Curriculum
The nine-month program is divided into four quarters, which must be taken in sequence. Students spend time in the classroom, laboratory practice, and supervised clinical experience in various healthcare settings. Classroom hours are 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and clinical hours vary. Classes start every August and February. This program consists of 54 credit hours, which are equal to 1,330 actual hours of instruction and clinical. Upon completion of the program, students receive a certificate and are eligible to sit for LPN boards to obtain an LPN license with the State of Illinois. Student’s CPR certification must remain current throughout the entire program.
Student Learning Outcomes
Clinical Experience
The faculty designed the clinical experience assignments in each course to meet course outcomes. Students are assigned with an instructor in groups of 10 or less to a clinical facility with which CASPN has a contracted arrangement for student experiences.
Hospitals such as Springfield Memorial Hospital and St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Jacksonville Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur, Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, and Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln are among the contracted clinical facilities.
Community health care facilities, including long-term care, transitional care, ambulatory care centers, and specialty care centers such as Lincoln Prairie Behavioral Health Center and McFarland Mental Health Center in Springfield, are also among the contracted clinical facilities.
Students will be informed of the hours for each clinical assignment in advance. The time varies to meet the objectives of each quarter but is typically 7:30 am until 3:00 pm. Transportation is the responsibility of the individual student. Students will be informed of appropriate parking facilities at each clinical location. No student may refuse any clinical site or instructor.