Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing in Oak Lawn, IL
Change your life and the lives of others by becoming a nurse. Whether you are a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who is looking to advance your opportunities or someone just beginning to embark on a healthcare career, the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing at Northwestern College can put students in Oak Lawn, IL, and the greater Chicago area on the right path. The healthcare field is dynamic and expanding rapidly, and through it, you can make a positive impact on your patients and their families every day.
Nursing: What It Is and What Nurses Do
The more our health system evolves, the more we recognize how crucial a role registered nurses play when it comes to coordinating and providing patient care. Registered nurses work as part of an overall team, with physicians and medical specialists to do things like observe and assess patients’ conditions, record medical histories and symptoms, consult with doctors and administer prescribed treatments, assist in performing tests and procedures, and educate patients about their care and how to manage illnesses or injuries.
Nurses often specialize as well, focusing their careers on areas such as:
- Addiction treatment and counseling
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Critical and emergency care
- Pediatric and neonatal care
- Public health issues
- Oncology and cancer treatment
- Surgical and operating room procedures
Still, other registered nurses use their education and experience to become nurse educators, helping to train the next generation of students or choosing to work as healthcare consultants or hospital administrators. With the right education and certification, nursing can offer a wide world of different options.
Nursing Education and Certification
Most students who get into the profession of nursing choose that path because they care about people and about ensuring those who seek medical services get the quality treatment they need. As a nurse, you’re the individual patients trust to provide hands-on care, and you’re the professional who works as a liaison between patients and the entire healthcare community.
That’s why the Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing at Northwestern College provides a challenging and quality educational program from start to finish. Our nursing school offers a degree program that has been designed with the demands of the healthcare industry in mind. It offers a distinctive hands-on approach to learning, where students benefit not only from lectures offered by our education but also receive practical experience both in and out of the classroom through simulation labs and clinical practice.
We provide proficient education driven by innovative technology, student-centered learning, and employer recommendations. We also prepare our students for leadership roles in nursing. Our students graduate ready to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) – Registered Nurse exam to become licensed registered nurses.
Nursing School at Northwestern College
With our Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree in Oak Lawn, IL, Northwestern College has created a program aimed to give you all the skills and knowledge you need to advance your career in nursing. Students graduate with the following abilities:
- Using the nursing process to safely provide patient care
- Applying clinical judgment and clinical reasoning skills
- Communicating and collaborating with patients, families, groups, and other healthcare professionals
- Assuming accountability for their decisions and actions
- Procuring and applying new knowledge in the workplace
- Modeling professional behavior that adheres to standards and ethical codes of conduct
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Students must complete at least 107 credit hours to earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing. Classes in this program include:
- Nursing Seminar
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology I and II
- Fundamental Concepts in Nursing
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
- Maternity/Women’s Health Nursing
- Medical Surgical Nursing I
- Pediatric Nursing
- Medical Surgical Nursing II
- Nursing Care of Diverse Groups
- Leadership Seminar
- Anatomy & Physiology I and II with Lab
- Microbiology with Lab
- Integrated Concepts
*General education courses are included in the curriculum.
For the full curriculum of our nursing school, visit our College Catalog.
The Outlook for Nursing Jobs
As the U.S. population ages and the demand for healthcare services increases, the employment of nurses is expected to climb, as well. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects registered nurse jobs will grow 6% through 2031, with about 203,200 openings each year.
A lot of this growth likely will happen not in hospitals, but in outpatient care centers, where patients don’t stay overnight, and long-term care facilities, where patients can get the extended care they need. Other types of facilities that likely will see the biggest jumps are home health services, residential care facilities, and assisted living or senior care services.
Program Outcomes
Professionalism
Demonstrate professional nursing behaviors aligned with accountability for the delivery of standard-based nursing care that is consistent with moral, altruistic, legal, ethical, regulatory, and humanistic principles.
Leadership
Use leadership principles to influence the behavior of individuals or groups of individuals within their environment in a way that will facilitate the establishment and acquisition/achievement of shared goals.
Systems-Based Practice
Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context of the health care system, and the ability to effectively call on work unit resources to provide care that is of optimal quality and value.
Informatics and Technology
Use advanced technology, analyze as well as synthesize information, and collaborate in order to make critical decisions that optimize patient outcomes.
Communication
Employ effective communication strategies with patients, families, and colleagues, fostering mutual respect and shared decision making, to enhance patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Function effectively within nursing and interdisciplinary teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, shared decision-making, team learning, and development.
Safety
Demonstrate an ability to minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
Quality Improvement
Apply data to monitor the outcomes of care processes, and uses improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems.
Evidence-Based Practice
Identify, evaluate, and use the best current evidence coupled with clinical expertise and consideration of patients’ preferences, experience and values to make practice decisions.
Accreditations and Approvals
Northwestern College is accredited (on probation) by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 263-0456, www.hlcommission.org.
We also are approved for veterans training under the G.I.® Bill for Veterans Educational Assistance.
The Associate in Applied Science Degree program in Nursing is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation, Illinois State Board of Nursing. This program is currently on probation due to first-time pass rates of the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX).
The nursing program is in the process of seeking ACEN accreditation.
On top of that, we are proud to assist with financial aid for qualifying students, and with job placement assistance.
Discover Chicago Nursing Programs Today
Make your mark in a career that is active, caring, and in high demand. You can begin your journey right now by contacting Northwestern College today to learn more about our nursing education program at our campus serving students in Oak Lawn, IL, and the greater Chicago area. We even offer flexible program options and class times to make it easier than ever to get started. Request information for more, or apply today.