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Accreditation/Approval Process
Pre-application process
Application process
Acceptance process
Admission Requirements
Bridging Courses
ADN Program Course Requirements
General Education Requirements
Proficiency Credit

The Bridging Process is designed to prepare Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to enter the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program. The ADN Program provides students with basic knowledge of nursing theory and practice. Nurses are employed in a variety of settings, namely hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician offices, long term care facilities, to name a few. Registered Nurses are often considered for charge nurse and team leader responsibilities in the hospital settings and they often play an integral role on the health care team and in the care of clients in various settings. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination to obtain licensure to practice. This is a full time day program, with some classes being offered online.

Residents of South Suburban College’s District will be given first priority for admission into the program. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the program. All students must demonstrate a minimum math competency equivalent to Elementary Algebra (MTH 095) to fulfill the AAS degree requirement.

Accreditation/Approval Process

The Associate Degree Nursing Program is approved by the:

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
61 Broadway, 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10006
Telephone: (212) 363-5555
Web site: www.nlnac.org

This program is approved by the:

State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
320 W. Washington
Springfield, IL 62786
Telephone: (217) 785-0800
Web site: www.idfpr.org

Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination.

Pre-application Process

Prior to receiving a Bridging Application to the ADN Program the student is required to:

• graduate from a state-approved Practical Nursing Program and hold a current LPN license (a photocopy of the LPN license must be attached to the Bridging application).
• submit a South Suburban College application form to Registration.
• forward official high school or GED, and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions.
• meet with a nursing counselor (x2306) for assistance in academic planning.
• complete two semesters of high school Chemistry with a grade of "C" or better or take CHM 111. (Students planning to transfer to a baccalaureate institution are advised to take CHM 113.)
• provide evidence of 600 hours of current practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse documented by an employer or 600 hours of lab/clinical practicum in the applicant's practical nursing program within the last two years.
• possess a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50.
• complete admission course requirements with a grade of "C" or better in each course.

  ENG 101 – Composition and Rhetoric
  BIO 185 – Human Anatomy & Physiology I*
  BIO 186 – Human Anatomy & Physiology II*
  BIO 224 – Microbiology*
  PSY 101 – Introduction to Psychology
  PSY 211 – Human Growth & Development
  NUR 101 – Medication Dosage Calculation (Student may ECEP this course.)

*Biology courses must be current and successfully completed no earlier than 5 years of acceptance into the Nursing program.

Application Process

Note: Effective Spring 2005, the Department of Nursing changed the application deadlines for the LPN Bridging student. Applications will be issued in counseling beginning June 15 with a deadline of November 1. The Admissions Committee will notify students of their acceptance into the Bridging Process in December.

This change will allow Bridging students to take required Bridging courses (ADN 110 and NUR 103) during the spring term and ADN 200 over the summer term. Bridging students may also take NUR 108 (Nursing Pharmacology) to expand their knowledge base.
Taking required prerequisite courses will in no way guarantee a Fall seat in the ADN program. The number of students accepted is based on space availability.

After completion of the above requirements the applicant is required to:

• make an appointment with a nursing counselor (x2306) to obtain an Bridging application form. Counselors will provide applications after students complete the above requirements and/or are enrolled in their final admission course requirements. Applications are available after June 15 every year.
• submit the completed Bridging application with attachments to the Department of Nursing Office, Room 4120. All information must be on file by November 1. Students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the deadline.
• obtain a permit to register for the GAP Examination from the Department of Nursing when the application is submitted. Applicants must test on one of the established testing dates in the SSC Testing Center. Effective Fall 2006, all applicants will be required to pay for the GAP exam.

Acceptance Process

The Admissions Committee reviews all Bridging Applications to the ADN Program.

• completion of placement test and required college preparatory classes with a grade of “C” or better
• admission requirement course work grades
• a minimum cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of 2.50
• performance on standardized preadmission nursing examination

All students will be notified in writing of their admission status in June for fall admissions or in December for summer admissions.

Admission Requirements:

Bridging students must complete the above SSC Courses, or transfer credits with a grade of "C" or better before acceptance to the following Bridging Process Courses:

Bridging Courses:

A signature from a Department Coordinator or the acceptance letter from the Nursing department will be required to register for the above courses.

It is recommended that Bridging students take required Bridging courses (ADN 110 and NUR 103) prior to taking ADN 200. Bridging students may also take NUR 108 (Nursing Pharmacology) to expand their knowledge base.

All students enrolled in ADN200 Bridging course will be required to take a standardized test and achieve a score of 800. Students who do not achieve this score will be required to complete remediation. 

Following successful completion of NUR 103, ADN 110, and ADN 200 the bridging student will be awarded proficiency credit for the following first and second semester ADN courses:

ADN Program Course Requirements

Students must complete all of the following ADN courses with a grade of "C" or better prior to graduating:

General Education Requirements

Students must complete additional general education course requirements with a grade of "C" or better before graduating from SSC with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree. These courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with ADN courses:

Proficiency Credit

Following successful completion of NUR 103, ADN 110, and ADN 200; the bridging student will be awarded proficiency credit for the following courses:

NUR and ADN Course Descriptions

For more information, please contact the Nursing Department
or call (708) 596-2000 ext. 2260