Overview
General Info and Accreditation
LCC's Career Ladder Nursing program is highly regarded in the community and has been nationally accredited for over 45 years. Students who complete the program earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science – Nursing, RN and are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN). Those who pass the NCLEX and are licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN).
The RN program is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing, and has been continuously accredited since 1971 by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: 404.975.5000
Fax: 404.975.5020
info@acenursing.org
LCC's Nursing program is selective admission. In order to be considered as a candidate, students must meet admission requirements beyond those required for general admission to the college. There is no wait-list to enter the program; instead, acceptance is based on a point system. More information on the Selective Admissions process can be found in the "selective admission information" panel below.
Lansing Community College's Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Student Achievement Data
Students completing the program Fall 2017-Spring 2018: 81.62%
2017-2018 Graduates replying to our survey that were employed in less than 3 months:
90%
First time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam for Nurses (NCLEX):
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 84.22% | 88.18% | 82.80% |
| LCC | 87.73% | 87.66% | 92.85% |
PROGRAM TRACKS AND LENGTH
The Career Ladder Nursing Program offers 3 tracks to achieve the Registered Nurse (ADN) Associate in Applied Science Degree (Curriculum Code 0222). 2-Year and 2nd Degree Track students have the option of completing the Practical Nurse (PN) Certificate of Achievement (Curriculum Code 0235) before moving on to complete their RN.
Classes in all tracks meet face-to-face. The 2nd Degree and Advanced Standing options consist of hybrid courses which are a combination of face-to-face and online.
The 2-Year Traditional Track offers classes and clinical sessions meeting mornings, afternoons, and/or evenings (generally weekdays) during the fall and spring semesters. This track is designed so that the student has class 4-5 days/week and once admitted can complete the program in two years (4 semesters). This track accepts up to 128 students. 64 students will have a fall semester start and 64 students will have a spring semester start. Placement into fall or spring cohorts is random. See the current Advising Guide for application deadlines.
The 2nd Degree Track is designed for individuals who possess a Bachelor’s or higher degree in any major. Classes and clinical sessions meet mornings, afternoons, and/or evenings (weekdays or weekends). Once admitted the program is 16 months long. There are 32 seats available each year. See the current Advising Guide for application deadlines.
*International degrees must be determined as equivalent to a US Bachelor's degree by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. More information is available on our International Student Admissions page.
The Advanced Standing Track is designed for practical nurses (LPNs), respiratory therapists, and paramedics who possess a current license. Applicants must also have worked a minimum of 2,080 hours during the 24 months prior to the application deadline as an LPN, Paramedic, or Respiratory Therapist. 2,080 hours is equivalent to 1-year of full-time work or 2 years of part-time work. Classes and clinical sessions meet mornings, afternoons, and/or evenings (weekdays or weekends) for 16 months. This track accepts up to 32 students each year. See the current Advising Guide for application deadlines.
LPN OPTION (Certificate of Achievement)
Students admitted in the 2-Year and 2nd Degree tracks will complete LPN coursework during the first two semesters of the program. The Practical Nurse (PN) program is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing (since November 1970). This coursework provides the basis for an in-depth study of the theory and nursing care of adults, children and families. Clinical experiences include extended care facilities, hospitals, and community agencies where students provide nursing care to geriatric, medical, surgical, maternity, and pediatric patients.
Those who successfully complete the PN program will earn an LCC Certificate of Achievement - Nursing, LPN and are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN). Those who pass the examination are entitled to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
After completion of the PN program, students automatically continue on to the RN program.
PROGRAM CONTENT
The courses within LCC's Nursing program provide the basis for an in-depth study of the theory and nursing care of children, adults, and families. Student learning experiences progress from simple to complex and use critical thinking skills in applying the nursing process to the care of patients. Practical and professional healthcare skills are developed in a safe and supportive environment using lectures, Skills Labs, SimLabs, and clinical experience.
Skills Labs provide students the environment to learn clinical nursing skills before entering professional facilities. Labs consist of full sized mannequins, fully functional hospital beds & headwall units, IV poles & pumps, wheelchairs, and a variety of other tools and supplies. Students practice what they have learned using mannequins and community volunteers.
Clinical experiences include hospitals, home health care agencies, rehabilitation units, and community health organizations where students provide nursing care to mental health, medical, surgical, maternity, and pediatric patients. For increased learning potential, LCC offers small clinical groups of 8 students to every faculty member.
Students can have up to 141 hours/semester of clinical experience per a semester and will experience up to 500 hours throughout the entirety of the program. Clinical rotations are offered in a 100 mile radius of LCC’s Downtown Lansing campus.
Students provide nursing care to geriatric, medical, surgical, maternity, mental health, and pediatric patients at a variety of sites. Clinical experience includes Hospitals, Extended Care Facilities and Community Agencies. Sites can include Sparrow, McLaren, Owosso Memorial, Battle Creek VA Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan, and many long-term care/sub-acute rehabilitation facilities in our area.
Selective Admission Information
Admission to LCC's Career Ladder Nursing Program is through Selective Admissions. There is no wait-list; instead, acceptance is based on a point system. All admission procedures for the Program are coordinated through the Selective Admissions Office - selective_admissions@lcc.edu
Detailed information on the point system, prerequisites, and program cost can be found in the Nursing advising guide.
Getting Started
Follow these steps to begin the admission process:
1. Attend a
Pre-applicant Seminar
2. Meet with a Nursing Academic Advisor for course planning
3. Complete
Prerequisite Courses
4. Attend a
Sign-off appt. with a Nursing Academic Advisor
5. Submit Application by Deadline
For detailed information on the steps needing to be completed to apply to the Nursing program, check out the Nursing Advising Guide.
Prerequisite Courses
To be eligible to apply, prerequisite courses must be passed with a minimum grade of 2.5; all NURS courses require a 3.0 or higher. Only two attempts per a course are allowed to achieve the minimum required grade. For a complete list of prerequisite courses, see the current Nursing Advising Guide.
Scholarships
Information regarding available scholarships for nursing students (alphabetical order)
A Nurse I Am Scholarship
Instructions for applying can be found on the A Nurse I Am website.
AAMN Foundation Scholarships for Men
American Assembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN) Foundation and Johnson & Johnson's Campaign for Nursing's Future have partnered to offer a $1,000 scholarship program for male students pursuing professional nursing education programs. These scholarships are intended to support male students who are seeking a pre-RN licensure or graduate degree in nursing. Go to the AAMN Scholarship page for further information and application materials.
AMVETS Department of MI
24715 John R
Hazel Park, MI 48030
(248) 547-7365
Army Nurse Corps - The Spirit of Nursing Award
Sponsored by U.S. Army Nurse Corp (ANC) and the National Student Nurses' Association.
F.A. Davis Company
F.A. Davis Company has a scholarship available on the F.A. Davis Nursing Scholarship page.
Free Nursing Scholarships and Financial Aid Resources Information
Visit the Nursing Scholarships page.
KMMNBNA - National Black Nurses Association
Contact: Shahidah El-Amin, BS, RN
Scholarship Committee Chairperson
P.O. Box 6001
Grand Rapids, MI 4961-6001
WAr1664623@aol.com
LCC Scholarships
For information on the LCC Scholarship Application process please visit the Scholarships page.
For LCC Foundation Occupational Program Award Information available to Health and Human Services Division Students, please visit the Health and Human Services Scholarships page.
For further questions regarding LCC Scholarships, please contact the Foundation Office at 517-483-1989.
Memorial Healthcare Foundation Peggy Gulick Nursing Scholarship
Contact: Matt Hufnagel, Executive Director, Foundation Office (989) 729-4675
826 W. King
Owosso, MI 48867
Email: mhufnagel@memorialhealthcare.org
Application form and eligibility criteria available under Foundation
Michigan League for Nursing (MLN) & Michigan Council for Nursing Education Administrators
National Association of Hispanic Nurses-Six $500 scholarships
Contact: NAHNMichigan@aol.com
North Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary Scholarships - (Limited to residents of Ottawa County)
Contact: Kristyn Ireland
616-847-5215
Sladek Nursing Scholarships and Critical Medical Career Scholarships
Contact: Ruth Bloomer, Manager Munson Foundation 231-935-6484
Maggie Curtin, Dept Assistant 231-935-6482
Application available by contacting mcutrin@mhc.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What makes Lansing Community College's Nursing Program distinctive?
- High regard in the community
- A ladder program concept
- Three program (track) options
- Nationally accredited for over 45 years!
- Offers one of the only accredited simulation labs in the State
- Rich in clinical experience
2. Are there informational seminars available?
Yes, all applicants must complete a virtual pre-Nursing seminar before applying to the program. Students are encouraged to complete this early in their Nursing journey to ensure they understand the requirements and program characteristics. For information on how to access the online seminar, check out the Nursing Advising Guide.
3. Who do I speak to about getting into the Nursing program?
For general questions, contact the Selective Admissions office at selective_admissions@lcc.edu.
For course planning, meet with an Academic Advisor at LCC's Academic & Career Pathways department. Call 517-483-1957 (option 4) to schedule an appointment with a Nursing advisor. Eric Bennett, Angela Kuhlman, Matt Boeve, and Barb Line (Livingston campus) are the lead Nursing advisors.
4. When does the program start?
See table below.
5. How long is the program?
See table below.
6. How many students are admitted each year?
See table below.
7. When is the application deadline?
| Track | Application Deadline | Number of Students Admitted Annually |
Semester Track Begins | Program Duration once Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Year | March 1 | 128 | Fall OR Spring *Half of students will start Fall other half Spring. Placement is random. |
2 Years (4 semesters) *Does not run in Summer |
| 2nd Degree | March 1 | 32 | Spring (January) | 16 months (4 continuous semesters) |
| Advanced Standing | March 1 | 32 | Fall (August) | 16 months (3 semesters) *Does not run in Summer |
8. Is there a waiting list to get into the Nursing program?
There is no wait-list to enter the program; instead, acceptance is based on a point system. Students receive points based on GPA, course prerequisites, the Kaplan Entrance Test, and more. Admission is competitive. Detailed information on the point system, pre-requisites, and program cost can be found in the Nursing advising guide.
9. How is admission into the Nursing program determined?
Acceptance into each Nursing track is based on a point system. Students receive points based on GPA, course prerequisites, the Kaplan Entrance Test, and more. Admission is competitive. Detailed information on the point system, pre-requisites, and program cost can be found in the Nursing advising guide.
10. How competitive is it to get into the Nursing Program?
The 2-Year Nursing track admits 128 students annually. The average GPA of prerequisite courses for students
admitted during the 2019 and 2020 application cycles was 3.74. The range was 4.0-3.25.
This track has typically receives 1.5 times the amount of applications as seats available.
The 2nd Degree Nursing track admits 32 students each year. The average GPA of prerequisite courses for students
admitted during the 2019 and 2020 application cycles was 3.69. The range was 4.0-3.06.
The 2018-2020 selection periods saw on average 1.1 times the amount of applicants
as seats available.
The Advanced Standing Nursing track admits 32 students each year. The average GPA of prerequisite courses for students
admitted during the 2019 and 2020 application cycles was 3.46. The range was 4.0-2.95.
This track typically receives less applications than available seats.
11. How much does the program cost?
Current program cost estimations can be found on the Nursing advising guide site.
12. Can I have a job while I am a nursing student?
LCC’s Nursing program is challenging and it’s workload is equivalent to that of a full-time job. Because of this, it is not recommended that students work more than 20 hours a week, if at all. If you must work, you will need a strong support system.
13. If I have a unique situation, can I get a waiver on admission requirements?
Students must meet with a Nursing advisor before submitting a request for an exception
of a specific Selective Admission requirement. Please be aware that waivers are granted
infrequently and only after careful consideration of fairness to all applicants.
If an advisor agrees that your situation represents a compelling circumstance, then
you can complete the Nursing Exception Form. This form will then be reviewed by the Nursing Director.
Call 517-483-1957 (option 4) to schedule an appointment with a Nursing advisor. Eric
Bennett, Angela Kuhlman, Matt Boeve, and Barb Line (Livingston campus) are the lead
Nursing advisors.
Admission Requirements (FAQ)
1. What prerequisites must be completed before I can apply?
A complete list of prerequisite courses can be found in the Nursing Advising Guide.
2. When do prerequisite courses need to be completed?
For guidelines on when prerequisite classes must be completed and when transfer transcripts are due, review the current Nursing Advising Guide.
3. What is the minimum grade required for prerequisite and Nursing courses?
To be eligible to apply, pre-requisite courses must be passed with a minimum grade of 2.5; all NURS courses require 3.0 grade or higher. Only two attempts per a course are allowed to achieve the minimum required grade; this includes course withdraws (W) and attempts at other institutions.
4. Do any of the prerequisite courses expire?
NURS 201 must be completed within 2 years of the application deadline. All required biology courses including Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology, must be completed within 8 years of the application deadline. If taken over 8 years ago, it must be retaken; this will not be considered a repeat.
5. How do I apply to the Nursing program?
View the complete application process in the Nursing Advising Guide. There is a $20 non-refundable application fee.
Transferring to LCC (FAQ)
1. How do I know if my transfer courses will satisfy a prerequisite course?
LCC has established equivalencies for the most commonly transferred courses from a number of colleges and universities in Michigan and the surrounding area. To see if transfer equivalencies are available for your school, visit the Transfer Equivalencies page.
Students should have their previous institution send official transcripts directly to LCC at the address listed below to learn what courses will transfer in. It is recommended that this is done early on in the process so there are no surprises on what does and does not transfer in. It can take up to 6 weeks for transcripts to be processed by LCC's Registrar's Office.
Following transcript evaluation, courses that have transferred in will appear on a student’s LCC unofficial transcript located in their Banner account.
2. I have partially completed a nursing program at another institution. Can I enter the program where I left off and will those courses transfer into LCC?
To ensure consistency within the program and to meet accreditation standards, LCC does not accept Nursing classes from other institutions. Students who have enrolled in a Nursing program at another institution previously, will need to complete our program in its entirety.
Clinical Sites
1. Will all of my clinical sites be in Lansing?
No, clinical rotations are offered within a 200 mile radius of LCC’s Downtown Lansing campus. The program makes every attempt to give students a variety of clinical experience at both Lansing and surrounding area facilities. Facilities range from Sparrow in Lansing to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan located in Detroit to Memorial Hospital in Owosso, just to name a few. Because of this, reliable transportation is necessary.
2. Where are clinical rotations held?
Clinical experiences include hospitals, home health care agencies, rehabilitation units, and community health organizations. Students provide nursing care to geriatric, medical, surgical, maternity, and pediatric patients at a variety of facilities. Sites can include Sparrow, McLaren, Owosso Memorial, Battle Creek VA Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, The Willows, Ingham & Eaton County Medical Care Facility, Medilodge, Burcham Hills, Holt Senior Center. LCC healthcare programs do not take requests for clinical asignments so students should be preapred to attend clinicals at any facility.
3. How much clinical experience will I receive?
Students can have up to 141 hours of clinical experience per a semester and will experience approximately 460 hours (depending on track) throughout the entirety of the program. In addition, students can also expect to have at least 3 hours of lab and lecture time during a given week.
4. How large are the clinical groups?
For increased learning potential, LCC offers small clinical groups including a maximum of 8 students to every faculty member.
5. is the covid vaccine required?
At this time the College is not requiring the COVID vaccine for students. However, for programs that require clinicals, externships, on-site clinics, or practicum hours, the College must follow the immunization guidelines of the healthcare facilities we partner with. Many of those sites are requiring the COVID vaccine. If those sites allow for a waiver due to medical or religious reasons, those waivers must be submitted and approved by that clinical site, not LCC. LCC healthcare programs do not take requests for clinical or externship assignments. Because of this, the College recommends that all students and employees be vaccinated.
For up-to-date information on LCC's COVID-10 policies and protocols, visit Keeping LCC Safe.
BSN Completion
1. Why should I earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) before a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree?
- Cost - community colleges are less expensive.
- Learning Style - The associate nurse program is more hands-on along with theory, so you can apply what you are learning as you go.
2. How feasible is it to go on for a BSN after completing my RN degree at LCC?
Lansing Community College's Nursing Program articulates with eight or more universities in Michigan. You can complete your BSN by completing approximately two more years at one of these institutions. Below is information on some of the transfer programs offering Registered Nurse (RN) to BSN completion programs.
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)
Ferris State University (FSU)
Michigan State University (MSU)
Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU)
Sienna Heights
Spring Arbor University
University of Michigan-Flint
Contact Us
Career Ladder Nursing Program
Health and Human Services Division Office
HHS Building, 108
517-483-1410
517-483-1508 fax