AURORA, Ill. (Apr. 3, 2019) — Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college, today announced the expansion of its Professional Nursing Associate’s degree (ADN) program to its Aurora/Naperville and Mokena/Tinley Park campuses.1 The Rasmussen College ADN program, which can be completed in as few as 18 months, prepares students to sit for the NCLEX-RN national certification exam to earn the licensure needed to become a registered nurse (RN).2 This program is also offered with the ADN Mobility Bridge Entrance Option, which is designed for students who are already licensed practical nurses (LPNs) committed to the nursing profession and eager to launch their careers as quickly as possible. The ADN Mobility Bridge Entrance Option allows students to advance their education in as few as 12-18 months.2 Enrollment is now available at both campuses with classes beginning in July.
“We are thrilled to offer our residential Professional Nursing program to the Aurora/Naperville and Mokena/Tinley Park campuses — markets that continue to see the need for highly qualified nurses to fill workforce shortages,” said Dr. Kelly McCullough, regional dean of nursing at Rasmussen College. “As the leading educator of Professional Nursing Associate’s degree students in the country in 2016 and 2017, our ADN program is designed to give students the abilities to confidently provide safe, effective and quality care for diverse clientele and confidently sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. We are proud not only to offer our Professional Nursing program at all of our Illinois campuses, which positively impacts the health care needs of the Chicagoland community, but also to provide a strong curriculum that trains our students for success in increasingly complex and demanding health care environments.”
The ADN program, which is taught by experienced nurse educators, is available with Flex Choice®, allowing students to combine traditional online coursework and self-directed assessments allowing students to receive credit for what they already know.
Aging Workforce Leads to High Demand for RNs
The time is right for Rasmussen College to expand its Professional Nursing program into the Aurora/Naperville and Mokena/Tinley Park markets as there is an extraordinary need for nursing professionals specifically in Illinois. According to the recent Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Registered Professional Nurse Survey, Illinois is experiencing an aging RN workforce with one-third of current nurses planning to retire within the next five years, leaving a large workforce gap. Likewise, nationwide, the American Nurses Association estimates the country will need to produce more than 1 million new registered nurses by 2022 to fulfill healthcare needs.
“With an increased emphasis nationwide on preventive care, the growing rates of chronic conditions, and demand for health care services from the baby-boomer generation, everyone is feeling the need for hiring highly competent nurses,” said Dr. Joan Rich, vice president of nursing at Rasmussen College. “Our ADN program is taught by experienced faculty who bring practical, day-to-day applications into all of their Nursing courses. With immersive clinical opportunities in a variety of settings, Rasmussen College students are fully prepared for the scenarios they’ll encounter in the workforce.”
New Nursing Simulation Labs
The Aurora/Naperville and Mokena/Tinley Park campuses are each equipped with a new nursing simulation lab to provide an enhanced and safe learning experience for ADN students and prepare them to enter today’s complex healthcare environment. The technology-rich simulation labs will serve as both classrooms and simulation spaces for students and faculty.
At each of the campuses, School of Nursing faculty and students will have access to the following:
- Simulation equipment including new adult, child and infant mannequins that provide student nurses the opportunity to experience and practice patient care scenarios in the safety of a laboratory setting.
- Ample classroom space for briefing and debriefing to support deeper learning with the simulation experience.
- Individual attention from faculty and staff who care about students and the future of healthcare.
Students interested in learning more are encouraged to attend a nursing information session at the campus nearest them. Contact the campus for details or visit: rasmussen.edu/nursing-session-form/.
1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. hlcommission.org | 800-621-7440
2 Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and courses completed each term.
