lakemichigancollege.edu/nursing
THE NURSING
PROGRAM at Lake Michigan College
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Why Nursing at LMC?
Registered Nurse Career Opportunities As a Registered Nurse (RN), you will provide primary care to clients of all ages in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, clinics, offices, nursing homes, home healthcare settings, schools, research facilities, or community agencies.
You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a plan of care for clients and assisting them in
achieving their health goals through effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, management, and
technical skills. When providing direct patient care, you will observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medications; and assist in health promotion,
convalescence, and rehabilitation.
Program Accreditation The Associate in Applied Science Nursing Program is approved by the
Michigan Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation
Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326. The ACEN phone number is 404-
975-5000. The web site is www.acenursing.org. This agency is a resource for information about length of programs and required
tuition and fees. The Nursing Program at Lake Michigan College has
been accredited since 1981.
Articulation The Lake Michigan College Nursing program has agreements with
several institutions that will allow graduates to complete the Bachelor
of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in two years or less following graduation from LMC. Lake Michigan College has agreements with
Bethel College, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Indiana-Wesleyan University, Siena Heights University, University of Michigan – Flint,
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, and Western Michigan University.
How important is it to go to an accredited school?
VERY! If a student wants to get their
bachelor’s or master’s degree in Nursing, most programs (and the military) require
that the student graduated from a Nursing
program accredited by ACEN or CCNE.
Do all of your graduates get jobs after completion of your program?
YES. We have 100% placement rates following graduation for those students who
desire nursing jobs.
Get in touch! Prospective students are strongly encouraged to set an appointment with an academic advisor before starting any prerequisite testing and coursework. Contact the OneStop to make an appointment with an academic advisor by calling (269) 927-8128. Contact the Health Sciences Office for more information about the Nursing Program. Health Sciences Office 2755 E. Napier Avenue Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022 (269) 927-8768 [email protected]
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Completed
@ LMC Completed via Transfer
To be Completed
Learn about the program
Obtain and read entire Nursing Program brochure (can be found at lakemichigancollege.edu/nursing)
Contact an academic advisor to discuss Nursing Program requirements (strongly recommended – call 269.927.8128 to make an appointment)
Complete an LMC application for admission (lakemichigancollege.edu/apply)
Have high school transcripts sent to LMC Records Office OR
Have official college transcripts sent to LMC Records Office
Have ACT/SAT scores sent to LMC and/or take Accuplacer Assessment to
meet basic college requirements in reading, English, and math
Complete Prerequisite Courses with a “C” or better (LMC Overall GPA must be 2.5 or greater)
CHEM 104
BIOL 205 (BIOL 101 or 110 or comparable is a prerequisite for BIOL 205)
*MATH 122 or 123
Apply to the program
**Take and pass HESI A2 exam (study materials found at
lakemichigancollege.edu/placement and scroll down to Health Sciences Applicants.)
Successfully complete all paperwork, testing, and prerequisite coursework
prior to May 12, 2019
Submit Nursing Application to LMC Health Sciences Office by May 12, 2019
All prerequisite courses must be passed with a “C” or higher, and within 10 years of the
Nursing Program application deadline.
**The HESI A2 must be completed with a 75% or higher within a maximum of two attempts to be considered eligible for application. It is recommended that students complete this exam by
the end of the Fall semester prior to application.
*Either MATH 122 or MATH 123 is acceptable as this prerequisite. MATH 123 is recommended by Nursing program faculty.
Entrance Requirements Checklist
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The Nursing Application Process
A student will receive an email acknowledgement upon receipt of
their Nursing Application. All prerequisites must be completed before an applicant can be considered for the Nursing program. All eligible
applicants’ academic records are evaluated by using a numerical point system. Entry into the Nursing program is competitive and
based on total points. Students who are not accepted into the Nursing program will be required to submit another Nursing
Application if they want to be reconsidered for the nursing program
for the next academic year.
Students must inform Lake Michigan College of changes in address or telephone numbers. If the Health Science Office is unable to
contact a student related to placement into the Nursing program, a
student may have to forgo placement that year after reasonable attempts have been made to contact the student.
Selection for Admission into the Nursing Program All eligible students will be ranked via a point system and selected
based upon a competitive process ranking them according to their GPA in the prerequisite courses (MATH 122 or 123, BIOL 205, CHEM
104), overall LMC GPA, and successful HESI A2 completion. Other factors that may improve a students’ ranking are:
Completion of all prerequisite courses at Lake Michigan College
Only taking prerequisite courses once in the past 10 years
prior to application to the Nursing program
Proof of direct patient care work experience, certification in a
healthcare field, or completion of the Professional Health Careers Academy (PHCA)
Previously earned Bachelor’s Degree or higher
NOTE: The BIOL 206 and ENGL 101 courses MUST be completed
prior to entering the Nursing program. These courses may be
completed during the Summer term prior to starting the Nursing program in the Fall term, but they cannot be taken concurrently with
nursing courses.
Admission process is nondiscriminatory in regards to age, color, height, weight, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political affiliation, race, religion, or gender identity or expression.
Does Lake Michigan College have a waiting list for Nursing program admission?
NO. If the student does not get in this year,
he/she may apply again for placement next year. The student may use that year to
complete courses or gain work experience that may improve their consideration for
admission.
Am I guaranteed acceptance in the Nursing program once I complete all the prerequisites courses?
NO. All eligible applicants are ranked using
a numerical point system and accepted in
descending order until the class is full.
How can I improve my chances for placement if I don’t get in the Nursing Program this year?
Students may retake courses at LMC to
improve their grade. For example, if a student has two “C” grades in the sciences,
and are not ranked high enough for
placement this year, they may take those courses over to improve the grade and thus
increase their chances for placement the following year. Students may also gain
direct patient care work experience to
improve their application for the next year and overall success in the Nursing program.
Why doesn’t the college accept more students into the Nursing program? If there is a shortage, why doesn’t the school take every qualified applicant?
Classroom space limitations, limited faculty
resources, state regulation related to
clinical placement, and limited clinical sites are factors that determine the number of
seats available in the Nursing program.
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Course Sequence – Before Admission
Credits Contact Hours
Prerequisite
BIOL 101 Biological Science (or 110, or
comparable prerequisite for BIOL 205) 4 5
Prerequisite Ranking Courses
CHEM 104 Fundamentals of General, Organic,
& Biochemistry (Note: CHEM 105 Fund. of Inorganic Chem., if taken prior to Fall 2010, may be substituted for CHEM 104 requirement. CHEM 111 or a transfer equivalent may also be substituted for CHEM 104)
4 6
BIOL 205 Human Anatomy 4 5
MATH 122 Intermediate Algebra or MATH 123
Quantitative Reasoning 4 4
Prior to Start of Program
BIOL 206 Human Physiology 4 6
ENGL 101 English Composition 3 3
Advanced Standing Current Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) may apply for advanced
standing in the Nursing Program. LPN to RN students can receive
credit for most of the first year nursing courses based upon LPN licensure. Most advanced standing, LPN to RN students, are admitted
into second year fall nursing classes. All advanced standing students must meet the admission requirements for the Nursing Program and
complete the same core curriculum for graduation. After program completion, Advanced Standing students will earn an Associate Degree
in Applied Science and be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN (RN
Licensure Examination).
Why can’t I start the Nursing program right out of high school?
On rare occasions, students take
prerequisite courses during high school and are eligible to begin the Nursing
program the fall semester following high
school graduation. However, students need to be 18 years of age or older when
they begin the Nursing program. We encourage all applicants to complete as
many general education courses as possible prior to admission to the Nursing
program. This gives the student more time
to focus on the rigorous nursing courses while in the Nursing program.
Am I guaranteed placement in the RN program if I am a Licensed Practical Nurse?
NO. Although we try to place qualified LPN
students who want to return to an RN program, space availability is a factor that
might prevent an LPN student from
entering LMC’s RN program any given year.
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Course Sequence – Program
Credits
Contact Hours
Fall (1st Year)
PSYC 201 Introduction to Psychology 3 3
NURS 180 Nursing Fundamentals 6 10
NURS 130 Pharmacology I 2 2
Semester Total 11 15
Spring (1st Year)
ENGL 102 English Composition 3 3
NURS 185 Maternal and Newborn Health 3 6
NURS 186 Medical-Surgical Nursing I 3 6
NURS 187 Medical-Surgical Nursing II 3 6
NURS 135 Pharmacology II 2 2
Semester Total 14 23
Fall (2nd Year)
Humanities/Fine Arts Course (any 3 credits of ART, DRAM, ENGL (200-level), FORL,
HUMN, MUSI, or PHIL)
3 3
NURS 280 Community Mental Health 3 6
NURS 281 Medical-Surgical Nursing III 3 6
NURS 282 Medical-Surgical Nursing IV 3 6
Semester Total 12 21
Spring (2nd Year)
NURS 285 Children’s Health 3 6
NURS 286 Medical-Surgical Nursing V 3 6
NURS 287 Medical-Surgical Nursing VI 3 6
NURS 288 Current Issues in Nursing 1 1
Semester Total 10 19
PROGRAM TOTAL 47 78 Suggested Support Courses
BIOL 210 Microbiology
HEAL 103 Medical Terminology HEAL 113 Nutrition and Diet Therapy
MATH 216 Intro to Statistics PSYC 203 Human Development
How long does it take to get an associate degree for Registered Nurse?
Usually a student takes about one year to
get the prerequisites and some of the
general education courses done, and then finishes the Registered Nurse associate
degree program in just less than two years after admission in the program. A Nursing
student enters the program in the fall semester of year one and then finishes in
early May of year two. The program is four
semesters, upon admission.
What is the difference between the AAS degree and the BS degree for Nursing students?
Both degrees are considered entry level for
professional Registered Nurses. Both groups
of students take the same state board examination. Both graduate with what is
considered a “generalist registered nurse” education.
In this community, both groups of new graduates are given basically the same
employment opportunities. Later, after the graduate has experience, the BS degree
pays off with more opportunity for
management placement. There are some jobs that require the BS degree. Most
healthcare institutions will assist with tuition reimbursement for a BSN degree after
employment.
Completing the AAS degree and then
continuing on for a RN-BSN degree has many financial benefits for students as you
can work as an RN and earn money while completing your BSN degree.
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Cost Estimates
Tuition and Fees See the LMC class schedule for current tuition rates. Total tuition and fees (Beginning Fall 2018) are as follows. Please
note that the table below does NOT include prerequisite courses, but does include support courses required for graduation. These rates are subject to change without notice.
In-District
($150/contact hr) Out of District ($211.50/contact hr)
International ($288/contact hr)
First Semester (15 contact hours) $2,250.00 $3,172.50 $4,320.00
Second Semester (23 contact hours) $3,450.00 $4,864.50 $6,624.00
Third Semester (21 contact hours) $3,150.00 $4,441.50 $6,048.00
Fourth Semester (19 contact hours) $2,850.00 $4,018.50 $5,472.00
PROGRAM TUITION TOTAL $11,700.00 $16,497.00 $22,464.00
Drug Screen and Background Check Approximately $110
Health Insurance All Nursing students are required to have personal health insurance.
Nursing Books/Lab Packs Approx. $1,100 first semester (most books purchased in the first semester are used throughout the program), less each
following semester.
Uniforms Approximately $150
Costs include: white duty shoes (all white) & socks or stockings, stethoscope, watch with a second hand, bandage
scissors, warm-up jacket, name badge (received pre-printed during Nursing orientation, or $3.00 at the Cashier Window if a photo or new photo is required).
Additional Expenses Transportation to and from clinical facilities (carpooling is not always possible), both for clinical appointments and pre-
clinical; graduation nursing program pin (optional)—$40-$200; NCLEX exam fees and licensure – approximately $350.
Please note that, except for tuition, the above costs are only those related to the Nursing program. There are also books and supplies to purchase for general education courses. Many students have additional expenses, such as NCLEX review
courses prior to taking the NCLEX exams. Travel costs are not included. Tuition, fees, and other expenses subject to change without notice.
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Eligibility
Board of Nursing Licensure Applicants to the Nursing program should be aware that the Michigan Board of Nursing, in its Practice Act, states that it can deny a license to an applicant if any of the following are true:
1. Has been convicted of a criminal offense in a court of competent jurisdiction.
2. Is habitually intemperate in the use of alcoholic beverages.
3. Is addicted to, or has improperly obtained, possessed, used or distributed habit-forming drugs or narcotics.
4. Is guilty of dishonesty or unethical conduct.
5. Has violated or aided or abetted others in violation of any provision of this act.
The Michigan Board of Nursing requires a criminal background check prior to licensure. The state board has identified mandatory criminal record exclusions related to licensure. If you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, you
may be unable to be licensed. If you have questions about your particular situation, please call the Board of Nursing at
517-335-0918.
Lake Michigan College Nursing Programs Criminal Background Requirements All Nursing students are required to pass a criminal background
check and a urine drug screen for admission into the program. Students are responsible for paying the non-refundable cost of the
background search and drug screen. If a criminal record is found, the student may be asked to forfeit their seat in the Nursing program. A
background check and negative drug screen is required for nursing
program admission and re-admission. In order to be in compliance with the policies of our clinical site partners, the Lake Michigan
College Nursing Program will not allow a student into the program with a drug screen that is positive for marijuana, even if the student
is in the legal possession of a medical marijuana card.
Requirements for CPR Certification CPR certification/recertification (BLS Provider through American Heart Association or CPR for Professional Rescuer through Red Cross) is required and should be obtained before beginning the Nursing program (Heart Saver and Race for
Life are not acceptable). All students must hold a current CPR certification to participate in the Nursing program. Fully online courses are NOT considered valid.
CPR classes may be taken at Lake Michigan College.
Visit https://lakemichigancollege.edu/academics/health-sciences/cpr-aha-heartsaver-and-bls for details on
how to enroll in CPR classes at Lake Michigan College.
Nursing Student Handbook The Nursing program is a highly technical
program, and deals with the safety of patients admitted to local hospitals and
nursing homes. For this reason, Nursing students are subject to many rules not
required of other College students. Most of these rules are listed in the Nursing
Student Handbook. A copy of the
handbook will be given to accepted students at their scheduled Nursing
Program orientation.
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Eligibility cont’d.
Physical Exam & Immunizations All Nursing students are required to have a physical exam completed prior to beginning Nursing Program classes.
As part of this physical exam, it is essential to provide proof of freedom from communicable diseases. Specific
vaccinations must be done or proof of antibody titer immunity provided for the following:
MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella)
Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis)
Varicella
Hepatitis B vaccination (Injection series)
Proof of freedom from Tuberculosis (TB)*
Flu vaccination*
*Must be renewed annually
Transportation & Attendance All Nursing students must have their own dependable transportation. Attendance rules are strict and are enforced. Children are not allowed in nursing classes, labs, clinical sites, or in the Nursing Education Center.
Can I do my clinical time and classroom time for the Nursing program in the daytime only?
NO. Clinical and classroom times in the LMC Nursing program may include daytime and
evening shifts. Nursing students may follow a 12-hour shift clinical schedule. Students
will be assigned their clinical location and
shift prior to the start of each semester.
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Accreditation
Program Accreditation The Nursing Program at Lake Michigan College is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
(ACEN). The contact information for this accrediting body is listed below.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326 (404) 975-5000 phone | (404) 975-5020 fax
acenursing.org web
[email protected] email
College Accreditation Lake Michigan College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation
agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information on College and Program Accreditation,
please visit https://www.lakemichigancollege.edu/home/discover-lmc/about-lake-michigan-college/accreditation.
The Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411
(800) 621-7440 phone hlcommission.org web