Nursing is both an art and a science.  The individual must have compassion, a desire to help others and a commitment to life-long learning.  There are numerous career opportunities that come with graduating from the Lewis and Clark Nursing Program.  The purpose of the Associate Degree Nursing Program is to prepare an associate degree nurse who is capable of effective use of the nursing process in providing care to one or a group of individuals in order to promote health and manage health problems.  The associate degree nurse functions as a team member to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families and communities in a dynamic healthcare environment.

The program is evaluated by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. which has awarded its full accreditation to Lewis and Clark’s program.  The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. address is 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia 30326.  The program also has agency membership in the National League for Nursing and is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program can be completed in two years.  The program includes classroom, lab, simulation instruction, and clinical experience each semester in acute care settings, extended care facilities, and community health care agencies.  Transportation to clinical agencies is the responsibility of the student.

Upon graduation from the program, an Associate in Applied Science degree is awarded and the graduate is eligible to apply for the NCLEX-RN for licensing.  Graduates passing the exam are then able to apply for a license to practice as a registered nurse.

More information regarding the criminal background check may be found on the website of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Technical Standards

Application and Admission:  Applicants are required to provide to the Nursing Admissions Office the following information:·        

• Application to the Associate Degree Nursing Program,·  
• Evidence of High School graduation or GED,·        
• Official transcript(s) from any colleges, universities or schools of nursing attended previously, and·        
• High school seniors are to provide the following information:
• A list of senior year subjects planned, and
• A transcript of the first six high school semesters.

The above credentials must be in the Nursing Admissions Office by April 1 if applying for spring semester and by October 1 if applying for fall semester.

A student applying to the ADN Program shall:·        

• Be a resident of L & C District No. 536 or East St. Louis Community College Center.  Non-resident applicants will be considered only if space is available after the class has been selected.        
• Show evidence of completion with grade of "C" or better in the following courses:
• One college semester of general biology (BIOL 130 or 131),
• One college semester of chemistry (CHEM 130 or 131) that includes both organic and inorganic components,
• MATH 112 or L & C placement algebra test score of 82 or above,
• MATH 114 or sufficient score on proficiency test,
• CIS 135 or sufficient score on proficiency test,
• Qualify for ENGL 131 by appropriate L & C placement test score or have completed one semester of college level English
• Notify the Nursing Admission Office by the Card of Intent indicating the semester you wish to be considered for admission to the ADN program.
• Obtain pre-admission exam test dates from the Nursing Admission Office in NU L107.
• Prior to taking the pre-admission tests, have high school and any college transcripts with the application form on file in the Nursing Admission Office.  BIOL 141 and BIOL 142 must have been completed within five years prior to entry into the nursing program.·
• Show acceptable rank on the pre-admission test.   Selection of qualified applicants will be based upon this test score and GPA.  Test scores are valid for five years.  Selection of students is based on a point system.  Points are given for the Evolve Reach comprehensive score, the reading comprehension score and GPA.  Ten points are possible in each area for a total possible score of 30 points.  Students are given one point for each increment of five points over the score of 50 for the reading comprehension and Evolve Reach Comprehensive score.  The student receives one point for every 0.25 grade increment on the GPA scale of 2.0 and above.
• Students seeking a Fall Semester admission must have all prerequisites complete by the end of the Spring Semester preceding admission.

Final acceptance will be given to qualified applicants when they have met the following additional requirements:·        

• Submission of a satisfactory health examination report,·        
• Response to the Nursing Admission Office within 10 days following notification of acceptance,     
• Completion of all program prerequisites,
• Completion of a CPR course for Healthcare Providers,
• Overall GPA or 2.0 or better,
• All students accepted will be required to satisfactorily complete a drug screen and federal background check. 

Credit for Prior Learning:  Practical Nurses licensed with the State of Illinois (or persons eligible for transfer or renewal of LPN licensure in Illinois) are eligible for two types of advanced standing in the ADN program:

1. LPNs may begin the program in NURS 150 (rather than the traditional NURS 152). NURS 150 is a three hour, lecture/lab (no clinical) course.  After successful completion of NURS 150, the LPN receives proficiency credit for NURS 152, 250, and 251 and may be eligible to advance to NURS 252 providing that the student has completed both semesters of Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 141 and BIOL 142) and Microbiology (BIOL 241) with a “C” or better.
2. Written proficiency tests are also offered to LPNs for NURS 153, Community-Based Psychiatric Nursing, and NURS 154, Family and Home-Centered Nursing.  Students who do not have a corresponding psychiatric nursing course with a clinical component as part of their prior LPN education will require nursing faculty advisement for NURS 153 proficiency.  Proficiency of both of these courses allows the student to move from NURS 150 to NURS 252, provided all other prerequisite support courses for NURS 252 have been completed.  This means that the student may complete the nursing courses in two semesters provided degree requirements are met.

A fee of $5 per credit hour is required for proficiency credits.