Southwestern’s practical nursing program and associate degree nursing program are both approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing, River Point Business Park, 400 S.W. 8th St., Suite B, Des Moines, IA  50309-4685.  In addition to state accreditation, Southwestern is also investigating national accreditation.  Graduates of SWCC's PN and ADN (RN) programs are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) exam at the end of the one-year (PN) or two-year (RN) programs.  Our pass rates on the licensure exams during the past four years have averaged 93 percent for LPN and 90 percent for RNs.  Further information on the pass rates on the national licensure exams (NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN) are available on the Iowa Board of Nursing website. 

The curriculum offers students learning experiences in courses emphasizing concepts of the nursing process, the health-illness continuum, critical thinking, ethics, communications, the sciences, and the professional nursing practice role. Students spend time in the classroom and two days per week at a health care facility.  A variety of clinical sites provide excellent experiences with direct supervision by skilled clinical faculty.

SWCC’s nursing program has participated in the Iowa Articulation Plan and therefore graduates of SWCC’s associate degree nursing program have been able to articulate easily into four-year colleges' Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) programs in Iowa.  So, if your plan is to stay in Iowa and obtain your BSN from an Iowa school, SWCC is the place for you.