Associate of Science in Nursing
Chart Your Course
BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE
Earn your Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) from Mercy College of Health Sciences in just two years! The first year of your coursework is comprised of classes that will lay the foundation for your future nursing career. In the second year of our Associate of Science in Nursing program, you’ll build upon your knowledge and skills as you work toward the completion of your associate degree. You’ll work alongside current healthcare professionals to hone your skills and care for your patients. Begin your nursing career at a time and pace that works for you!
Median Wage*
Start Dates (Fall & Spring)
Semesters to Complete**
Projected Job Growth from 2020 – 2030*
OUR BODY OF WORK
ABOUT OUR NURSING PROGRAM
Our Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) major’s scheduled class format is designed for your convenience and flexibility. You can enroll in classes four nights a week and complete nursing clinical rotations on the weekends!* Under the recommended course sequence, you will complete general education courses before starting the nine nursing courses needed for the major. The nursing core curriculum is arranged for study over seven semesters of part-time attendance.
If becoming a nurse has been your dream but life has gotten in the way, this evening and weekend format will offer you an opportunity to pursue your nursing career. As part of your studies, you’ll receive direct patient contact through clinical experiences at MercyOne – Des Moines Medical Center and many other leading healthcare organizations in central Iowa.
Once you complete the ASN major, you’ll be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)®. When you successfully pass the exam, you will be licensed to provide nursing care for a wide range of patients, residents, and clients in many different healthcare settings.
After successfully passing the NCLEX-RN, you’ll have the opportunity to advance to the online RN to BSN major, during which you’ll be able to work as a nurse and complete your BSN from the comfort of your own home.
*PLEASE NOTE: beginning in the 2025 spring semester, students starting in the ASN program will begin having classes on Monday/Tuesday with weekend clinicals. You’ll be able to attend class Monday evening and all day Tuesday, then have the rest of your week to work, study, and do whatever you need to do to prepare for your clinical experience on the weekends!
APPROVED BY THE IOWA BOARD OF NURSING (IBON)
The associate degree program is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing.
Faculty in the ASN major are highly motivated and skilled healthcare practitioners comfortable with the latest technology and evidence-based practices in their specialty areas of healthcare. They average more than 23 years of clinical experience! In addition, our full-time liberal arts and science faculty members are PhD-prepared and adept at integrating their subject matters into a comprehensive health science curriculum. As a student, you will receive an exceptional level of personalized instruction from experienced educators dedicated to your success.
The clinical and lab experiences have given me a great introduction to what it’s actually like to be a nurse. Student activities and clubs like Student Senate have rounded out my college experience. Mercy College has shown me all the ways students like me can make a positive impact in the future of our College and our community.
Madison M., BSN Candidate, 2022
STEP ONE: COLLEGE ADMISSION
To be considered for admission to the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) major, you must first be admitted to Mercy College of Health Sciences. Learn more about admission to Mercy College. Complete our FREE online Mercy College application. Early application is encouraged. Once admitted to Mercy College of Health Sciences, you may enroll in Core requirements prior to your admission to any academic major. If you are transferring credits, please visit our transfer page to learn more.
STEP TWO: PROGRAM ADMISSION
To be considered for admission to the ASN major, you must meet the criteria below.
- Earn an extracted GPA of 2.7 in the following college-level courses:
- General Chemistry (3 cr)
- English Composition I (3 cr)
- General Psychology (3 cr)
- College Math (3 cr)
- Human Anatomy with lab (4 cr)1
- Earn a minimum adjusted cumulative score of 63% on the ATI TEAS Test2
- Scores from previous attempts may be reported by the student to Mercy College via the ATI TEAS Transcript process
- If unsuccessful in achieving the desired benchmark, prospective students will have the opportunity to work with tutors in the Norkaitis Student Success Center to prepare for additional attempts
- Non-Mercy College LPN students who wish to enroll in the ASN program will take an NCLEX-PN Predictor Exam3 to determine placement in the ASN program.
- Clinical compliance
1The Human Anatomy (with lab) or equivalent course must be taken within five years of enrolling in nursing program courses to be considered transferable.
2The ATI TEAS Exam must be taken within two years of desired entry into the nursing program. If a retest is necessary to achieve the minimum score, the retest attempt must be made a minimum of 4 weeks from the previous attempt. Mercy College has a maximum limit of 3 attempts. Students are asked to purchase their ATI TEAS Exam. Students unable to purchase the exam on their own may request financial assistance through the Norkaitis Student Success Center at studentsuccess@mchs.edu.
3The cost of the predictor exam will be paid by the student. Students unable to pay for the predictor exam may request financial assistance from the Norkaitis Student Success Center at studentsuccess@mchs.edu.
The following courses are required to earn your Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN). A sample course sequence is provided. Students must also satisfy Core requirements in the semester before they plan to begin the ASN coursework.
Semester 1
NRP 107 – Role of the Nurse (3 cr)
NRP 111 – Basic Pharmacology & Math for Nurses (3 cr)
NRP 117 – Foundational of Nursing Practice (5 cr)
Semester 2
NRP 113 – Foundations of Pathophysiology (2 cr)
NRP 131 – Manager of Care I (4 cr)
PSY 202 – Developmental Psychology (3 cr)
BIO 185 – Human Physiology w/ Lab (4 cr)
Semester 3
NRP 187 – Manager of Care II (4 cr)
NRP 191 – Principles of Maternal-Child & Mental Health Nursing (5 cr)
BIO 203 – Microbiology w/ Lab (3 cr)
Semester 4
NRP 201 – Advanced Manager of Care I (5 cr)
NRP 196 – Capstone (2 cr)
SVL 285 – Servant Leadership (3 cr)
HUM XXX – Humanities Elective (3 cr)
Semester 5
NRP 221 – Advanced Manager of Care II (4 cr)
NRP 261 – Nursing Practicum I (3 cr)
ENG 102 – English Composition II (3cr)
SPE 105 – Small Group Communication (1 cr)
Semester 6
NRP 262 – Nursing Practicum II (2 cr)
NRP 298 – Capstone II (2 cr)
Total Required Credits for Associate Degree: 80
The Associate of Science in Nursing major offers start dates in the fall and spring. View our full academic calendar for exact semester start dates. Pre-requisites and Core requirements may be completed at Mercy College of Health Sciences year-round.
OUTCOMES†
|
Annual Licensure Exam Pass Rate for First-Time Test Takers |
Job Placement Rate within One Year of Graduation |
Program Completion Rates Within 150% of the Expected Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
Annual Licensure Exam Pass Rate for First-Time Test Takers 70.27% |
Job Placement Rate within One Year of Graduation 28.57% (employed within Trinity Health) |
Program Completion Rates Within 150% of the Expected Timeframe 68.75% |
The nursing program is approved by the State of Iowa Board of Nursing and meets state requirements for nursing education. Mercy College of Health Sciences does not claim that the education meets all states’ BON requirements. Applicants who intend to obtain licensure outside of the state of Iowa are encouraged to seek out BON requirements in the state in which they intend to apply for licensure.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses.
**Completion time varies depending on each students unique situation.
†Licensure exam pass rate is defined as students who passed the licensure exam on their first attempt during calendar year 2023.
Job placement is based on 2023 graduates employed within Trinity Health after graduation.
Program completion rate represents the 2023-2024 academic year.
