Lake Michigan College Nursing Program Review

Lake Michigan Community College became a community college in mid 1963 following a vote by the residents of Berrien County. It had been operating as a technical institute and junior college since 1946 before then. The college sits on serene, 50 acre land where the main campus; Napier Avenue Campus is located. It is a two-year college which has well structured certificate and associate degree programs to meet the educational needs of the Berrien County residents and beyond.

Nursing Programs at Lake Michigan College

There are only two nursing programs offered by the nursing department of this college. They are both approved and accredited by the Michigan Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. They are an associate degree in nursing and a ladder-practical nursing certificate program.

Associate Degree in Nursing

At Lake Michigan College (LMC), this program is offered on a two-year full time basis. However, this is only possible when students follow the stipulated sequence of taking course starting each fall semester. However, students can be allowed to choose their own sequence of handling their courses which often, extends the period of study from two to three years. Nursing classes for the associate program are held in two semesters; fall and winter including practical experience classes. 

The college has a nursing education centre at the main campus (Napier Avenue), where all practical and nursing course instructions are held. But for other general education and prerequisites courses, students are free to take lessons from other satellite campuses including South Haven and Bertrand Crossing campuses. Having completed the required 65 credits outlined by the department of nursing at Lake Michigan College, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to facilitate their licensures are registered nurses. Students also graduate with an associate in applied Science degree in nursing.

Practical Nursing Certificate

The practical nursing program is a rigorous program that trains entry level students who want to get into the nursing profession. The program is meant to be completed in one academic year running for four semesters; summer, spring, winter and fall. Students are however welcome to ease the rushed program by taking two years of completing the courses if they follow their own sequence of taking prerequisites and nursing credits. The program needs 45 credits to complete leading to eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam for licensure in Michigan.

On a further note, Lake Michigan College PN trainees attend the same lectures with those who have enrolled for the associate in applied science nursing program. For a whole year, the PNs and RN students meet for the same classes at winter and fall. It is basically a ladder program which calls for students who wish to continue into the associate program.

Transfer Options at Lake Michigan College

As part of encouraging and supporting career mobility, Lake Michigan’s College department of nursing has formed articulation agreements to facilitate the transfer of both the LPN and Associate degrees into four year universities. Such schools in this streamline of LPN to RN and RN to BSN with Lake Michigan are:

• Andrews University
• Western Michigan University
• Ferris State University and
• Grand Valley State University

Contact:
Lake Michigan College
2755 E. Napier Ave, Benton Harbor,
MI 49022