Nursing Program (LPN)
Get to Work as a Nurse, Faster
Use your passion for caring to realize your dream of becoming a nurse who makes a difference – at Kirkwood we can help you get there sooner than you might think!
In just one year, you can learn how to combine your compassion as a helper and healer with the latest in healthcare science and technology to make a life-changing difference for patients in need.
With nursing projected as one of the fastest growing career fields in the next 10 years, our one-year Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program can help you start a bright future.
Kirkwood offers more than $3 million in scholarships for students each year, and there are 35 for students enrolled in nursing programs. Nursing students may also qualify for the tuition-free Last Dollar Scholarship and/or the Kibbie Grant.
You'll get hands-on experience in the classroom, an incredible model hospital environment in the Katz Family Healthcare Simulation Lab, as well as real-world experience at local health centers.
Prepare for in-demand nursing careers in and out of the clinic, including:
- Pediatrics
- OR and critical care
- Labor and delivery
- Home care
- Nursing home
- Community health
Once you complete your LPN, you can choose to transfer to our ADN Nursing program.
From there, you can easily transfer to earn your RN-BSN at a local four-year college. Kirkwood students can transfer to local programs, among many others.
- University of Iowa
- Allen College
- Mount Mercy University
- St. Ambrose University
- University of Dubuque
Explore More
Our Nursing PN and ADN programs are approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing and the North Central — Higher Learning Commission.
The Associate Degree in Nursing program holds pre-accreditation status from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20037 202-909-2526.
Congratulations to our nursing graduates! These tools can help you take the next step in your new career:
- Licensure - Familiarize yourself with the Iowa Board of Nursing licensure requirements.
- Resources - Take a look at these resources for new nurses.
- References - To request a staff member serve as a reference for you, download the reference release form.
- Transfers - If you want to transfer to an RN/BSN program but aren’t sure, here is a criteria based decision matrix for you to look over, the Dolter Decision Matrix.
In addition to Nursing, Kirkwood offers a wide range of health-related programs. Expert advisors can help you make the right decision for your future career.
Health-related career paths available at Kirkwood include:
The Katz Family Healthcare Simulation Center
Welcome to the first fully integrated multidisciplinary health care simulation center in the state of Iowa!
Learn in an environment that includes:
- Nine high-fidelity medical simulators
- A state-of-the-art audio-visual system
- A six-room, seven-bed simulated hospital environment
Questions? Contact Us
If you're interested in learning more about nursing programs at Kirkwood or have specific questions, take a look at our Nursing FAQs. You can also reach out to the Department:
Department of Nursing
172 Linn Hall
319-398-5563
nursing@kirkwood.edu