Mar 19, 2024  
2020-21 Catalog 
    
2020-21 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing: Associate Degree Nursing


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Director of Nursing Education Sheri L. Banovic, DNP, RN, FNP-BC

Nursing is both an art and a science. The individual must have compassion, a desire to help others and a commitment to life-long learning. There are numerous career opportunities that come with graduating from the Lewis and Clark Nursing Program. The purpose of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program is to prepare an associate degree nurse who is capable of effective use of the nursing process; function as a professional, interdisciplinary team member; and provide care to individuals in order to promote health and manage health problems. The associate degree nurse functions as a team member to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and communities to promote health and manage health problems.

The ADN program can be completed in two years. The program includes classroom, lab, simulation instruction, and clinical experience each semester in local hospitals, extended care facilities, and other health care agencies. Transportation to clinical agencies is the responsibility of the student.

The program is evaluated by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN) which has awarded its full accreditation to Lewis and Clark’s program. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. address is 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, phone 404-975-5000, website: www.acenursing.org. The program is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Upon graduation from L&C’s program, an Associate in Applied Science degree is awarded and the graduate is eligible to apply for the NCLEX-RN for licensing. Graduates passing the exam are then able to apply for a license to practice as a registered nurse.

Students for the program are selected in June for the following Spring and February for the following Fall and their selection is based on pre-admission test scores and GPA. Residents of L&C District No. 536 and East St. Louis Community College Center will be given preference due to space limitations in the program. All application information must be received prior to the Nursing Program’s deadlines, and a satisfactory health examination report, drug screening, and criminal background check are required before students are able to start the program.

Lewis and Clark Community College adheres to the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, which requires college campuses to be drug and alcohol free.  In accordance with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the use, possession, maintenance, distribution and/or sale of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, controlled substances or unauthorized prescription drugs while on College property, in College-owned vehicles or while participating in any College activity is strictly prohibited.

In addition, the Lewis and Clark Community College Nursing Program partners with external agencies to provide clinical experiences for Nursing students.  These agencies require that all clinical participants undergo a drug test as a condition upon placement in a clinical program.  A negative result is required for a nursing student to be placed in a clinical program.  Some clinical agencies also require random drug testing throughout a student’s clinical experience and require a negative result for the student to continue his/her participation in the clinical experience.

Substances prohibited by the clinical agencies include, but are not limited to:  amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, opiates, heroin, PCP, and alcohol.  A student who tests positive for any of these substances, or who refuses to undergo the required drug test, is subject to disqualification from clinical participation by the clinical agency, which will result in the student not receiving his/her Nursing degree due to a failure to meet the clinical component of the Lewis and Clark Community College Nursing Program.

The Illinois Nursing Act of 2017 limits licensure as a registered professional nurse only to persons who:

  • Submit a completed written application, on forms provided by the Department, and fees, as established by the Department.
  • Have graduated from a professional nursing education program approved by the Department or have been granted a certificate of completion of pre-licensure requirements from another United States jurisdiction.
  • Successfully complete a licensure examination approved by the Department.
  • Have not violated the provisions of the Act concerning the grounds for disciplinary action. The Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such a conviction may not operate as an absolute bar to licensure.
  • Submit to the criminal history records check required under Section 50-35 of the Act.
  • Submit, either to the Department or its designated testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. Failure to appear for the examination on the scheduled date at the time and place specified after the applicant’s application for examination has been received and acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing service shall result in the forfeiture of the examination fee.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Provide safe, holistic, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate care in assisting an individual or a group of individuals throughout the lifespan to achieve an optimum state of well-being
  2. Provide direct, safe, culturally appropriate, holistic nursing care to individuals or a group of individuals in various nursing practice settings with common health problems using principles from the biological, cultural, social, and physical sciences and incorporating the total multidisciplinary team
  3. Relate knowledge of the language and behavioral sciences to nursing care in order to assure meaningful, therapeutic relationships when working with an individual or a group of individuals
  4. Supervise other healthcare personnel when functioning as a member of the health team
  5. Educate others regarding acute or chronic conditions, maintaining wellness, and/or managing illness throughout the life span in various nursing practice settings
  6. Recognize accountability for professional behaviors and continue personal and professional growth

Application and Admission: Applicants are required to provide to the Nursing Admissions Office the following information:

  • Application to the Associate Degree Nursing Program,
  • Evidence of High School graduation or GED,
  • Official transcript(s) from any colleges, universities or schools of nursing attended previously, and
  • High school seniors are to provide the following information:
    • a list of senior year subjects planned, and
    • a transcript of the first six high school semesters.

The above credentials must be in the Nursing Admissions Office by April 1 if applying for spring semester and by October 1 if applying for fall semester.

A student applying to the ADN Program shall:

  • Be a resident of L&C District No. 536 or East St. Louis Community College Center. Non-resident applicants will be considered only if space is available after the class has been selected.
  • Have completed the following:
    • One college semester of general biology (BIOL 132  or proficiency test - see advisor for proficiency test requirements), with a grade of C or better,
    • One college semester of chemistry (CHEM 130  or CHEM 131  ) that includes both organic and inorganic components, with a grade of C or better,
    • MATH 112  with a grade of C or better or MATH 124  with a grade of C or better or appropriate L&C Accuplacer placement algebra test score of 48 or above or ACT score of 19 or better.
    • MATH 114  with a grade of C or better or MATH 124  with a grade of C or better or sufficient score on proficiency test,
    • PSYC 131 - General Psychology  with a grade of C or better,
    • Qualify for ENGL 131  by appropriate L&C placement test score or have completed one semester of college level English with a grade of C or better.
  • Notify the Nursing Admission Office by the Card of Intent indicating the semester you wish to be considered for admission to the ADN Program.
  • Obtain pre-admission exam test dates from the Nursing Admission Office in NU L107.
  • Prior to taking the pre-admission tests, have high school and any college transcripts with the application form on file in the Nursing Admission Office. BIOL 141  and BIOL 142  must have been completed within five years prior to entry into the nursing program. Transcripts from all colleges must be received by the nursing department before an applicant is considered for admission.
  • Show acceptable rank on the pre-admission test. Please contact the nursing division office for admission criteria.
  • Overall GPA of 2.75 or better for the last 5 years
  • Students seeking a Fall Semester admission must have all prerequisites completed by the end of the Spring Semester preceding admission. Final acceptance will be given to qualified applicants when they have met the following additional requirements:
  • Submission of a satisfactory health examination report,
  • Response to the Nursing Admission Office within 10 days following notification of acceptance,
  • Completion of all program prerequisites,
  • Completion of a CPR course for Healthcare Providers,
  • All students accepted will be required to satisfactorily complete a drug screen and federal background check. Students with a positive drug screen and/or any findings on the background check will be reviewed by the Director of Nursing Education and/or Dean of Career Programs. After review, the student can be denied admission to the nursing program.

Technical Standards: All students must be able to fulfill certain “technical standards”. These standards are the essential requirements of the Associate Degree Nursing Program that students must master to successfully participate in the program and become employable in the nursing field. Technical standards for the students in the Associate Degree Nursing Program:

  1. All students must possess the manual dexterity, physical stamina, and visual capacity to perform all required technical procedures.
  2. Students must be able to communicate in an effectual manner. Students will be required to read and comprehend technical material, as well as write technical reports in a clear and concise manner. In addition, all students must be able to verbally communicate effectively with patients, coworkers, and other health care personnel.

Each applicant needs to assess his/her own ability to meet the above technical standards.

Credit for Prior Learning: Practical Nurses licensed with the State of Illinois (or persons eligible for transfer or renewal of LPN licensure in Illinois) are eligible for advanced standing in the ADN Program:

LPNs may begin the program in NURS 150  (rather than the traditional NURS 170). NURS 150 is a three hour, lecture (no clinical) course. After successful completion of NURS 150 , the LPN receives proficiency credit for NURS 172  and NURS 270 . A processing fee is required to receive this credit.

To Graduate: To be eligible for graduation with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Associate Degree Nursing, a student must:

  • Earn a grade of C or better in each of the courses with a NURS prefix.
  • Earn a grade of C or better in each of the following courses:
  • Satisfy the requirements for an Associate of Applied Science degree as outlined in this catalog.
  • Pass a standardized Nursing Achievement Test.

Students in this program will be required to abide by specific policies for this program. These policies are available for review in the Health Sciences Division Office or with the Director of Nursing Education.


Nursing - NURS/ADN.AAS


Associate in Applied Science Degree

Sample Curriculum


Total: 17 Credit Hours


Total: 15.5 Credit Hours


Total: 13.5 Credit Hours


Fourth Semester


Total: 15 Credit Hours


Total credit hours required for the A.A.S. in Nursing: 61


Notes:


Students receive one credit for every three hours spent in the lab or clinical setting.

In order to be eligible for progression into the second level nursing courses students must have successfully completed BIOL 141, NURS 160, NURS 170, NURS 171 and either PSYC 232 or PSYC 233 with a grade of “C” or better.

In order to be eligible for progression into the third level nursing courses students must have successfully completed the following courses with grade of “C” or better: BIOL 142, BIOL 241, NURS 166, and NURS 172.

In order to be eligible for progression into the fourth level of nursing courses students must have successfully completed NURS 167 and NURS 270 with a grade of “C” or better.

Periodically throughout the nursing curriculum, standardized examinations will be required of all nursing students.

All students are required to purchase the student manual for each nursing course.

Periodically, program requirements may change to remain in compliance with regulatory agencies. See the Director of Nursing Education for changes which may affect program requirements.

Sample Curriculum for LPN-ADN Bridge Program


Total: 20 Credit Hours


Total: 14 Credit Hours


Fall Semester


Total: 15 Credit Hours


 

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