Harper College

RN Completion Programs

Lifelong learning is an expectation of current nursing practice. We encourage our graduates and alumni to pursue advanced education beyond the Associate degree in nursing. As noted in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report that came out in October of 2010, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, old methods of educating nurses are becoming obsolete.

As our patients' needs have become more complex over the past century, the competencies required of a nurse are broadening to include aspects of leadership, research, evidence-based practice as well as teamwork and collaboration. In addition, the role of the nurse is expanding to include greater use of technology and information systems to help coordinate the care of patients amongst multiple health care professionals across the continuum of care --- in-patient, out-patient and in the community.

According to the IOM report's recommendations, lifelong learning is an expectation of current nursing practice. The Nursing Program recognizes this competency as one of our curricular threads, highlighting the appreciation for lifelong learning throughout each course in the curriculum.

In accordance with the IOM recommendation to provide educational pathways that will increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree from 50 to 80 percent by 2020, the Harper College Nursing Program offers a bridge program that facilitates academic progression from LPN to RN, as well as partnerships with other schools that offer courses for RN completion.

As many of our graduates also have a Bachelors degree in another discipline, seamless educational pathways to higher degree programs, such as ADN-to-MSN programs, are also encouraged as future opportunities for our graduates.

For more about transferring, visit the Transfer Information site.

Last Updated: 3/15/24