Nursing Program

Get hands on experience in nursing

The Harper College nursing program prepares students to provide quality care for clients across their lifespans in a variety of health care settings.

Harper offers degree and certificate programs for students seeking immediate employment in nursing, as well as an RN-to-BSN completion program for those who plan to transfer to a four-year university.

Harper is home to a state-of-the-art nursing laboratory, where real-world procedures and situations are simulated and practiced.

Earn a nursing degree

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is designed to prepare you for immediate entry into this profession. Coursework in the AAS may also prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university. This is a limited-enrollment program.

Associate in Applied Science—Registered Nursing (RN)

The RN program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Earn a nursing certificate

Prepare for a career in health care through a certificate program. Many of Harper's certificates are stackable to a degree program through additional coursework.

The PN program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Flexible program options

RN Completion

Explore Nursing Careers

Registered Nurses

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Registered Nurses career profile for most current data.

$85,001
Median Salary

3.2%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

8,359
Job Postings

Description:

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

Core tasks:

Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.

Quick facts:

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses career profile for most current data.

$65,707
Median Salary

4.3%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

1,016
Job Postings

Description:

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Core tasks:

Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.

Quick facts:

Nursing Assistants

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Nursing Assistants career profile for most current data.

$41,459
Median Salary

2.9%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

710
Job Postings

Description:

Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

Core tasks:

Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.

Quick facts:

Resources

For more information about starting your nursing education at Harper, please contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700 or fill out our request information form.