Career as a Nurse

Nursing positions are available throughout the United States as well as internationally. Licensed practical nurses, under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed physician, care for ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled persons in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions.

According to the most recent statistics released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010), licensed practical nurses in Decatur make an average annual salary of $38,640.

State-Approved Program

Richland’s PN Program is approved by the Illinois of Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and prepares graduates for entry-level positions as licensed practical nurses under the direction of a registered nurse or licensed physician.

Program Mission

Consistent with the mission of Richland Community College the Mission of the PN Program is to assist students to recognize and achieve their potential both personally and professionally, and to provide students with the abilities, attitudes, and skills necessary to serve the healthcare community in Central Illinois.

Download the breakdown of the approximate program costs

Admission

Unlike many academic and career and technical education programs at Richland, admission into the Practical Nursing Program is selective and competitive. Admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Late and out-of-district applicants will be considered for the program when space is available.

Students must meet the minimum admission criteria to be eligible to apply. Once the criteria are met, applicants are scored on a rubric and the applicants with the highest scores are accepted in rank order.

Eligibility to Apply

All applicants must be a high school senior or high school or GED graduate. In order to apply, students must demonstrate that they meet the following prerequisites:

• Eligibility for ENGL 101 Composition I
• Eligibility for MATH 098 Intermediate Algebra OR successful completion with a “C” or better of MATH 091(or equivalent) and MATH 106
• Complete PSYCH 110 with a "C" or better
• Complete two years of high school biology and 1 year of high school chemistry or physics with a “B” or better within the last 3 years OR complete BIOL 101 with a “C” or better.  Students who have completed BIOL 201 or 202 must have completed one within the last 5 years
• Complete the Nelson Denny Reading Test with a composite score of 120 or greater
• Have a “C” or better in all prerequisites and program courses and have a minimum 2.5 Program GPA. For admission, the Program GPA is calculated using grades and credits earned in any completed PN program course. Program courses that can be completed prior to admission include: BIOL 201, 202, ENGL 101, HLTH 197, 220, and PSYCH 145. Transfer and Richland credits are used in calculating the Program GPA
• Listed in good standing on the IDPH Health Care Worker Registry as an active CNA OR provide evidence of current enrollment in a CNA training program with a test date prior to the start of the semester for which the student is applying

Application Process

The PN Program follows the Health Professions’ Selective Admission Process. Students use the online Pre-Advisement Plan on myRichland to submit an application during the designated application period. Students must check their student email to verify completion of the application. Late applications are accepted and considered if space is available.

Basis of Ranking

Students who submit applications are scored on a rubric and the 16 highest scores are accepted in rank order. In the event of a tie for the 16th position, the student with the highest Program GPA is admitted. The following components are the basis of ranking:

1. Program GPA (minimum 2.5)
2. Biology GPA (minimum 2.0)
3. Number of required biology courses completed
4. Number of required program courses completed
5. Nelson Denny composite score
6. Number of biology withdrawn (W) or repeated within the last five years
7. Readmission to the PN program

Notification of Conditional Admission

Shortly after the deadline, the PN faculty meets to review the admission rubrics and rank applicants. The rubrics do not contain any indentifying student characteristics besides the student ID number, allowing the faculty to review the rubrics using non-discriminatory practices.

The top 16 ranked students are offered conditional admission to the PN Program. All applicants are notified in writing of their admission status within four weeks after the faculty meeting.

• Submit the acceptance form by the deadline
• Have a “C” or better in all prerequisites and program courses and a 2.5 minimum Program GPA. All courses and the Program GPA are reassessed at the end of the semester in which the student applied to determine eligibility
• Submit a completed Health and Immunization Record Form and have updated immunizations and proof of CPR certification
• Complete a drug screen prior to beginning the program
• Verify that the CNA is active and in “good standing,” meaning the background check is clear of disqualifying offenses (or a state-granted waiver is documented) and the student has maintained active certification.
  • If currently enrolled in a nurse assistant training program students must successfully pass the written competency exam before the next program begins

Students who do not meet the criteria forfeit their admission and the open position is filled from the alternate list.

Alternate List

After the top ranked students are extended conditional admission, an alternate list of other qualified students is developed in the event that someone should cancel or not meet the conditional admission criteria. To remain eligible, alternates must continue to meet all eligibility requirements. Up to the day prior to the first PN course, the alternates may be notified.

The PN program does not maintain a waitlist. If not admitted, students must reapply to the program each year.

Background Checks

As active CNAs, students enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program have completed the background check requirement. If a student requires a waiver, the state-approved waiver must be documented on the Health Care Worker Registry.

Please note: The background check requirements for the Health Care Worker Registry differ from those of the Illinois Board of Nursing. In the final semester of the PN Program, students must submit to an FBI fingerprint-based background check in order to apply for Practical Nurse licensure. Therefore, students with a past criminal history, including those with an IDPH-granted waiver, or who have a change in status while in program, should verify they meet the licensure requirements before pursuing the PN certificate. Students can learn more by visiting: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068013000A01000R.html

Professional Integrity and Code of Ethics

Richland’s PN Program holds its students to a high standard. The American Nurse Associate (ANA) Code of Ethics will serve as the basis of Richland’s Professional Integrity Policy and Code of Ethics.

Affiliation agreements with our clinical partners require students to submit documentation of health and safety requirements. Failure to comply for any reason may result in withdrawal of offer of admission or dismissal from the program.

Under no circumstances are students to attend clinical without current immunizations, initial Mantoux TB , and or current CPR. TB and CPR must be current from the first day of the semester through the last day of classes in the semester.

Nursing is a profession, which involves contact with individuals and requires the ability to perform wide variety of activities. Nursing students must be able to perform the essential duties and skills required by the clinical agencies. These are addressed in the Health and Immunization Record Form that students receive upon admission. Changes in the following functional performance areas must be immediately reported to the Nursing Program Director to ensure student and patient safety: Gross motor skills, physical endurance, physical strength, mobility, hearing, visual, tactile, smell, reading, emotional stability, analytical thinking, critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, and communication skills.

Drug and Alcohol Testing

All admitted students submit to an initial drug screening as part of their conditional admission requirements. In addition, any of the clinical sites or faculty may require Richland Community College PN Program students to submit to random drug tests for cause.

Health Insurance

Students are encouraged to obtain their own health insurance coverage. None is provided through the College.

The certificate in Practical Nursing is made up of 47 credit hours including general education and practical nursing core courses. Listed below is a breakdown and description of the certificate’s course requirements.

• General Education and Elective Credit Hours..........................18 Credit Hours
• Practical Nursing Core Credit Hours..........................................29 Credit Hours
• Total Credit Hours......................................................................... 47 Credit Hours

Graduation Requirements for PN Students

• Earn a “C” or better in all prerequisites and program courses
• Have a minimum Program GPA of 2.5
• Complete all nursing psychomotor competencies with 76% of the designated skills performed in the clinical setting
• Score a minimum of 76% on the outcome exam
• Meet the ANA Code of Ethics and the Integrity Policy

Licensure Requirements

Upon successful completion of the program, students will apply for licensure with the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. Students will submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check and apply to write the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). After successfully passing this examination and meeting all other state requirements, the student will be able to work as a licensed practical nurse.