Pre-Nursing Program
Envision your future as a compassionate healthcare professional as you fulfill prerequisite requirements for entry into Drake’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences | On-Campus
Program Options
Drake provides several pathways to pursue a nursing career. Explore program options and requirements below.
Pre-Nursing/ABSN 3+1
Designed for those just starting Drake, this program lays the groundwork for a healthcare career in your first three years. Fulfilling key prerequisites, courses prepare you to apply to and complete Drake’s ABSN program in the fourth year, resulting in two degrees earned upon graduation.
3+1 B.S. in Health Sciences—Clinical and Medical Sciences/Mercy College of Health Sciences (BSN)
Complete your prerequisite coursework and a BSN in just four years. You’ll undergo nursing training at Mercy College of Health Sciences, a private college in Des Moines focused on the healthcare professions.
3+1 B.S. in Health Sciences—Clinical and Medical Sciences/Allen College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
This route allows you to cover your prerequisite coursework and finish your Bachelor of Science in Nursing in four years. You’ll complete your nursing training at Allen College, a healthcare instruction institution located in Waterloo, Iowa.
B.S. in Health Sciences
A rigorous curriculum emphasizing scientific knowledge, analytical skills, and professionalism lets you pursue several directions in the healthcare field. Choose from three career-focused tracks: Clinical and Medical Sciences, Health Care Administration, or Public Health. Pre-Nursing students are enrolled in the B.S. in Health Sciences program for their first three years before they apply for entry into Drake’s ABSN program.
Accelerated BSN Program
This program condenses all the courses and practicum hours required to become a registered nurse into 12 months. If you’ve already satisfied the prerequisites, this pathway offers a direct route to your career.
Meet the Faculty
Gain a holistic view of the profession, guided by faculty who are experienced practitioners, active researchers, and skilled instructors with a passion for supporting future healthcare providers.
Amanda McGraw, BSN, MSN
Assistant Professor, Nursing
Hannah Crocker
Nursing Clinical, Skills & Simulation Learning Lab Instructor
Outside the Classroom
The Pre-Nursing program’s integrated experiential learning opportunities don’t just increase your exposure to the healthcare field. They also build your skills, expand your connections, and help you develop as a person and a professional.
Advising and Mentorship
From day one, a nursing faculty mentor and an Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management advisor will guide you along the most strategic path toward your goals.
Job Shadowing
Clarify your trajectory. The Health Sciences program includes formal and informal opportunities to shadow professionals, experience workplace environments, and learn about the available roles in your area of interest.
Broadlawns Medical Center Partnership
Through a unique partnership, Broadlawns Medical Center serves as the primary clinical site for ABSN students. Coordinating with the facility’s Clinical Nurse Educator, Drake faculty ensure targeted experiences that enhance learning.
Internships and Clinical Experience in Des Moines
In the Pre-Nursing program, you can explore your professional options across diverse environments in Iowa’s thriving capital. In addition to Broadlawns Medical Center, Drake maintains partnerships with The Iowa Clinic, MercyOne Medical Center, ChildServe, Blank Children’s Hospital, and UnityPoint Health.
Research
Find opportunities to join faculty projects or conduct independent research on a topic that interests you. You’ll build valuable skills and share your results through presentations and publications.
Student Organizations
Engage in organizations like HOSA: Future Health Professionals and the Drake Nursing Club to cultivate your professional network, explore career possibilities, build leadership skills, and enjoy camaraderie among fellow students.
Careers & Skills
Drake’s Pre-Nursing track provides a strategic base for your healthcare career.
The first three years delve into a variety of medical specialties, equipping you to deliver the best care possible and advocate for your future patients.
If you decide to proceed with the ABSN, you’ll select clinical placements that reflect your career goals. In the process, you’ll gain the experience you need to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and pursue diverse positions in hospitals, clinics, family practices, hospice, schools, surgery centers, and other healthcare settings.
Opportunities
- Home health nurse
- Ambulatory care
- Physicians’ offices
- Outpatient care centers
- Schools
- Travel nursing
- Nursing homes
- Community centers
- Graduate programs
Skills
- Clinical judgment
- Collaborative leadership
- Cultural sensitivity
- Healthcare informatics technologies
- Laboratory-based research
- Research to inform evidence-based practice
Salary & Growth Outlook
The median salary for registered nurses in Iowa in 2024 was $64K-$69K
"“I ended up choosing Drake because of the community aspect and the smaller class sizes, which have allowed me to form relationships with peers and faculty that I would’ve never gotten at a bigger school. As a student wanting to go into healthcare, I also knew that there were so many opportunities in the Des Moines area to get connected with health professionals.”"
Take the Next Step
Complete your prerequisites and transition seamlessly to an Accelerated BSN program through Drake’s Pre-Nursing/Health Sciences 3+1 track.
