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Registered Nurse (RN)/Associate Degree Nursing

Program Information

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The Nursing program is intended to prepare competent, caring graduates for entry-level nursing positions in health care facilities such as clinics, hospitals, physician offices, home health care agencies or extended care facilities. Nurses assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for patients with acute or chronic health problems.

The nursing courses provide classroom instructions and supervised practice in the Health Skills Laboratory and clinical facilities within the community. Didactic instruction and clinical experiences include nursing fundamentals, maternal/child health, gerontology, neurology, rehabilitation, orthopedic, psychiatric, medical, surgical and pediatric nursing.

Nursing requires individuals who have clinical competency, thinking skills and integrity. The nursing education process requires the student to be self-disciplined, actively participate in the learning process and develop good time management skills.

The Nursing program is approved by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and accredited by the National League for Nursing. The graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and may apply for licensure to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse (RN).

The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) is a resource for the nursing information contained in this catalog. The commission may be contacted as follows: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850; Atlanta, GA 30326; Phone (404) 975-5000, Fax (404) 975-5020..

The nursing program prepares the student to become eligible to write the NCLEX-CAT. The program does not guarantee the graduate will become licensed as a professional nurse. The student must meet all requirements for graduation to be eligible for nursing licensure and to write the NCLEX-CAT. Successfully passing this examination enables licensure to practice nursing. All applicants will be required to submit receipt of fingerprint background check as part of registration process. Prior to issuing a nursing license, the State of Illinois will require the following personal history information. Review these questions prior to entering the nursing program to ensure your eligibility for licensure. If the student has any questions regarding the State of Illinois licensure, he/she should contact the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.

  1. Have you been convicted of any criminal offense in any state or federal court (other than minor traffic violations)?
  2. Have you been convicted of a felony?
  3. If yes, have you been issued a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities by the Prisoner Review Board?
  4. Have you had or do you now have any disease or condition that interferes with your ability to perform the essential functions of your profession, including any disease or condition generally regarded as chronic by the medical community, i.e., (1) mental or emotional disease or condition; (2) alcohol or other substance abuse; (3) physical disease or condition, that presently interferes with your ability to practice your profession?
  5. Have you been denied a professional license or permit, or privilege of taking an examination, or had a professional license or permit disciplined in any way by any licensing authority in Illinois or elsewhere?
  6. Have you ever been discharged other than honorably from the armed service or from a city, county, state or federal position?
  7. Are you more than 30 days delinquent in complying with a child support order?
  8. Are you in default on an educational loan or scholarship provided/guaranteed by the Illinois Student Assistance commission or other government agency of this State?

To Remain In And Graduate From Program: "C" or better grade in all required general eduacation and required program courses.

To receive a "C" or better grade, the student must (1) maintain a grade average of 75% or better; (2) demonstrate satisfactory clinical performance nad meet all clinical requirements in each course with a clinical practicum and (3) meet all course requirements within specified time limits.