Elmhurst College Nursing Program Review
Located in the suburbs of Chicago, Elmhurst College (EC) offers students the attractions of a scenic campus with the opportunities of a city. Students can enhance their educational experience by taking advantage of all that Chicago has to offer, since the city is only approximately thirty minutes away by train. Elmhurst College prides itself on its tradition in the liberal arts, and strives to keep class sizes small. (The ratio of students to faculty is thirteen to one.)
In addition to its many programs in the liberal arts, Elmhurst College is home to the Deicke Center of Nursing Education, which offers professional training programs in nursing, at both the bachelor’s-degree level and the master’s-degree level. Both are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Since Elmhurst College is a liberal arts college, nursing students must meet a substantial core requirement in the liberal arts. Prospective nurses spend the first two years at Elmhurst College completing these general education classes, as well as nursing prerequisites in science, statistics, and social science. After these classes are complete, students begin taking nursing courses and doing clinical rotations. They will take twelve nursing classes over the course of their junior and senior years. Students have the opportunity to take a few elective classes as well, and may choose a minor in addition to the nursing major.
The nursing department recommends a minor in intercultural studies, and provides a curriculum for students who wish to pursue this. Alternatively, a nursing student can work with an advisor to develop a curriculum that includes the nursing major and a minor of his own choice. As the program is a traditional, pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, it takes four years to complete, and students are qualified to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN) at the end.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN-BSN
Graduates of an associate degree or diploma program may complete a full BSN degree through Elmhurst College’s RN-BSN bridge program. In order to be eligible, an applicant must be a Registered Nurse (RN), and must complete all prerequisites and general education courses (the same classes that a traditional, pre-licensure BSN student completes in the first two years of study). Once accepted to the program, the RN takes six nursing courses, as well as courses in statistics, social science, and biology.
Master of Science in Nursing
An RN with a BSN can prepare for a career as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) or a Nurse Educator through Elmhurst College’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. The MSN course of study consists of thirty-three credit hours. It is designed for working students; classes meet in the evenings. Typically, students complete the program over two years, but may move at a slower pace if that is more convenient.
Master of Science in Nursing – RN-MSN
An RN who holds a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing is welcome to enter the MSN program at Elmhurst College. As part of the RN-MSN bridge program, she must take six undergraduate nursing courses. After completing these, she can transition into the graduate-level nursing courses, choosing a concentration in clinical nursing leadership or nursing education. The RN-MSN program begins in the fall and the spring.
Post-master’s Certificate in Nursing Education
A nurse who already holds an MSN degree can prepare to be a Nurse Educator through a one-semester post-master’s certification program. The program consists of nine credit hours, and includes a teaching internship.
Contact:
Elmhurst College
190 Prospect Avenue
Elmhurst, IL 60126
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