Become A Nurse

The term "nurse" encompasses a broad range of opportunity, education, skill and responsibility. On July 28, 2005, the Governor said 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 more than 100,000 vacant positions and an 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 Department utilizes a three-tiered system for our nursing program. Tier 1 is an eight-week CNA course, Tier 2 is an 11-month Practical Nurse certificate, and Tier 3 is a nine-month Associate of Applied Science - Nursing degree.

Contact the Allied Health Department with any questions.

Nursing Programs:

Nursing Links:

Illinois Center for Nursing