Once an applicant has been accepted into the LPN program, there are additional requirements that the applicant must meet:

• Physical and Immunizations – All LPN students must provide evidence of satisfactory physical and emotional health. A designated physical form is provided to students by the LLCC Health Professions Department. In addition, each student is also required to provide proof of immunizations.
• CPR Certification – All LPN students are required to be CPR certified. This certification must be either American Red Cross (Professional Rescuer) or American Heart Association (Healthcare Provider). Cards from organizations other than these are not accepted.
• Drug Screening – All LPN students are required to complete a drug screen conducted through a company selected by LLCC. The drug screen fee is paid by the student. If a student receives a positive drug screen result, he or she is dismissed from the program.
• Background Check – All nursing students are also required to complete a background check conducted through a company selected by the college. The background check fee is paid by the student. If you have a FELONY conviction of any kind and have questions on whether you can obtain a license, we highly recommend reviewing Nursing Professions Criminal Convictions FAQ. There you will find information pertaining to your next steps.
• Functional Abilities – The functional capabilities required to participate in the program include:
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  • Perform a full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, moving, lifting or pushing heavy equipment
  • Bend, reach, pull, push, stoop and walk repeatedly throughout an eight-hour period
  • Demonstrate auditory acuity to hear breath sounds by stethoscope (with correction, if needed)
  • Demonstrate visual acuity to read small letters and numbers (with correction, if needed)
  • Demonstrate bilateral upper extremity fine motor skills, including manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination
  • Communicate in a rational and coherent manner both orally and in writing with individuals of all professions and social levels
  • Respond quickly and in an emotionally-controlled manner in clinical situations
  • Adapt to irregular working hours
  • Adapt effectively to clinical environments
  • Maintain composure when subjected to high stress levels

Clinical experiences

Clinical (hospital or other agency) experience is a major component of each LPN course. Under the guidance of a nursing instructor, the student focuses on concepts and applications and relates them to patient care through pre- and post-clinical conferences. An emphasis on meeting the needs of each individual patient is used as a basis for all learning experiences. Types of clinical experiences include care of the newborn infant, geriatric patient, maternity nursing, psychiatric nursing and medical/surgical nursing in various clinical settings.

Technology requirements

Students should be able to access courses from a computer with an internet connection. Public access or workplace access may be limited due to firewalls. LLCC utilizes Canvas as its online course management system. Students will need to have the following:

• Access to a computer with a current operating system and Google Chrome browser.
• Access to Microsoft Word for word processing.
• Adobe Reader (for Windows) or the Adobe Reader application.
• Access to LLCC email.
• Printer capable of printing handouts.
• High-speed internet is recommended; slow computers or dial-up connections may cause delays or issues with loading course materials, especially audio and video.

Many of these requirements, including internet access, computers and printing, can be met on the LLCC campus. 

Readmission and attendance policies

A student who fails or withdraws from a nursing course for any reason will be required to follow the specific readmission policies of the nursing program. Please be aware that the LPN program has a strict absence policy. Students may not miss greater than or equal to 10 percent of total class time in any nursing course or they will be dismissed from that course

Residency and admission to the nursing program

Residency criteria: Chapter 112, Section 103-17, of the Illinois Public Community College Act requires that, whenever enrollment in a program must be restricted because of space limitations, a college must give preference to district residents. Consequently, admission to LLCC Health Professions programs for students who live outside of LLCC District #526 vary per program based on space availability and qualified applicant pools.

Residency and tuition rates

In order to qualify for in-district tuition rates, any student shall be a resident of the district at the time of registration or 30 days prior to the start date of the term in question. When the residency of a student or prospective student is not clear, proof of residency may be required. Any student may qualify for in-district tuition rates if employed within the LLCC district for 35 or more hours per week. Qualifying for the in-district tuition rate based on employment does not make the student a resident for restricted program admission purposes.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
1-404-975-5000

LLCC Practical Nurse graduates are eligible to take the licensing NCLEX-PN examination. Please note that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant but such a conviction shall not operate as an absolute bar to licensure.

The philosophy of the LLCC licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificate program is consistent with the college’s mission statement and philosophy of general education. The LPN program curriculum is based on current science, knowledge and evidence-based practice. The program philosophy, outcomes and competencies are based on the recommendations from the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative and the 2013 NCLEX-PN test plan. The LPN program has the specific mission of educating individuals to carry out the role of an LPN.

Nursing is defined as the “protection, promotion and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities and populations” (American Nurses Association, 2010, p.1) across the lifespan. Faculty assert that nursing is a practiced discipline that draws on knowledge from biological sciences, social sciences and arts and humanities. Individuals preparing to be nurses learn theories related to human needs, learning, developmental stages, communicable disease transmission and many other areas of human and community functioning (NLN 2010 p.19).

Learning is the responsibility of the student. The administration and faculty are responsible for providing a learner-centered environment. Faculty assume responsibility for developing, interpreting and evaluating the curriculum in nursing in relation to the stated philosophy and outcomes. Faculty are also responsible for inter-professional collaboration and support of communication channels with other disciplines and agencies.

2024 first-time NCLEX-PN Pass Rates:

• LLCC PN: 94%
• National: 88% 
• State: 91%
• Six-month post graduation employment rate: 92%
• 100% completion rate: 63%