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Iowa Nursing Overview

Most states around the country are experiencing a nursing shortage, and Iowa is no exception. The nursing shortage in Iowa is increasing around the state as there are not enough new graduates to replace nurses who leave the workforce by retiring or pursuing other career fields. The Iowa nursing shortage is due to many issues such as low wages and the shortage of instructors and staff in nursing programs. The faculty shortage has resulted in limited acceptance for students wishing to purse Iowa nursing careers. The University of Iowa, which has Iowa’s largest four-year nursing program, rejects approximately 63 percent of applicants every year. In 2008, the Iowa Department of Public Health estimated that Iowa had 8 percent, 2,300, fewer Registered Nurses than what was needed to provide high quality health care in medical facilities.

Online colleges offering nursing programs in Iowa

The future nursing needs in Iowa are expected to increase greatly as the baby boomers grow older and need more medical attention. If the Iowa nursing shortage is not addressed soon quality health care will continue to be compromised. The Iowa Department of Public Health estimated that there would be 27 percent, 9,100, fewer Registered Nurses than needed within the next ten years unless successful solutions are implemented. This number is almost a fourth of the number of active Registered Nurses in the whole state of Iowa. The nursing needs will also increase as many nurses and nursing faculty retire in the next few years. The potential replacements for nursing faculty are hard to come by because not very many nurses want to pursue a master degree that is required to teach postsecondary nursing courses.

Iowa is among the state that has lower than average nursing salaries, which will create an even bigger problem for decreasing the shortage of Iowa nursing careers. Most nurses who are qualified to teach also earn significantly higher wages working in hospitals than at colleges and universities, often as much as $30,000 a year.

The Iowa Nurses’ Association predicts that patients will receive medical care that is not adequate within the next few years if Iowa nursing programs do not a least double to amount of nursing graduates every year.

There are a variety of nursing schools around the state of Iowa as well as online nursing programs. Online nursing programs allow nursing students to complete general and core courses online and complete hands-on skills training at local health care facilities.

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Online Colleges Offering Nursing Degrees

University of Phoenix - Online Campus

Accreditation

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Grand Canyon University Online

Accreditation

Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Colorado Technical University Online

Accreditation

Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Western Governors University

Accreditation

Western Governors University is the only university to have received simultaneous accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions. Currently, WGU’s "home" accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the same organization that accredits such leading institutions as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and other public and private colleges. WGU is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU is the first online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU’s Health Informatics program is now accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). WGU’s Nursing programs are CCNE accredited.

Gonzaga University

Accreditation

Gonzaga University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges/Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges.

Indiana State University

Accreditation

Indiana State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Kaplan University

Accreditation

Kaplan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Liberty University

Accreditation

Liberty University Online is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees.

Walden University

Accreditation

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of The North Central Association,www.ncahlc.org; 312-263-0456.

University of Saint Mary

Accreditation

The University of Saint Mary Online is accreditated by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Northern Arizona University(NAU)

Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

UMassOnline

Accreditation

UMassOnline is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Accreditation
Chamberlain College of Nursing is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, one of the six regional agencies that accredit U.S. colleges and universities at the institutional level. The associate and bachelor's degree programs in nursing at the Columbus and St. Louis campuses are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The bachelor's degree program in nursing at the Addison, Columbus, Phoenix and St. Louis campuses is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that standards of quality have been met. Program availability varies by location.

Drexel University

Accreditation

Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Fort Hays State University

Accreditation

Fort Hays State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Northeastern University

Accreditation

Northeastern University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education; The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Nova Southeastern University

Accreditation

Nova Southeastern University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Post University Online

Accreditation

Post University Online is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

University of Cincinnati

Accreditation

University of Cincinnati is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

University of Delaware

Accreditation

University of Delaware is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Loyola University, New Orleans

Accreditation

Loyola University - New Orleans is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Keystone Technical Institute

Accreditation

Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)

Kent State University

Accreditation

Kent State University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (30 North LaSalle, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504; 800-621-7440) and The College of Nursing is accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

ATA Career Education

Accreditation

In the fall of 2005, the school gained accreditation status with the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Academy of Massage Therapy

Accreditation

Accredited by COMTA (Commission for Massage Therapy Accreditation), an agency listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Approved provider of continuing education credits (CEU’s) by the National Certification Board for Massage Therapy and Bodywork.

Stevens - Henager College

Accreditation

Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology.

University of Mary

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Keiser University

Accreditation

Keiser University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097) to award certificates and degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.

Keiser University

Accreditation

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