The state of Illinois is focused at the present time on attracting more health care providers. Of these they are looking for a large percentage of nurses to fill the nursing shortage in all areas of the state. It has been projected that between the years 2002 until 2012 the job openings for registered nurses will grow by as much as 19 percent. Chicago, with its population of close to three million is where the vast majority of the nurses in the state find employment. However there are other urban areas in Illinois, as well as rural communities that also support medical and health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
Three of the top nursing schools in Illinois that offer nursing and registered nursing programs to students include the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, the College of Lake County in Grayslake and the Moraine Valley Community College of Palos Hills. All three of these schools offer to prospective students the associate of science degree in nursing (AND).This degree will prepare you to find work as an RN after you graduate.
The associate of science degree in nursing (ASN) program offered by the College of DuPage is a two year program that prepares students both academically and clinically for work in taking care of those who are acutely ill or chronically ill. Some of the courses you will study include human anatomy and physiology, basic nutrition and clinical decision making. Graduates find work afterwards in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, home health care and in ambulatory care facilities.
The College of Lake County offers an associate of applied sciences degree in nursing (AAS). This is a two year program that is composed of both classroom learning as well as clinical experience. Both are necessary on your road to becoming a nurse. Those who graduate from this program can find employment in any number of different medical settings. Examples of required courses include anatomy and physiology, introduction to microbiology and universal self care in nursing.
The Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) located in Palos Hills is another nursing school in Illinois that gets top marks for excellence. Students attending this school can earn an associate of science in nursing degree(ASN).This is a two year program that takes four consecutive semesters to finish. Of the nursing programs listed here this is the most challenging one. Students receive both classroom instruction as well as supervised clinical experience. Examples of courses that nursing students are required to take include maternity nursing, pediatric nursing and pharmacology, to name just a few.
