Program plans for growth, new LPN bridge curriculum in development.

SOUTH HOLLAND-South Suburban College honored its 2021 graduates of the College’s Associated Degree Nursing (ADN) Program with a special pinning ceremony last week. The graduates received their nursing pins from senior nursing faculty and class of 2021 advisor Naomi West. This year, 18 students successfully completed the ADN program. They will now prepare to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses (RN) this summer.

The NCLEX is a standardized exam that each state board of nursing uses to determine whether or not a candidate is prepared for entry-level nursing practice. SSC’s graduates have enjoyed five consecutive years above the annual national average pass rates including multiple 100% passing graduated classes since the program reopened in 2013. SSC was recently named the #3 Ranked Nursing Program in Illinois by RegisteredNursing.org – a nursing advocacy organization. RegisteredNursing.org recently released its annual list of Best RN Programs.

“The graduates’ hard work and resilience was inspiring, especially with the challenges of the past year,” said Dr. Linda Brown-Aldridge, SSC’s Dean of Nursing. “I am very proud of the way our faculty and students remained focused and adapted well to a blended learning environment. I have no doubt the future is bright for the class of 2021 and they will provide excellence in nursing to our community for many years to come.”

Dr. Brown-Aldridge brings more than 30 years of experience to SSC’s Nursing Program, previously working in hospitals and schools in many roles including nursing, teaching, administration and serving as the Chief Nursing Officer at Provident Hospital. She will enter her third academic year as the Dean of Nursing this fall with more than 50 students in the program. Under her guidance, the program has undergone a major transformation, from revitalizing curriculum to providing innovative new student support systems and cutting-edge technology.

While the fall admission cycle is closed, new prospective students are encouraged to begin their prerequisites as early as this summer by creating a plan with an SSC Counselor. The College has plans for launching an LPN-RN bridge pathway this year and has made progress towards its state-of-the-art Allied Health & Nursing Center at its Main Campus in South Holland, Illinois.

The SSC Nursing Program is approved by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulations (IDFPR) and the college is accredited by the North Central Higher Learning Commission (HLC), both critical components to proper credentialing and certification upon graduation. It is a two-year Associate in Applied Science curriculum that provides learning experiences directed by faculty in local hospitals and health agencies to focus on the direct nursing care for patients of all ages.

For more information about Nursing and other Allied Health Programs at SSC, please visit ssc.edu/success or call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2260. Email CounselingCenterQuestions@ssc.edu for information about prerequisites and scheduling.