Associate Degree Nursing (0050)
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students receive an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and are eligible to write the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Graduates who successfully complete the examination and meet all other state requirements (including a criminal background check) are able to work as registered nurses. Some courses may not transfer to four-year institutions, but transfer opportunities exist for students wanting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
The Program’s mission is to prepare nurses to work in a multicultural, multiracial, diversified metropolitan industrial area that is surrounded by rural communities. The purpose of the ADN Program at Richland Community College is to prepare competent, caring, and critically thinking graduates for entry-level positions in a variety of health care settings and to encourage commitment to personal and professional growth.
Accreditation and Program Approval
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Sample Job Titles
Nurse, Registered Nurse (RN), Professional Registered Nurse
Nursing positions are available throughout the United States as well as internationally. Nurses care for people in hospitals, schools, clinics, corporations, homes, wellness centers, or anywhere people need health care services. Areas of nursing practice include pediatric, geriatric, obstetrics, intensive care, emergency care, mental health, oncology, orthopedic, case management, and medical-surgical.
Articulated AAS Degree Programs
Articulated programs are designed for Richland students who intend to transfer to another institution to complete a four-year degree after earning an associate in applied science degree at Richland.
Success Coaches and other staff in the Student Success Center provide extensive transfer information on Richland’s associate in applied science degree transfer curriculum articulated agreements with various baccalaureate institutions.
Benedictine University (3+1)
Eastern Illinois University (RN to BSN)
Franklin University (Columbus, OH)
Greenville University (Greenville, IL) – Organizational Leadership
Illinois State University – dual enrollment or pre-admission to RN to BSN
Indiana Wesleyan University – RN to BSN
Millikin University – dual admission RN to BSN
University of Illinois, Chicago (3+1)
Selective Admission Requirements
Admission into the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program is selective and competitive and admission into Richland Community College does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Students must meet the minimum admission criteria to be eligible to apply. Once the criteria have been met, students are scored on a rubric, and the students with the highest scores are offered conditional admission.
The ADN Program follows the Health Professions’ selective admissions process. Students use the online Pre-Advisement Plan on myRichland to apply during the designated application period. For spring admission, applications are accepted between August 1 to September 1. For fall admission, applications are accepted between January 2 and February 1. Out-of-district applicants are considered for the program when space is available.
Transferring from Another Institution
Students who have completed nursing core courses at another institution may be eligible to transfer into the ADN program. Transfer credit for nursing core courses is based upon successful results of the standardized tests for the appropriate course and available space. All admission and graduation requirements must be met in order to graduate from the ADN Program including a minimum of two semesters of core nursing courses completed at Richland. Students are responsible for the costs of the standardized tests. All required forms, transcripts, and supportive documentation must be received by September 1st to be considered for spring admission. To receive transfer credit for courses completed at another institution, official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Prerequisites to Apply
- 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.
- Eligibility for ENGL 101
- Eligibility for MATH 110 or MATH 113 or completion of MATH 099 with a ‘C’ or better
- High school biology (2 years) and high school chemistry/physics (1 year) with a ‘B’ or better within the last 3 years or completed BIOL 101 with a ‘C’ or better. Students who have completed BIOL 201, BIOL 202 or BIOL 220 must have completed one within the last 5 years.
- Completed 15 credit hours of ADN program courses or high school GPA of at least 2.5 and
- ACT scores (within the last 3 years) with composite 21, science reasoning 20, and no score below 15 or
- SAT scores (within the last 3 years) with Analysis of Science (20) and minimum Total Score (980)
- ‘C’ or better in all prerequisites and program courses and a Program GPA of 2.75 or better
The Program GPA is calculated using grades and credits earned in completed ADN program courses. Program courses that can be completed prior to admission include: BIOL 201, BIOL 202, BIOL 220, ENGL 101, Fine Art Elective, HLTH 197, PSYCH 110, PSYCH 145, and SOCIO 110. Transfer and Richland credits are used in calculating the Program GPA.
Curriculum Requirements
Graduation Requirements
- Total Credit Hours: 71 credit hours in courses numbered 100 and above
- Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.00 (‘C’) or better for all work applicable toward the degree
- Residency: 15 credit hours or more at Richland Community College
- Course Requirement: ‘C’ or better in all prerequisite and program courses
- Meet standards of the ANA Code of Ethics, the Professional Integrity Policy, and Health Professions Standards of Conduct
Additional Program Considerations
All AAS degrees include a required minimum of 15 general education credits. Students must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in the program prerequisites, core curriculum courses, and general education courses.
Required Courses
| BIOL 201 | Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 | 4.0 |
| BIOL 202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 4.0 |
| BIOL 220 | Microbiology | 4.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition 1 | 3.0 |
| HLTH 197 | Special Topics in Healthcare | 1.0-3.0 |
| | Or | |
| HLTH 290 | Health Internship | 1.0-2.0 |
| | Or | |
| HLTH 297 | Advanced Topics in Healthcare | 1.0-3.0 |
| NURS 111 | Nursing Foundations | 2.0 |
| NURS 112 | Fundamentals of Nursing Practice | 8.0 |
| NURS 152 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 4.0 |
| NURS 154 | Pharmacological Principles for Nursing Practice | 3.0 |
| NURS 155 | Medical-Surgical Nursing II Care of the Chronically Ill Clie | 5.0 |
| NURS 206 | Family Health Nursing | 6.0 |
| NURS 250 | Medical-Surgical III Care of the Surgical Client | 5.0 |
| NURS 252 | Medical-Surgical IV Care of the Acutely Ill Client | 5.0 |
| NURS 254 | Transition from Education to Practice | 5.0 |
| PSYCH 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3.0 |
| PSYCH 145 | Human Growth & Development | 3.0 |
| SOCIO 110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3.0 |
Fine Arts Electives
Number of Credit Hours Required: 3.00
Suggested Course Sequence
First Semester
Second Semester
| NURS 152 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 4.0 |
| NURS 154 | Pharmacological Principles for Nursing Practice | 3.0 |
| NURS 155 | Medical-Surgical Nursing II Care of the Chronically Ill Clie | 5.0 |
| PSYCH 145 | Human Growth & Development | 3.0 |
| BIOL 202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 4.0 |
Third Semester
Fourth Semester
| NURS 252 | Medical-Surgical IV Care of the Acutely Ill Client | 5.0 |
| NURS 254 | Transition from Education to Practice | 5.0 |
| HLTH 197 | Special Topics in Healthcare | 1.0-3.0 |
| | Or | |
| HLTH 290 | Health Internship | 1.0-2.0 |
| | Or | |
| HLTH 297 | Advanced Topics in Healthcare | 1.0-3.0 |
| | Fine Arts Elective | 3.0 |
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