Loras College and Northeast Iowa Community College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly offer 3+2 Nursing Dual Degree Program. Loras President Jim Collins (’84) and NICC President Liang Chee Wee, have signed an agreement to provide Loras students admission into NICC’s Nursing program.
Beginning in Fall 2019, students at Loras College can begin their academic journey as part of the 3+2 Nursing Program. Under the MoU, Loras students complete coursework in general education and their academic major during the first three years at Loras. Also during this time period, students must successfully complete coursework in anatomy and physiology, nutrition, a January term course that qualifies them to take the Certified Nursing Assistant exam, followed by an online dosage calculation course to prepare them to take the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) nursing admission exam.
In addition to achieving specific minimum course grades, students must receive a passing score on both exams to gain admission to the program. Students complete their nursing coursework at the NICC Peosta campus typically in their fourth and fifth years and complete their clinical rotations in Dubuque.
Upon successful completion of the fifth year, students are awarded their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree from Loras College, their Associate’s Degree in Nursing from NICC and will be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse with the added credential of a bachelor’s degree.