MCC Registered Nursing Program Expanding

The McHenry County College Registered Nursing Program is expanding to include a new weekend section geared for non-traditional students. The weekend section will begin in January 2012 and is open to 20 pupils.

The purpose of the weekend nursing class is to educate additional future registered nurses to meet the health care needs of aging baby boomers, according to college officials.

“Current data suggests that with the retirement of the baby boomers, a nursing shortage is going to occur,” said Joan Flanagan, director of nursing at MCC. “One innovative way to increase the number of students entering the program, given the current space limitations, is to offer the nursing classes in a weekend format.

Students attend class and clinical from Friday late afternoon/evening, all day Saturday and Sunday. For example, students will attend hospital clinical from 3-9 p.m. Friday, classroom from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, plus lab time, if needed; and another clinical from 7 a.m. to  1 p.m. on Sunday.

“This would allow an additional 20 students to be admitted into the nursing program as well as potentially meet a unique set of scheduling needs for students,” Flanagan said. “The weekend schedule may attract those who have child care available only on weekends or those who cannot attend a typical class schedule Monday through Friday,” she said.

Potential nursing students who are or will be finished with prerequisites by the end of Fall 2011 semester, can apply to the weekend section, as well as those who previously applied but were not admitted this fall . Students accepted into the weekend nursing class will be chosen based on their grade point averages in completed prerequisites and the TEAS® nursing admission exam score. TEAS testing will be available in late October for new applicants and for those who want to re-take the test. Those accepted into the class will be notified by early December.

For more information or to complete a weekend nursing class application, visit the website at: www.mchenry.edu/adn/index.asp