Students interested in pursuing registered nursing (RN) education have many great options in Illinois. Prospective students should research the state’s numerous RN programs to prepare for a career in this field.
What do registered nurses do?
Registered nurses provide professional nursing care in a wide range of areas. The RN’s job scope includes providing direct patient care, performing medical tests, and conducting clinical research. In many settings, RNs play an independent role in administering critical patient care, working in tandem with the medical team.
There are four distinct educational pathways to becoming an RN: hospital diploma, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, and direct-entry master’s degree. All prospective RNs must pass a national examination, the NCLEX-RN, in order to receive initial licensure.
A three-year hospital diploma program is conducted in a clinical setting with many opportunities for real-world experience next to professionals. This is similar to an apprenticeship system. Although hospital diploma programs are slowly phasing out nationwide in favor of traditional college study, Illinois still offers one such program at the Graham Hospital School of Nursing in Canton.
An associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) program is typically two years in length. These students receive a more technical education through a combination of classroom theory and clinical training. Illinois boasts roughly 50 nursing schools with ADN programs, including many of the state’s community colleges.
A four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program offers the most rigorous training for prospective registered nurses. Almost 30 schools in Illinois offer a prelicensure BSN program, including dedicated nursing colleges like Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Chamberlain College of Nursing.
A direct-entry master’s degree program is tailored towards college graduates with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. In the first year of study, students complete all RN licensure requirements before pursuing master’s-level specialization in the second year of study. Four prestigious Illinois universities offer this program: DePaul University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Millikin University, and Rush University.
Career outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide employment of RNs is projected to grow 19% over the coming decade. There are more than 100,000 RNs employed across Illinois with a median annual salary of $64,890. The top quartile of the state’s RNs earn over $78,220 per year. Illinois nurses can look forward to careers with major healthcare employers like Alexian Brothers Health System, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. RNs can also pursue routes of specialization such as oncology and critical care.
To help those seeking a career in registered nursing, we have put together a list of schools in Illinois that offer state-approved prelicensure programs.