programs usually take about four to five years to complete. If you qualify for enrollment in an accelerated Master’s in Nursing bridge program, you might be able to graduate in as little as two years. Because of the advanced nature of these programs, you may need a high GPA from your Associate’s degree in nursing. In addition, applicable experience in the nursing field may be required prior to admission.

You can plan on getting plenty of clinical experience while attending an RN-to-MSN bridge program. In an administration or education program, you may get around 400 clinical hours. However, clinical paths like nurse practitioner and nurse midwifery tend to require well over 600 clinical hours.

Prior to taking courses that are specifically related to your chosen specialty, you may take general nursing classes that aim to broaden your knowledge base. Core courses may include Foundations of Nursing Science, Leadership and Management in Nursing, and Applied Epidemiology. Courses for clinical students may include Clinical Education in the Care Environment, Mental Disorders in Advanced Practice, and Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Clinical Practice. In a leadership path, plan on taking courses like Leadership in the Health Care System, Evaluating Evidence for Practice, and Health Care Infrastructure & Policy.

Continuing your education may seem financially daunting, particularly if you already have school debt from your first degree. However, there are quite a few grants and scholarships in Iowa that can help you pay for your degree. The Iowa Nurses Association funds a number of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate scholarships. The IHCA Foundation Health Care Scholarship is awarded by the Iowa Health Care Association.

Throughout the course of your advanced degree, you will want to ensure that you keep your registered nursing license valid. The Iowa Board of Nursing maintains licensure standards and applications for registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses. You may need an advanced license if you plan on working as a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist.

Though the job outlook is generally positive for nursing professionals in Iowa, some jobs are in higher demand than others. From 2012 to 2022, O*Net anticipates a 13 percent increase in job openings for nurse anesthetists in Iowa. Job openings for nurse instructors are expected to increase by 35 percent in this same time frame (O*Net, 2012).

You may find that nursing salaries in Iowa are slightly lower than the national average, perhaps due to a lower cost of living in the Midwest. O*Net claims that nursing instructors in this area earn an average of $60,500 per year. Nurse anesthetists bring in an average salary of $153,800 each year (O*Net, 2013).

The Master’s of Science in Nursing is a versatile and powerful degree that can do wonderful things for your career prospects. It may also give you the freedom to become an influential figure in the Iowa nursing community. Contact RN-to-MSN schools in Iowa to get more information about program details.

Iowa Direct Entry MSN

As more and more Iowans get health insurance for the first time, local clinics and hospitals are trying to increase their staff of nursing professionals. In particular, many employers want high-level nursing professionals that can take on independent care, leadership, education, and training responsibilities. This level of responsibility comes with a Master’s of Science in Nursing.

Take some time to contact the Iowa nursing schools that offer Direct Entry MSN programs in order to compare programs before selecting your school.

With a Bachelor’s degree in a non-related field, you can still work towards a Master’s degree in nursing. This degree is split up into an undergraduate component, which allows you to take lower-level nursing courses and become an RN (Registered Nurse), and a graduate component, which permits you to earn your MSN. To be eligible for admission to one of these degree programs, you must meet fairly demanding requirements. At most schools, you must have a C or higher in classes like Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, and Statistics. In addition, your overall GPA should be 3.0 or higher. Some schools may be even more selective in regards to prerequisites and GPA.

The courses you take in a direct entry MSN program are designed to help you meet learning outcomes laid out by your school. Upon graduation, you should be dedicated to evidence-based practice and continued learning in the field of nursing. Instructors will also be assessing your leadership skills to ensure that you can effectively lead other nurses and health care professionals. Choosing and developing the appropriate interventions for different health care problems is a significant part of an MSN program.

Your curriculum may contain a wide selection of clinical and classroom-based courses. Altogether, your degree should provide you with over 800 clinical hours in your field. If you decide to become a nurse anesthetist, your curriculum may include classes like Advanced Principles of Anesthesia, Rural Anesthesia, Obstetrical Anesthesia, and Clinical Decision Making.

Nurse practitioner students my take classes like Primary Care for Infants and Children, Clinical Leadership, and Health Promotion in Advanced Clinical Practice. Those who go into a field like nursing leadership can plan on taking classes like Financial Management, Executive Leadership and Management, Health Policy and Law, and Clinical Leadership.

Iowa has a significant range of nursing scholarships for students in all advanced nursing specialties. Begin researching your financial aid options early, as scholarship applications are often due early and you want to apply for as many as possible. Mercy Medical Center awards six scholarships every year, starting at $500. The Trinity Foundation awards the McMillen Scholarship for advanced nursing students, the Tom and Margaret Welch Scholarship, and the Roselpha Lovrien Nursing Scholarship. Consider applying for scholarships through the Iowa Nurses Association. They award the Mike Anderson Scholarship and the Iowa Nurses Foundation Scholarship.

Depending on which nursing specialty you choose, you may have to pursue advanced licensure through the Iowa Board of Nursing. Though they only require registered nursing licensure for fields like nurse education and nurse leadership, clinical specialties like anesthesia and midwifery have different licensing requirements. You can plan on completing exams in your specialty and applying for an advanced license if you take a highly clinical route.

Your hard work may pay off when you see the excellent job outlook in Iowa! Per O*Net, the lowest growth rate is recorded for nurse anesthetists. Job openings in this field are expected to increase 13% between 2012 and 2022 (O*Net, 2012). The fastest-growing nursing career is nurse education, which may see an increase of 35 percent between 2012 and 2022 (O*Net, 2012).

Average salaries in this state vary, but typically, they are in line with national averages. Nursing instructors claim a median income of $60,500 per year, as reported by O*Net. The highest average salary in the state goes to nurse anesthetists, who earn an average of $153,800 per year (O*Net, 2013).

Nursing can be a personally fulfilling job that has a broad reach on the health of many. Wherever your passions and skills lie, you can likely find an advanced nursing specialty that suits you. Your advanced education and experience can help you improve the state of health care for everyone. To learn more simply contact the schools you see on this page to get detailed program information.

Iowa CRNA Programs

There are many reasons that you may have started a career in registered nursing. You likely know how important nurses are to health care, especially in terms of patient experience, and you may want to make a change in the nursing community in Iowa. One of the benefits of starting a career in this field is the variety of ways in which you can take your career further. If you’d like to use your nursing experience to work independently of other medical professionals while still collaborating with them as needed, you may want to become a nurse anesthetist in Iowa.

Nurse anesthetists are a growing part of the health care industry in the United States, particularly as the country’s health care legislation makes it possible for millions of residents to get the care they need. In a state like Iowa, where much of the layout is rural, CRNAs are even more crucial. Per the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, nurse anesthetists are the main providers of anesthesia in many states. Going through the process of earning a Master’s degree in nurse anesthesia and getting a CRNA license may put you in the right position to serve the people of Iowa in a greater capacity. Learn more about this degree choice by contacting CRNA schools in Iowa to get started.

Admissions and Curriculum for CRNA Programs in Iowa

As you begin to evaluate different CRNA programs in Iowa, you may wish to look at the admissions requirements for different schools. This can help you narrow down the schools that are a good choice for you and your work experience. While earning your BSN, you should have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be accepted to a CRNA program. While working as a registered nurse, it’s important to make sure you get experience in trauma care, emergency care, or surgical care, as all of these fields use the services of nurse anesthetists.

You should plan on spending about three years in school as a full-time nurse anesthesia student. This program tends to require more credits than NP or nurse leadership programs; on average, you may complete between 50 and 60 credits. As you typically take all of your courses in a cohort, you may have to attend full-time for the duration of your program to stay in the program.

When you begin the program for your CRNA, you might take more theory courses that delve into advanced nursing, the background knowledge you need, and the ethics of nurse anesthesia. Courses in this part of your education include Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia, Advanced Health Assessment, and Theoretical Foundations in Advanced Nursing Practice. Later courses may give you the skills you need to apply all that you’ve learned so far. Courses in this category include Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship, and Research in Nurse Anesthesia. As you proceed to the end of your program, more and more of your time may be spent in clinical learning. Most students complete over 600 hours of clinical work prior to graduation.

In Iowa, you may be able to apply for a variety of advanced nursing scholarships and grants. This may make your education more financially manageable, particularly if you already have student loans from your BSN. The Cass County Health System awards several health care scholarships to selected students. The Iowa Health Care Association is another local resource for scholarships.

Working as a Nurse Anesthetist in Iowa

Before you can begin working as a nurse anesthetist in Iowa, it’s important to complete the fairly thorough licensure process required in this state. Once you know your graduation date, you can apply to take the certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. This exam looks at the many aspects covered by your CRNA program. Once you have officially become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, you can apply to get your state license from the Iowa Board of Nursing. They do require you to submit your transcripts, a completed application, and a copy of your NBCRNA exam scores.

Prior to working independently as a CRNA, you must make sure that you meet the insurance standards of the state of Iowa. Professional liability insurance protects both you and your employer. You may need to contact your employer to find out what your insurance requirements are before you upgrade your RN professional liability insurance.

The job outlook for Iowa nurse anesthetists is fairly strong. In the decade from 2012 to 2022, O*Net expects to see job openings for nurse anesthetists increase by 13 percent.
Nurse anesthesia salaries in Iowa tend to be slightly higher than they are in other parts of the country. The average salary for an Iowa nurse anesthetist, according to O*Net, is $153,800 per year. On the high end of the scale, nurse anesthetists may earn more than $187,200 per year (O*Net, 2013).

The great thing about working in the nursing field is the fact that your hard work doesn’t just benefit you and your career. Furthering your education and advancing your career can have a positive impact on the nursing community as a whole, strengthening education standards and helping ensure that patients get the care they deserve. If nurse anesthesia sounds like the right specialty for you, get started by reaching out to CRNA schools in Iowa directly from our site.

Forensic Nursing in Iowa

Victims of crime often have difficulty seeking the medical care they need. They may feel partially responsible for their victimization, embarrassed of their injuries, and unsure of how to begin the emotional healing process. Forensic nurses fill this important gap in healthcare. After earning a forensic nurse degree, you can assess injuries, collect physical evidence, provide emotional support to patients, and collaborate with criminal justice professionals for a swift and fair resolution.

Many groups work with forensic nurses in Iowa. The Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault has found various benefits and their time working with forensic nurses, including shorter examination times, better forensic evidence collection, higher reporting rates, and improved prosecution (2016).

Is it time for the next step in your nursing career? Keep reading to learn how to become a forensic nurse in Iowa.

Master’s Degree Programs in Forensic Nursing in Iowa

Qualifying for licensure as a forensic nurse is a several-step process that begins with education. First, you need a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. A handful of programs do accept Associate’s-level graduates, but these programs tend to be significantly longer, since they combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degree coursework. Standard programs generally require between 30 and 40 credits of graduate coursework, which you may be able to complete in two years of full-time study. Clinical work is essential in forensic nursing schools, since you must have the ability to work calmly and appropriately with traumatized patients.

Your curriculum may vary, based on whether you study forensic nursing as a whole, legal nurse consulting, or sexual assault examination. In a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, you may focus on the following learning outcomes.

SANE Program Goals and Topics

Understanding the psychology of offenders
Scope of practice of SANEs
Working with Sexual Assault Response Teams
Working in a medical advocacy role
Forensic examination and evidence collection
Forensic photography
Sex crimes investigation
Victimization across the lifespan
Injury assessment
Special circumstances and their implications
Iowa sexual assault laws

Upon completing your education, you may want to begin the certification process. The American College of Forensic Examiners Institute awards the title of Certified Forensic Nurse. The Commission for Forensic Nursing Certification oversees licensure of SANEs and Advanced Forensic Nurses. If you study nurse consulting, you may go through the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants to become a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.

The Role of Forensic Nurses in Iowa

Your role as a forensic nurse depends on where you live in Iowa. Many cities and counties run forensic nursing employment programs. This often involves working with a Sexual Assault Response Team. However, there are also private employment options to consider. Local employers like UnityPoint Health have sexual assault wards that are staffed around-the-clock. This level of dedication to victim support ensures that victims do not have to wait an extensive amount of time for an examination. A long wait time often means that patients must remain in the clothes in which they were victimized, which can cause further mental suffering.

In addition to helping victims of sexual assault, these programs and local hospitals provide support to abuse children, abuse elders, and domestic violence victims. If you would like to work with a specific population, ensure that your clinical work gets you experience with your chosen group. Your decision to work for the government or for a private agency may influence your forensic nurse salary. However, with federal and state funding programs, salaries tend to be fairly similar across this specialty.

Forensic nurses are a crucial part of Iowa healthcare. Victims should never have to be further traumatized by delayed or insensitive medical care. Find out how you can get involved in this specialty by requesting information on forensic nurse degrees in Iowa.

Clinical Nurse Leader Degrees in Iowa

Whether you’ve worked as a nurse for one year or three decades, the way that a health care facility works is always amazing. When everything runs smoothly, massive amounts of work get done quickly and accurately. Throughout Iowa, hospitals and clinics have seen huge results from the use of Clinical Nurse Leaders. As Medicaid funding changes in various care settings, it is important for nurse leaders and managers to know how to properly staff their shifts and allocate funds (KIWA Radio, 2015).

Nurse leaders are even more important in light of the nursing shortage in Iowa (KWWL, 2015). Though facilities may minimize the shortage by recruiting new graduates, they still need experienced nurses to step up as leaders and take new nurses under their wings (KWWL, 2015).

You may be ready to take on a new role in your facility or explore new work environments entirely. No matter what you see in the future of your nursing career, you can learn more about becoming a nurse leader by contacting graduate nurse leadership programs in Iowa.

How Can I Become a Clinical Nurse Leader in Iowa?

With the wide range of graduate nursing programs in Iowa, it is essential to choose a school that can help you reach your goals. For example, if you want to earn the national certification of Clinical Nurse Leader, you have to choose a nurse leadership program that is approved by the AACN.

Programs in Iowa tend to require between 33 and 39 credits. Many programs are designed for working nurses, so they allow you to complete some or all of your coursework online. Schools that have clinical requirements may require you to work with specific clinics or hospitals to earn your degree.

The courses you take should advance your skills in management, care management, nursing research, and policy. For this reason, you may find courses like those listed below in your CNL curriculum:

Evaluating Evidence for Practice
Leadership in the Microsystem
Health Promotion and Assessment
Health Systems, Finance, and Economics in Nursing
Clinical Nurse Leader Seminar

While looking at a school’s curriculum, don’t forget to learn more about its vision, goals, and learning outcomes. Researching each program in this manner makes it much easier to select a program that is in line with your learning style and needs.

In your graduate nursing school’s learning outcomes, you may find goals like:

Understand operation of microsystems in health care
Function as a leader for nurses at different levels of education
Qualify to take the CNL licensing exam
Improve the field of nursing through research and ongoing practice

You may spend two or more years earning a Master’s degree. Throughout this time, keep your nursing license valid through the Iowa Board of Nursing. Your license must be renewed every three years by the 16th day of your birth month. In each three-year cycle, 36 hours of continuing education are expected.

By meeting these requirements, you may be able to apply for certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader. The AACN administers a comprehensive nurse leadership exam. Once you have your license, you have to complete 50 hours of continuing education in every five-year renewal cycle.

What Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Do?

The more you learn about what nurse leaders do, the more you can come to appreciate the challenges of this clinical role. Although your education may focus specifically on one area of nurse leadership, you should be ready to accept whatever duties in your scope of practice are assigned to you by those in charge of your facility.

These expectations may differ quite a bit between institutions. Becoming involved with the Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders can help you figure out where you fit into the model of nursing care.

Overall, your aim as a CNL is to improve patient care and outcomes by utilizing evidence-based standards and procedures, prioritizing the education and training of nurses on your team, and staying up-to-date on nursing research.

Since this role is clinical in nature, you should anticipate spending quite a bit of time with specific patients throughout your career. Developing plans of care, revising plans, and reviewing records are all significant components of your CNL responsibilities.

As an experienced leader, you may put your knowledge to work in many different health settings. Take the first step to a higher degree now and contact Master’s in nurse leadership programs in Iowa.

Iowa Research Nursing Graduate Programs

The more time you spend in the field of nursing, the more expertise and experience you can lend to the field to make it better and encourage new nurses. In addition, working as a registered nurse can give you insight into the health care industry and how it can improve. If you are ready for a change in your career and you want to use your knowledge to influence industry-wide change, the field of nursing research may have a place for you.

Nursing research in Iowa has many goals—mainly to improve patient outcomes, keep skilled nurses in the industry for longer, and find more efficient ways of providing care. Local health care facilities, like Advocate Health Care, encourage nurse researchers to advance this industry. The Julie Schaffner Research Fellowship is just one example of how Iowa employers invest in nursing research and those who can get results.

If you are ready to explore the academic side of nursing, check out our list of research nursing graduate programs in Iowa below.

Iowa Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Research

Once you start looking at nursing studies and the policy changes that come from them, it is clear why you need to study this field for several years before you can begin contributing to research. Most students spend two to three years earning a Master’s degree in nursing.

While in school, you should plan on addressing a rigorous set of learning goals by following a strict curriculum that outlines exactly what you need to know to succeed. Graduate programs in this area often include classes like Health Disparities, Contemporary Research Design and Methods, Philosophical and Theoretical Perspectives of Nursing, Knowledge Appraisal and Development, and Advanced Research Methods.

These courses tend to blend theory and practice, allowing you to grow in both areas at the same time. As you learn about the process of conducting research, you get to see the process play out in actual clinical studies. To get practical work experience, your school may send you to local research facilities, hospitals, and other health care facilities with nursing research departments.

If you have made the most of your nursing career, you should already be a member of
local professional nursing groups. As an active member, you may be able to apply for various scholarships and grants. A major source of local financial aid is the Iowa Nurses Association.

The Role of Clinical Nurse Researchers in Iowa

As a clinical nurse researcher, you may strive to improve the field of health care in two main ways. First, you may look at organizations that are succeeding and find out what is helping them thrive. Second, you may look at things that are going wrong and try to figure out what is causing the issue. No matter how you approach your research, the results you get can help create patient-centered policies and procedures.

Iowa researchers recently looked into the cause of an increase in nursing home deaths and found that overuse of blood thinners is to blame. In many cases, nursing research can actually save lives.

Research is an area of growth in Iowa. Through 2022, O*Net expects Iowa job openings to increase 4% faster than the national average. The average salary for a nurse researcher is $95,200 per year (O*Net, 2014).

You can change the future of nursing and empower nursing professionals to give the best care they possibly can. Explore this new opportunity by requesting information from research nursing programs in Iowa.

Iowa Certified Nurse Midwife Programs

Midwifery is an ancient career path and calling that has lasted for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The field of nurse midwifery combines the best of medical advances and the wisdom of midwives. In Iowa, where rural communities may have limited access to OB/GYNs and other medical specialists, nurse midwives can be crucial in keeping birthing women safe.

Nurse midwives are becoming a more important part of well woman care across the country, with a growing number of hospitals offering nurse midwifery services.

If you’re considering a career as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), you should be ready to work irregular hours, serve women of all ages and medical needs, and collaborate extensively with OB/GYNs and other medical professionals. If this is the right career path for you, learn more about certified nurse midwife programs in Iowa by contacting the schools you see on this page.

Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife in Iowa

Getting established in the field of nurse midwifery requires an extensive amount of education. You should have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, as there are few options for those who have an unrelated Bachelor’s degree or an Associate’s nursing degree. With your BSN, you should have at least one year of full-time nursing experience. Labor & delivery experience may be particularly helpful.

Featured Programs:

Working as a Certified Nurse Midwife in Iowa

Since you have already worked as a registered nurse, you know how important licensure is in the field of nursing. It’s important to maintain your RN license throughout your education. Once you complete your graduate-level education, you can apply for national certification via the American Midwifery Certification Board. You may get your license after passing a comprehensive exam. You can then get your advanced practice state license from the Iowa Board of Nursing.

The job market is fairly strong for certified nurse midwives in Iowa. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net expects a 26% increase in CNM jobs. The average salary for an Iowa CNM is $102,500 per year (O*Net, 2014). This is slightly higher than the national average (O*Net, 2014).

Are you ready to take your nursing career to the next level? Get started today by contacting certified nurse midwife programs in Iowa from those listed below.

Iowa Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs

The need for skilled nursing professionals is growing all over the country as health care organizations and employers try to keep up with the demands of the Affordable Care Act. This need has been particularly strong in states with large rural populations like Iowa.

For many rural health care centers, the cost of staffing doctors is prohibitively expensive. Advanced nursing specialists can provide high-level care to patients of all ages and backgrounds. If you want to take your nursing career to the next level, consider becoming a clinical nurse specialist (CNS).

Contact the Iowa nursing schools with CNS programs to learn more about your options.

As a clinical nurse specialist, you may have the opportunity to work with patients, conduct and implement research, and lead other medical staff in a variety of settings. For example, oncology clinical nurse specialists contributed to research on managing treatment-related neurotoxicity. No matter which age group, medical need, or specialty area interests you, you may be able to find a clinical nurse specialist path that suits you.

Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Iowa

Choosing the right Iowa CNS program is a major part of succeeding as a graduate nursing student. As you evaluate different CNS schools in Iowa, look into the specialty programs they offer to ensure that you choose one that is right for you. Many schools offer adult and gerontology CNS programs. Less common offerings include oncology, pediatrics, surgery, and research. The path you choose may determine the career path you follow, so choose wisely.

Depending on the specialty you choose, you may spend between two and four years in school as a graduate student. During this time, you may work with nursing research, spend time in clinical settings with patients, and build your leadership skills in the health care field.

CNS students must be skilled and educated in a variety of areas. To be prepared for your new career, plan on taking courses like Information Technology in Health Care, Introduction to Health Policy, Advanced Assessment and Clinical Reasoning, Introduction to Management of Health Care Organizations, Human Responses to Acute and Chronic Illness, and Advanced Practice Clinical.

Given the scope of practice of a CNS, it should be clear that clinical hours are very important. By the time you graduate, you should have earned more than 500 hours as a clinical specialist.

As Iowa’s need for clinical nurse specialists continues to increase, a growing number of organizations are funding scholarships for graduate nursing students. Scholarships are funded by the Iowa Health Care Association. If you are not already a member of the Iowa Nurses Association, you may wish to join and apply for their range of scholarships.

Working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Iowa

Before you can begin working independently as a clinical nurse specialist, you must meet the licensing requirements of the Iowa Board of Nursing. This involves maintaining a current registered nursing license and applying for advanced practice standing, which permits you to expand your scope of practice and work with patients more independently.

This may be a great career path for many years to come, as the need for clinical nurse specialists is expected to continue growing. In addition, becoming an advanced nursing specialist may boost your earning potential. Per CNN, the average salary for a CNS is $86,500 per year and job openings are expected to increase by 26% through 2022.

If it’s time to use your nursing experience in a new and innovative way, take the first step today. Reach out to clinical nurse specialist programs in Iowa today by contacting the schools on our site.

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Iowa Public Health Nursing Masters Programs

The Iowa Health Information Network (IHIN) Transition is a collaborative organization called e-Health that is a non-profit health information network for the consumer of healthcare. It is currently a public and private organization that is led by the Iowa Department of Public Health with the purpose of improving healthcare quality, safety and efficiency utilizing health information technology. Graduate educated nurses are integral to the success of this project.

The Iowa Department of Public Health is building on the Public Health Modernization Act that was introduced January 11, 2010. Their standards cover basic public health services, such as stopping the spread of disease, preventing injuries, protecting people against environmental hazards, and they promote healthy behaviors. This program also depends heavily on nurses with master’s degrees, especially those in public health.

Public health nursing is the practice of promoting and protecting the health of people. Their main focus is to promote health and prevent disease and disability. There are many types of jobs in the public health workforce, which might make this a perfect time for you to return to college for a graduate degree in this growing field.

Masters Degree Programs in Public Health Nursing in Iowa

Universities in Iowa offer nurses a Public Health graduate program. They require a bachelor’s degree for admission with a GPA of 3.0. The GRE scores are also required. Additionally, you must provide three letters of recommendation and your resume.

The College of Public Health offers several graduate level programs, which include Community and Behavioral Health, Epidemiology, Health Management and Policy, Occupational and Environmental Health, Biostatistics and Master of Public Health (MPH). The MPH is a globally recognized program for primary professionals in the public health field.

Iowa Public Health Nursing programs typically require 43 credit hours for graduation with prerequisite of algebra and biology.

The 18 hours of core courses and the three hour MPH practicum include:

Intro to Public Health
Intro to Biostatistics
Intro to Help Promotion and Disease Prevention
Epidemiology I: Principles
Intro to the US Healthcare System
Global Environmental Health
MPH Practicum Experience

Students must take 21 semester hours from courses required in one of the other public health sub-tracks. If you are ready to return for your graduate degree, you will be prepared for a variety of challenges.

The federal government has the FAFSA grant program, and if you fill out an application, the financial result will be based on your income. Through the Campaign for Nursing’s Future that is funded by Johnson & Johnson offer scholarships, which usually require a minimum GPA of 3.0. HRSA from the department of health offers long repayment programs, some scholarships for disadvantaged students and the Nurse Corps program.

The Role of Public Health Nurses in Iowa

Obviously your chosen field of education will impact your choice of jobs. The Department of Public health employees numerous nurses, but there are also many positions in hospitals, private corporations, schools and many other areas.

A Medical and Health Services nurse conducts and administers fiscal operations, directs and supervises work activities. In 2014, these nurses earned a salary of $92,810 according to O*Net Online.

Public health nursing is very rewarding. A graduate degree will allow you to be an advanced practice nurse. You would not only be advancing your career, you would also be helping the community at large and nurses as a whole.

Graduate Nursing Programs in Healthcare Policy in Iowa

Legislators in the healthcare sector come from many different backgrounds and areas of experience, but some in the medical industry believe that policies should be more heavily influenced by nurses. After all, you spend every day working with the patients and professionals affected by these policies, so who else could better comment on potential and existing laws?

As you examine the history of healthcare policy in Iowa and in the United States as a whole, you can see that it can be difficult for legislators to account for the needs of employees and health professionals. When Iowa lawmakers pushed to privatize Medicaid in an extremely short timeframe, doctors and nurses cautioned against an overzealous push (Des Moines Register, 2015). As a result of the rapid implementation, many elderly and disabled patients were left baffled and confused. The inclusion of nurses in policy creation can help avoid crises like this one.

Find out what kind of a role you can play in Iowa policy with a graduate degree in health policy. Reach out to health policy graduate programs in Iowa to learn more.

Master’s Degree Programs in Healthcare Policy in Iowa

Health policy programs are often intended for those who have current and relevant work experience in the healthcare field, so your work as a registered nurse may help you quite a bit in the application process.

In fact, job experience is often just as important as your undergraduate academic performance. If you know that you want to work in policy, learn about these programs early so you can get the right amount and type of work experience to be accepted to a program.

From school to school, graduation requirements are quite different. Generally, Iowa schools require you to earn between 36 and 42 credits to get a Master’s degree in healthcare policy. To meet these expectations and build your base of knowledge, plan on taking courses like Health Policy Analysis, Cost Effectiveness and Decision Analysis, Essentials of Public Health, Health Economics, Biostatistics, and Health Research.

In addition to your classroom courses, your school may expect you to finish an internship or a fieldwork class. The type of internship you complete may impact your post-graduation job opportunities, so consider your options carefully.

All of these requirements and expectations are put in place to help you meet the learning goals outlined by your college or university. Iowa health policy programs may look for growth in the following areas:

Identify and analyze public health issues and problems
Conduct quantitative and qualitative research
Formulate public health policies

Keep in mind that you must renew your registered nursing license every three years through the Iowa Board of Nursing to keep working in policy in a nursing role. This involves completing 36 hours of continuing education during each cycle.

How Do Nurses Impact Healthcare Policy in Iowa?

While earning your Master’s degree in healthcare policy, you may learn that experience and reputation are two of the biggest components of success in this specialty. This means that you may spend the early stages of your career getting your name out there, building a positive reputation, and becoming active in the nursing community. With your knowledge of healthcare policy, you may work for clinics or hospitals creating policies that fit federal and state standards. Later in your career, you may explore options with agencies like the Iowa Health Policy Oversight Committee.

Nurses have been directly responsible for many important pieces of health legislation in Iowa. Recent efforts of the Iowa Nurses Association have focused on allowing APRNs to use advanced medical equipment, improving chronic care management, creating a lyme disease task force, and banning the use of tanning beds by minors.

Earning a Master’s degree in this field puts you in the position of being able to develop policies and laws that are truly beneficial to the healthcare industry. Take advantage of this opportunity now and request information from graduate healthcare policy programs in Iowa.

Hospice Nursing in Iowa

No matter how much time you spend in the field of nursing, there’s always a way you can use your skills in a new setting or with a new patient population. Consider the field of hospice care. Patients of all ages have to struggle with the reality of terminal diagnoses, and as they handle the reality of their prognosis, they should be able to stay comfortable and pain-free. Hospice nurses generally work in patients’ homes and provide pain relief, education, and support. The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Iowa is a major resource for palliative patients and medical staff, advocating for patients’ rights and helping care providers meet patients’ needs.

Considering a career in hospice care? Get more information on hospice nurse certification by reaching out to Iowa schools below.

Master’s Degree Programs in Hospice/Palliative Care Nursing in Iowa

If you have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, you may have a wide variety of hospice nursing programs to consider. With a valid registered nursing license, you may complete your Master’s degree in roughly two years of full-time study. If you have an Associate’s degree in nursing, you may still be able to pursue a Master’s degree. RN-to-MSN bridge programs are designed to be completed in three to four years. Typically, you must take summer courses to graduate in this timeframe.

Featured Programs:

Courses for Palliative Care Certification

Symptom Management in Advanced Illness
Psychosocial, Cultural, and Spiritual Care
Advanced Non-Pain Symptom Management
Advanced Disease State Management
Clinical Management of Special Patient Populations
Hospice Leadership and Administration

You should spend lots of time in hospitals, clinics, and patient homes as you earn your degree. For a Master’s degree, you need at least 500 hours of clinical work. However, hospice programs often require far more than 500 hours.
Take advantage of scholarships for hospice nursing education. Through the Hospice & Palliative Nurses Foundation, you may apply for a $2,000 scholarship.

After you graduate, it’s important to get plenty of work experience before applying for hospice and palliative care certification. The Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center requires a Master’s degree and either 500 hours of experience in the past year or 1,000 hours of experience in the past two years.

The Role of Hospice/Palliative Care Nurses in Iowa

When you become a licensed nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist, you may seek openings at local hospice clinics. There are standalone hospice organizations and large hospitals with hospice divisions. In Iowa, some of the largest hospice organizations is Iowa City Hospice, Hospice Compassus, HCI Care Services, and Hospice of Siouxland.

Due to the needs of hospice patients, you must be ready to work a wide range of hours. In addition to conventional daytime hours, you may work weekends, nights, and holidays. Many hospice organizations require on-call hours, as patients may need emergency care or palliative care at any time.

If you’re ready to pursue hospice nursing certification, Iowa schools are ready to help you explore your options.

Request information here and start preparing for your new career.