College of DuPage Nursing Program Review

The College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois is enormous, enrolling over 30,000 students each semester in over 100 different programs. Available programs include associate degrees, certificates, and pre-baccalaureate programs. The College of DuPage (COD) prides itself on monitoring trends in business, at both the regional and the national level, and establishing programs that prepare students to meet those new trends.

No field changes more rapidly than the healthcare field, and the College of DuPage prepares students to meet the challenges through a variety of programs, including several in the field of nursing. The programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Practical Nursing Certificate

The Practical Nursing Certificate program at the College of DuPage prepares students for entry-level work as Licensed Nurse Practitioners (LPN) or for further nursing education through the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. Prior to beginning the program, a student must take anatomy/physiology and psychology, and be a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). The program begins each spring, continues through the summer semester, and wraps up in the fall. A graduate is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NLCEX_PN).

Associate Degree in Nursing

Prospective Registered Nurses (RN) should enroll in the College of DuPage’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. Applicants to the program must have already completed courses in anatomy/physiology and chemistry, and must be CNAs. If accepted, they must take a transition course in the summer before actually beginning the program in the fall semester. Over the next two years (including one summer term), students take a combination of general education courses and nursing courses, and complete clinical rotations. By the end of the two years, graduates are prepared to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN). The ADN program welcomes LPNs, who will receive advanced placement credits which will shorten the length of the program. This is determined in consultation with an advisor.

Other Options – Certified Nurse Assistant

A prospective nurse who is uncertain about committing to the length of the practical nursing program or the ADN program may want to consider starting with the CNA program. Certification as a nurse assistant is a prerequisite for entry into the other nursing programs, and work experience as a CNA will allow the student to judge whether nursing is the right career path. The CNA program at the College of DuPage takes only eight weeks to complete, and consists of classroom instruction and clinical experience.

Other Options – Continuing Education

While the College of DuPage does not offer any programs for nurses who wish to advance beyond the ADN program, the college does cooperate with other colleges and universities in the area that do offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs. ADN graduates can easily transition into an RN-BSN or RN to MSN program through Aurora University, an RN to BSN program through Benedictine University, an RN-BSN or an RN-MSN program through Elmhurst College, an RN-BSN program through Governors State University, and an RN-BSN program through Northern Illinois University.

Contact:
The College of DuPage
425 Fawell Boulevard
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

[wpgmza id=”361″]