Become A Nurse

The term nurse encompasses a broad range of opportunity, education, skill and responsibility. On July 28, 2005, Gov. Rod Blagojevich stated that the state of Illinois will be short nearly 9,000 nurses within the next few years. Did you know that by the year 2020, there will be an estimated shortage of 800,000 nurses?   With the world population living longer and needing more care, the healthcare field is one of the best places to get a job, and will likely stay that way for many years to come. With over 100,000 vacant positions and a ever-growing need for healthcare workers, the career outlook is excellent for the nursing field. Because of the increasing need for nurses, some hospitals are offering signing bonuses of up to $14,000 for experienced nurses. Also, nursing is a highly regarded profession. A 2004 Gallup Poll announced that the public again voted nurses number one for "honesty and ethical standards of various professions."

The Rend Lake College Allied Health Dept. utilizes a 3 tier system for our nursing program. Tier 1 is an 8 week CNA course, Tier 2 is an 11 month Practical Nurse certificate, Tier 3 is a 9 month Registered Nurse diploma.

Contact the Allied Health Department with any questions.

Nursing Programs: