Nursing
Interested in a career in nursing?
Drake’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing allows students to complete the nursing course work over 12 months after completion of the prerequisites, instead of the traditional BSN program that takes an average of 4 years to complete. The program offers over 600 hours of simulation, laboratories, and clinical hours in diverse settings with interprofessional education to help you prepare for success—not only on your National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)—but for your future as a leader in the field of nursing.
Two Program Pathways
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
If you have fulfilled the prerequisites, with or without a Bachelor’s degree, you are ready to enroll and can complete the program in just 12 months!
Pre-Nursing / Health Sciences 3+1
This degree combination allows you to graduate in four years plus a summer with two degrees: a Bachelor of Health Sciences/Clinical and Medical Sciences and an ABSN, making you better prepared for the healthcare field. You will be exposed to a wide range of hands-on, healthcare-related experiences while mastering the foundational skills of a liberal arts education in your first three years.
Program Benefits
Career Preparation
Graduates of the ABSN program will be prepared to start their career in healthcare immediately. Students may also choose to use this degree as the foundation to pursue advanced degrees in nursing such as nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse researcher, nurse manager, etc. According to the BLS, nurse practitioner is projected to grow 38 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations which is around 2.8%.
Broadlawns Partnership
Drake has entered a unique partnership with Broadlawns Medical Center where they will serve as a primary clinical site for nursing students. In addition, Drake nursing faculty will work alongside the Clinical Nurse Educator at Broadlawns to ensure seamless and meaningful clinical experiences.
Des Moines Healthcare Opportunities
Located in Des Moines, Drake has connections with regional healthcare systems, including Broadlawns Medical Center, The Iowa Clinic, MercyOne Medical Center, ChildServe, Blank Children’s Hospital, and UnityPoint Health, which provide opportunities for you to engage with local healthcare professionals just minutes from campus.
Competency-based education
Become a confident and competent health care professional by acquiring practical skills and knowledge directly applicable to real-world healthcare scenarios. By focusing on measurable outcomes and mastery of skills, our competency-based education allows for personalized learning paths, catering to individual strengths and needs, ultimately enhancing the quality of patient care.
$81,220
In 2022, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $81,220, translating to over $39 an hour.
#1
Number 1 top ranked honest and ethical profession for 23 years! (Gallup poll)
~191,000
Each year, it is projected that there will be ~191,000 openings for nurses.
Nursing Advising
From your first day, you will have a team of faculty mentors, academic advising specialists, and career services liaisons to help guide you through your time at Drake. To learn more about how this process works, and to discuss which pathway could work best for your career goals, please reach out to our experts.
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Mary Owens, DNP, FNP-BC, MSN, CNE (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor and Director of Nursing
mary.owens@drake.edu
515-271-1829
Jessica Lang, MAT (she/her/hers)
Director of Enrollment Services
jessica.lang@drake.edu
515-271-3108
Request Information
Connect with our admission team to learn more about Drake, including the application process and scheduling a campus visit. Personalized campus visits are a great opportunity to speak with faculty one-on-one and see how Drake can help you reach your professional goals.
