Nursing - Registered Nurse

With their ability to care for patients with any health condition, coordinate the work of complex medical teams, and serve as a primary communication channel for a patient’s family and loved ones, nurses are truly at the forefront of patient health. Elgin Community College has earned a reputation for its outstanding role as a community leader in nursing education and preparation for over 50 years. When you complete ECC’s Nursing Program, you have the opportunity to make a difference in your community every day.

A registered nurse’s career is complex, varied, demanding, and rewarding. Duties include collecting and maintaining accurate patient records, administering medicine and treatments, monitoring medical equipment, assisting with diagnostic tests, coordinating with doctors and other medical professionals, and teaching patients and families how to manage health conditions. A successful nurse possesses substantial medical and clinical knowledge, has excellent communication and organizational abilities, and exhibits compassion and empathy for patients of all ages and types of illnesses. Opportunities for advancement are possible with additional training and education.

Upon completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree, students are eligible to take the NCLEX- RN licensure exam to become a registered professional nurse (RN).

Study in nursing emphasizes individualized instruction and goes beyond the traditional classroom by utilizing a combination of learning experiences such as simulations, multimedia, small group discussions, laboratory practice, and hands-on learning in a variety of medical facilities. This approach places greater educational responsibility on the individual student and encourages each student to develop the necessary skills for lifelong learning.

Accreditation

The Nursing Program is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and is accredited by:

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
acenursing.org

Admission Procedures

Admission to the program is selective.  For more information, please see admission requirements.

Applicants MUST be legal residents of Community College District 509. Working in District 509 does not meet this requirement. International students on an F-1 visa are not eligible to apply to the nursing program.

Program Requirements

Students must complete all required courses with grades of C or better to be eligible to graduate and sit for the NCLEX-RN exam offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Prior credits in anatomy and physiology and microbiology must have been earned within the last 10 years. Students must provide their own uniforms and transportation to and from all clinical sites.

Policies and Procedures

All students applying to the Nursing Program are strongly encouraged to attend an information session prior to submitting an application.  Students admitted to the program will be required to attend an orientation session before nursing classes begin.  Students who do not attend the mandatory orientation after being admitted will automatically lose their spot in the program.  
Prior to the first day of class, students must have the following documentation on file with the CastleBranch requirement tracking system:  negative background check, negative drug test, completed medical form, proof of immunizations and antibody titers for specific communicable diseases, proof of health insurance coverage, and proof of American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification. Health professions student will be required to keep their clinical compliance documentation up to date.  Any student demonstrating a positive background check will be denied admission to any health professions program.  Any student with a positive drug test will be dismissed from the Health Professions Division.
The standards, policies, and procedures of the Nursing Program are published in the Nursing Student Handbook: elgin.edu/areas-of-study/nursing/. The nursing student Handbook may be obtained online at Nursing Program.

Nursing Program Student Learning Outcomes with Competencies

The Nursing Program includes four semesters of nursing courses in addition to the general education courses required for the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing.

1. Engage in clinical judgment to provide safe evidence-based, person-centered nursing care across the lifespan
   1. Apply clinical judgment to provide safe, evidence-based care to persons with complex and chronic needs.
   2. Manage potential complications based on anticipated risk and changes in health conditions.
   3. Prioritize person-centered nursing care for individuals and groups efficiently in an evolving health care environment.
   4. Create, implement and evaluate holistic person-centered teaching strategies to achieve optimal health outcomes.
   5. Provide continuity of care to ensure safe, uninterrupted nursing care.
   6. Perform Level 4 psychomotor skills safely and competently for efficient, effective, and compassionate person-centered care.
2. Integrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that create cultures of quality, safety and excellence to improve person-centered outcomes
   1. Model the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that create cultures of safety, quality, and excellence to improve person-centered outcomes.
   2. Evaluate the impact of performance improvement measures on person-centered care and resource utilization.
   3. Evaluate the clinical microsystem and its impact on the nurse’s ability to provide safe, quality care.
3. Collaborate with the person, the person’s support system, and members of the healthcare team to achieve best health outcomes
   1. Demonstrate communication competence with members of the healthcare team, the person and their support system to deliver person-centered care.
   2. Evaluate effectiveness of communication strategies with members of the health care team including the person and support system.
   3. Evaluate standards used that govern behavior among peers and colleagues to create a classroom and clinical environment that promotes cooperation, respect and trust.
4. Incorporate information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, prevent error, and support clinical decision-making
   1. Utilize patient care and health information technologies to enhance safe nursing care and prevent error.
   2. Evaluate data collected from health information resources to support clinical decision making.
   3. Document all aspects of nursing care provided in an accurate and timely manner.
5. Assimilate leadership, management of care, ethical and legal principles in professional nursing practice
   1. Display awareness of own strengths, limitations, and professional identity as a team leader and member.
   2. Apply delegation principles related to professional nursing practice when caring for a group of persons.
   3. Demonstrate accountability by adhering to the ethical, legal, and regulatory standards within the Level 4 scope of nursing practice.
   4. Create a professional development plan that demonstrates a commitment to continuous, lifelong learning.
6. Promote a culture of caring to provide holistic, compassionate, and culturally competent care 
   1. Demonstrate cultural competence in therapeutic relationships with persons across the lifespan.
   2. Contribute to the promotion of a culture of caring in the health care environment.
   3. Advocate for persons and support systems to promote self-determination, integrity, and on-going growth as human beings.

Nursing - Associate of Applied Science

Nursing Courses

All NUR courses numbered 100 and above may be applied to the major field and elective requirement for the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees. NUR 105 Basic Nurse Assistant Trng Program may only be counted in the GPA for seven hours.