IMPORTANT NOTE: Changes to the Nursing (RN), AAS are in process. Please contact Emily Schaeffer (309.341.5253 or eschaeffer@sandburg.edu) or Margaret Kidd (309.341.5248 or mkidd@sandburg.edu) for more information.
Carl Sandburg College offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing. The Associate Degree Nursing program prepares the student for entry level positions as a Registered Nurse (RN). Successful graduates will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.
Registered professional nurses work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients recover from and cope with illness. Registered professional nurses assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate care to patients; assist physicians with treatments and examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. Registered professional nurses also provide patient education to clients and families to help improve or maintain the optimum level of health.
Associate Degree Nursing Program Goals
Graduates will evaluate and analyze the client’s and family’s surroundings to identify potential safety concerns in order to establish and promote a safe environment for their patients/clients and others.
The graduate will analyze their client’s and family’s needs and create a compassionate and culturally sensitive plan of care based on clients’ physiological, psychological, sociological, spiritual, and cultural needs, preferences, and values.
The graduate will contribute to, function within and, when appropriate, adopt a leadership role within multidisciplinary healthcare teams in order to create and foster open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
- Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgement
The graduate will actualize critical thinking skills (interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, and explanation) to make professional clinical judgements regarding patient’s/client’s clinical responses.
The graduate will apply and integrate strategic knowledge of best evidence-based practice and standards of care with clinical expertise for the delivery of optimal health care, while maintaining client choice and preferences.
The graduate will effectively generate and apply current information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.
Working Conditions
Most health care facilities provide a safe and comfortable working environment. Care is required around the clock, often in 8- or 12 hour shifts, weekends and holidays, and may involve on-call work. Schools, offices, and clinics offer more traditional work hours. The Registered Nurse provides direct patient care and must be able to obtain knowledge (cognitive function), skills (psychomotor function), and demonstrate professionalism (affective function). Please refer to the Essential Skills & Abilities of a Registered Nurse to determine if you are able to meet these functions with or without reasonable accommodations.
Employment
Employment opportunities include, but are not limited to hospitals, clinics and physician offices, long-term care/rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, public health facilities, schools, churches, informatics, correctional facilities, and insurance companies. The demand for registered professional nurses is very high and expected to increase. It is projected that employment of RNs will grow 7% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will occur for a number of reasons including an increased emphasis on preventive care; growing rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity; and demand for healthcare services from the baby-boom population, as they live longer and more active lives. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor.
Accreditation/Approval
The Associate Degree Nursing program at Carl Sandburg College located in Galesburg, Illinois, is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree Nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm
Illinois State Board of Nursing (ISBN) and Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has approved the Associate Degree Nursing program.
Licensure
Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN). Upon successful completion of this exam, the student is eligible to apply for Registered Nurse licensure. Graduates will need to complete a criminal background check at time of licensure application and will be evaluated by ISBN before licensure is granted or denied. Please be advised that the Illinois State Board of Nursing (ISBN) can deny nursing licensure and discipline those that are licensed. You can access all licensing and nursing scope of practice regulations at www.idfpr.com.
Admission to the Program: Selective
The Associate Degree Nursing Program has limited enrollment and a selection process for admission into the program. Applicants need to refer to the Eligibility & Admission Requirements for this program to determine eligibility criteria and the selection process. Students can apply online to the Associate Degree Nursing Program October 1 - March 1. Application deadline date is March 1 for Fall enrollment. We notify applicants approximately two weeks after the application deadline date whether or not they have been accepted into the program. Applicants accepted into the nursing program must attend all program orientation sessions.
Students accepted will be required to possess Healthcare Provider CPR certification throughout the program, show proof of immunizations and required titers, TB test, physical examination, criminal background check, and a drug screen. Students are responsible for all fees incurred, in addition to tuition. Please refer to the Associate Degree Nursing Program Cost Sheet. Please note findings on the criminal background check and drug screen may void conditional admission and prevent entrance to the program. Findings on the physical examination and drug screen may prevent placement at the clinical sites.
Department of Health Professions
2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd.
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309.341.5299
For Additional Information Contact:
The Welcome Center
Phone: 309.345.3500
welcomecenter@sandburg.edu
For Graduation Requirements:
See the graduation policies and procedures page for details .
Note: Students must apply for admission to this program. Please click here to view the program’s page for admission requirements including coursework and prerequisites prior to applying.