Clinical placements are typically completed within the state of Iowa, and students should be prepared to travel up to approximately 100 miles for clinical experiences to ensure access to appropriate learning opportunities. 

Students who live outside Iowa should connect with our clinical placement team early in the program. While our clinical placement team remains responsible for coordinating and approving placements, out-of-state students may be asked to assist the team with identifying potential clinical sites or contacts in their local area. This collaborative approach helps us identify appropriate opportunities while ensuring that clinical sites and preceptors meet University and program requirements. 

Applicants must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing (BSN, MSN, BAN, or equivalent) to apply.  

Applicants must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing (BSN, MSN, BAN, or equivalent) to apply.  

Most courses are delivered online; however, some courses include on-site requirements. For example, didactic nurse practitioner courses are offered on campus. Class schedules are structured so students typically come to campus only once per week. Additional on-site activities, such as orientation and enrichment days, may also be required. These dates are communicated well in advance to allow students time to plan. 

Clinical practicums are arranged by the College of Nursing with consideration given to where students live. While every effort is made to minimize travel, the primary goal is to provide high-quality clinical learning experiences. As a result, some travel may be required. 

Yes. Applicants to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) program must have at least two years of full-time experience as a registered nurse providing direct care to hospitalized adults and older adults. Acceptable experience includes practice in inpatient settings such as medical-surgical units, telemetry units, progressive care units, step-down units, intermediate care units, and intensive or critical care units. 

While critical care experience is not required, it is considered an asset. Experience in the emergency department, PACU (recovery room), cath lab, interventional radiology, endoscopy, and operating room does not meet the inpatient direct care requirement for admission. These settings do not provide the breadth of inpatient adult acute care experience necessary for success in the program. 

The program includes three sequential clinical courses that begin in the fall semester and continue through the summer. The total number of required clinical hours varies by program. View a sample AG-ACNP Plan of Study for more information. 

To estimate your weekly clinical commitment, divide the total clinical hours by approximately 15 weeks in the fall and spring semesters and 10 weeks in the summer semester. Clinical schedules can be flexible, and some students choose to complete hours in concentrated blocks when that better accommodates their personal and professional responsibilities. 

Most courses are delivered online; however, some courses include on-campus requirements. For example, didactic nurse practitioner courses are offered in person. Class schedules are designed so that students are typically on campus only once per week. Additional on-site activities, such as orientation and enrichment days, may also be required. These dates are communicated well in advance to allow students time to make travel and scheduling arrangements. 

Clinical practicums are coordinated by the College of Nursing with consideration given to where students live. While every effort is made to minimize travel, the primary goal is to provide high-quality clinical learning experiences. As a result, some travel may be required to ensure students receive the best possible clinical preparation

The program includes three sequential clinical courses that begin in the fall semester and continue through the summer. The total number of required clinical hours varies by program. View a sample AG-PCNP Plan of Study for more information. 

To estimate your weekly clinical commitment, divide the total clinical hours by approximately 15 weeks in the fall and spring semesters and 10 weeks in the summer semester. Clinical schedules can be flexible, and some students choose to complete hours in concentrated blocks when that better accommodates their personal and professional responsibilities

The purpose of this requirement is for the applicant to have experience with long duration of care for critically ill patients. With acute care experience, an RN has developed as an independent decision-maker capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles.  

Emergency Room experience, OR experience, and post-anesthesia care unit experience is not considered "critical care" due to the relatively short duration of individual patient care. 

Interviews are typically held from mid-July through early August and may be completed either in person at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City or virtually if travel would be burdensome. The interview format is entirely the applicant’s choice and has no impact on the admissions decision. 

During the interview, applicants meet with the program director, associate director, clinical coordinator, and other faculty members. Applicants also have the opportunity to meet current students and ask questions about the program, clinical experiences, and student life. 

Yes. If you will be close to completing the required one year of full-time critical care nursing experience by June 1 (for example, 10 to 11 months), you are still encouraged to apply. However, applicants with less experience may be less competitive, as admitted students typically have more than two years of critical care experience. 

In some cases, admission may be offered on a contingent basis pending completion of all admission requirements. Applicants offered contingent admission are expected to continue working in critical care through matriculation and must satisfy all requirements before the first day of classes. Once all requirements have been met, their admission status is the same as that of all other admitted students. 

If admission requirements are not completed by the start of classes, the admission offer will be withdrawn. Applicants who do not meet the requirements by that deadline must reapply for a future admission cycle. Because admissions decisions are based on the competitiveness of the applicant pool each year, admission in a future cycle is not guaranteed. 

The CRNA program has a strong track record of graduate employment. Since the program's inception, 99.6% of graduates have secured positions as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) after completing the program and successfully passing the national certification examination. 

Graduates practice in a variety of settings across the country, with many choosing to work in Iowa and other rural states. A significant number of alumni serve in rural communities, helping address critical healthcare needs and expand access to anesthesia care. 

Most courses are delivered online; however, some courses include on-campus requirements. For example, didactic nurse practitioner courses are offered in person. Class schedules are designed so students typically come to campus only once per week. Additional on-site activities, such as orientation and enrichment days, may also be required, with dates provided well in advance to allow for planning. 

Clinical practicums are coordinated by the College of Nursing with consideration given to where students live. While every effort is made to minimize travel, some travel may be necessary to ensure students receive high-quality clinical experiences and the best possible preparation for practice. 

At this time clinicals must be done in Iowa. We make the placements, so students aren’t responsible for finding sites. There are three sequential clinical courses in the program that start in the fall and go through summer. For total clinical hours, refer to the DNP Plan of  

The program includes three sequential clinical courses that begin in the fall semester and continue through the summer. The total number of required clinical hours varies by program. View a sample PNP-AC Plan of Study for more information. 

Most courses are delivered online; however, some courses include on-campus requirements. For example, didactic nurse practitioner courses are offered in person. Class schedules are designed so students typically come to campus only once per week. Additional on-site activities, such as orientation and enrichment days, may also be required, with dates provided well in advance to allow for planning. 

Clinical practicums are coordinated by the College of Nursing with consideration given to where students live. While every effort is made to minimize travel, some travel may be necessary to ensure students receive high-quality clinical experiences and the best possible preparation for practice. 

At this time clinicals must be done in Iowa. We make the placements, so students aren’t responsible for finding sites. There are three sequential clinical courses in the program that start in the fall and go through summer. For total clinical hours, refer to the DNP Plan of  

The program includes three sequential clinical courses that begin in the fall semester and continue through the summer. The total number of required clinical hours varies by program. View a sample PNP-PC Plan of Study for more information. 

At this time clinicals must be done in Iowa. We make the placements, so students aren’t responsible for finding sites. There are three sequential clinical courses in the program that start in the fall and go through summer. For total clinical hours, refer to the DNP Plan of  

The program includes three sequential clinical courses that begin in the fall semester and continue through the summer. The total number of required clinical hours varies by program. View a sample PMHNP Plan of Study for more information. 

Most courses are delivered online; however, some courses include on-campus requirements. For example, didactic nurse practitioner courses are offered in person. Class schedules are designed so students typically come to campus only once per week. Additional on-site activities, such as orientation and enrichment days, may also be required, with dates provided well in advance to allow for planning. 

Clinical practicums are coordinated by the College of Nursing with consideration given to where students live. While every effort is made to minimize travel, some travel may be necessary to ensure students receive high-quality clinical experiences and the best possible preparation for practice. 

Yes. Admission to the three-year FNP program requires a minimum of one year of experience as a registered nurse. However, applicants with additional nursing experience may receive stronger consideration as part of the program's holistic review process. 

All applicants are also considered for the four-year FNP program, regardless of prior nursing experience. This option provides an additional pathway for students who may not yet meet the experience requirement for the three-year plan of study. 

At this time clinicals must be done in Iowa. We make the placements, so students aren’t responsible for finding sites. There are three sequential clinical courses in the program that start in the fall and go through summer. For total clinical hours, refer to the DNP Plan of  

The program includes three sequential clinical courses that begin in the fall semester and continue through the summer. The total number of required clinical hours varies by program. View an sample FNP Plan of Study for more information.