Getting the Right Education

Once you’ve decided to be a nurse, the hard part is figuring out what school or program you need to get you there.

Illinoishas over 80 excellent schools of nursing.  We have provided a list with addresses, web sitea and types of programs below.  Following the list we offer some explanation about the types of programs and other criteria for nursing education and choosing your school.

Schools of Nursing in Illinois

Choosing the Program

What’s the difference between an LPN, ADN, and BSN degree?
Submitted by Pam Brown, October 2--6

• They are all routes to becoming a nurse - it’s a matter of preparation and time. To become an RN (registered nurse) you must graduate from a state-approved school of nursing. B-RCN has LPN and RN to BSN tracks to help those nurses complete the BSN degree. Talk to our Admissions office about the time needed to complete the various tracks.
• An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) is an entry level job in health care. LPNs have about one year of training, usually through a vocational/technical school. They mainly assist RNs in giving care to patients. Average salary for an LPN is $29,000 (1999). 
• An ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) is a degree from a Jr. College. It takes about 2 years after your pre-requisites are completed to get the ADN. Students with an ADN are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam to become an RN (Registered Nurse). In general, RNs with associate degrees spend most of their time in direct patient care as staff nurses. Average salary for an RN staff nurse is $44,470 (1999). About 1/3 of RNs in hospitals have an ADN as their highest nursing education. Approximately 60% of RNs returning to school were enrolled in baccalaureate programs to get their BSN for increased opportunities or supervisory positions. If you’re tempted to complete the ADN or LPN and work while going back for your BSN you can do that, but be aware that it often takes 3 years to complete an ADN, and at least 2 more years to complete the BSN later.
• A nurse with a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) has completed 4 years of college, is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam to become an RN, and is prepared to take on many roles in the health care environment. In general, BSN nurses are prepared to fill supervisory or administrative positions, earn a graduate degree, or become nurse educators. Many management jobs now require a BSN. A Chief Nurse Executive earned an average of $84,800 (1997), Nursing Supervisors earned $50,200 (1997), and a Head Nurse averaged $50,600. 

View US Dept. Of Labor 2005 Salary statistics for RNs:
http://stats.bls.gov./oes/current/oes291111.htm 

Pathways to Becoming a Nurse
Submiitted by Dr. Pamela Brown, October 2006

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN):
This degree is requires four years of education. (connect to AACN and NLN and NSNA  for lists of programs). 

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing:

1. The BSN nurse is prepared for a broader role in nursing practice:  The BSN nurse is the only basic nursing graduate preferred to practice in all health care settings -- critical care, ambulatory care, public health, and mental health -- and thus offers a great deal of flexibility to BSN prepared nurses.
2. The BSN curriculum includes a broad spectrum of scientific, critical-thinking, humanistic, communication, and leadership skills, including specific courses on community health nursing not typically included in diploma or associate-degree tracks. These abilities are essential for today's professional nurse who must be a skilled provider, designer, manager, and coordinator of care. Nurses must make quick, sometimes life-and-death decisions; understand a patient's treatment, symptoms, and danger signs; supervise other nursing personnel; coordinate care with other health providers; master advanced technology; guide patients through the maze of health resources in a community; and teach patients how to comply with treatment and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
3. The BSN graduate is well-prepared for practice in such sites as home health agencies, outpatient centers, and neighborhood clinics where opportunities are fast expanding as hospitals focus more on acute care and health services move beyond the hospital to more primary and preventive care throughout the community.
4. The BSN nurse is preferred. More nurse executives are indicating their desire for the majority of their hospital staff nurses to be prepared at the baccalaureate level to meet the more complex demands of today's patient care. In fact, the words "BSN preferred" are appearing more frequently in classified ads for registered nurses nationwide.
5. The BSN is the foundation for graduate education in nursing.

Associate Degree in Nursing (AD) and Diploma in Nursing:
These degrees are available through vocational programs, hospital based diploma programs, and predominantly in community college settings. It requires 2-3 years of education (connect to web sites for list of programs)

1. Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and diploma education provides a dynamic pathway for entry into registered nursing (RN) practice. They offer accessible, affordable, quality instruction to a diverse population. Graduates are prepared to function in multiple health care settings.
2. The majority of graduates are adult learners who are already established as an integral part of the community in which they live. They exhibit a commitment to lifelong learning through continuing education offerings, certification credentialing, and continued formal education.
3. These degrees provide a foundation for obtaining a baccalaureate or higher degrees in nursing.

Approval and Accreditation
All of the programs in the above list are “approved” by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.  That means that graduation from any of them qualifies you to take the licensure exam and if you pass, to become licensed in

Illinois.  Most schools also obtain accreditation from a professional organization that accredits schools.  The article below describes accreditation.
ACCREDITATION-WHAT IT MEANS
Prepared by Dr. A. J. Labunski
7/19/06

Accreditation is defined as a non governmental, voluntary process conducted by representatives of post secondary institutions and professional groups. Accreditation focuses on the quality of institutions of higher and professional education and on the quality of educational programs within institutions. Two forms of accreditation are recognized; one is institutional accreditation and the other professional or specialized accreditation. Institutional accreditation deals with the quality and integrity of the total institution including all programs, structure governance, and assessing the achievement of the institution in meeting its mission, goals and expected outcomes.

Professional or specialized accreditation is concerned with programs of study in professional or occupational fields. Accreditation agencies assess the extent to which programs achieve their stated mission, goals and expected outcomes. Additionally, these outcomes are significant in determining the quality of the program and the educational preparation of members of the profession.

Two specialized accrediting agencies for the profession of nursing are as follows: the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), an autonomous arm of the long-standing National League for Nursing agency reviews practical nursing, association degree and baccalaureate programs as requested by individual schools.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the autonomous accrediting agency was initiated by leading professionals of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in 1997. It is designed to collegially review baccalaureate and graduate higher degree educational programs within four year colleges and universities. Both accrediting bodies are authorized by the United States Secretary of the Department of Education to award accreditation to schools of nursing which maintain a high level of accountability to the public by supporting continuous quality standards and improvement within programs.

Accreditation of nursing programs differs from approval of nursing programs in that programs are required to be granted approval prior to implementation of the programs by the state’s Board of Nursing. Restated, no program in nursing may be initiated until the program is granted approval from the Illinois Board of Nursing and the Illinois Board of Higher Education which grants institutional approval for program development.  Whereas the aforementioned is required, schools seeking accreditation must graduate one class prior to applying for a designated accreditation. 

Although accreditation of schools remains a voluntary process, it is significant to note that one of the criteria for entry into graduate programs requires accreditation of applicants’ undergraduate program. Moreover, accreditation status fosters trust in the school within the professional community, the students, and the public.

Henceforth, accreditation is designed for the following purposes:

1. Accountability of the nursing programs to the community of interest and to one another by ensuring the programs have a stated mission, goals and expected outcomes which reflect expected roles.
2. Evaluation of the success of a nursing program in achieving its mission, goals and outcomes.
3. Assessment of extent the school meets accreditation standards.
4. Informing the public regarding purposes, values and those programs which meet standards of accreditation.
5. Fostering continuing improvement in nursing programs and professional practice. (AACN, 2003)

Standards for accreditation which delineate expectations and aspirations are developed by a consensus of professional nursing communities who have a vested interest in quality education and professional practice.

Adapted from the following Reference:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (October 2003). Standards for Accreditation for Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs, Washington, DC: AACN