In January 2007, the College of DuPage Health Sciences department received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Community-Based Job Training Grant program. The project included $3.6 million in leveraged resources from College of DuPage and its partners for a total of $5 million.
This grant funded the development and implementation
of a Practical Nursing (PN) program at the college, with classes beginning in January 2008. The PN program prepares students for careers as
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). The need for this program was determined
by discussions between C.O.D. and area health care providers in response to the current nursing shortage and the anticipated increase in need for services by the aging baby boomer population. In addition, this program hopes to create a more diverse nursing community to better reflect the changing patient population of the district.
Community
partners include the DuPage County Convalescent Center, DuPage County
Regional Office of Education, DuPage Medical Group, DuPage Workforce
Board, HCR ManorCare, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, Technology Center
of DuPage, and West Chicago High School – Community High School
District 94.
In November 2007, the College of DuPage PN program received approval for the program from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the State Board of Nursing. The Practical Nursing program is a candidate for accreditation through the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006, (800) 669-1656, ext. 153, www.nlnac.org.
Applications for this new program are being accepted at the college's Health Sciences Admissions office, located in the Berg Instructional Center (IC), Room 1048A, (630) 942-3924.
Ellan Sand
LPN Grant Coordinator
IC 2098A
(630) 942-4258
Health, Social and Behavioral
Sciences
IC 1028
(630) 942-2495
The Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Capacity Bridge Program is funded in part (39%) by a $1.4 million U.S. Department of Labor, President’s Community-Based Job Training Grant.
