Monroe County Community College’s Health Sciences Division will hold information sessions on its highly-rated nursing education and respiratory therapy programs on Saturday, April 13, in preparation for the upcoming special application deadlines for these programs (June 3, 2024, for nursing and June 27, 2024, for respiratory therapy) for the Fall 2024 cohorts.
The Respiratory Therapy Program information sessions are at 10 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. and the Nursing Program information session is at 11:45 a.m., between the RT program sessions. The RT information sessions will be held in H-157 in the Gerald Welch Health Education Building, the Nursing information session will be held in L-141 in the Life Science Building on the college's main campus, 1555 S. Raisinville Road, Monroe, MI. While free and open to the public, pre-registration is necessary and easy. Visit www.monroeccc.edu/events, and select the appropriate session or sessions to register.
"We scheduled the sessions specifically for those students who are interested in a career in healthcare, but may be undecided about the area they want to specialize in, or want to learn more about the education requirements and courses needed for each," explained Helen Stripling, interim dean of the Health Sciences Division at MCCC and Respiratory Therapy program director.
During the RT program information sessions, participants will learn about respiratory therapy careers, including job duties, employment outlook and classes needed to enter the program. Respiratory Therapy Program faculty will be available to answer questions. Prospective students can also earn a point toward admission into the program by attending. The respiratory therapy program follows a selective admission process. The deadline for applying for the RT program at MCCC for the Fall 2024 semester is June 27, 2024. More information about the application process can be found at www.monroeccc.edu/rt.
“The MCCC RT program is recognized as one of the best in the state of Michigan and the United States," said Stripling. "We are a recipient of the Distinguished Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care and 100 percent of our students have passed the CRT credential exam and 98% have passed the RRT exam in the past three years. We currently have articulation agreements with University of Michigan-Flint, Eastern Michigan University and University of Toledo that make transferring to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree quite easy. And we plan to secure even more articulation agreements in the near future." For more information about the RT program at MCCC, contact Stripling at hstripling@monroeccc.edu.
Prospective nursing students and their families are encouraged to attend one of these convenient opportunities to learn about the nursing education options at MCCC, including application deadlines and requirements, opportunities for concurrent enrollment with university partners and career opportunities. Attendance at the information session is highly recommended for those planning to apply before June 3, the application deadline for Fall 2024 nursing cohorts.
Ranked number one in the state of Michigan by Nursingprocess.org for Associate Degree in Nursing, MCCC's nursing programs have some of the highest pass rates for licensure exams and employment for graduates in the region. MCCC offers the following academic tracks in nursing: Certified Nurse Aide, Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing and the P.N. to R.N. option, which allows those with a practical nursing certificate to continue their studies toward an associate degree in nursing.
The PN and RN programs have selective admissions processes. Nursing program applicants must meet minimum criteria to be considered for these nursing programs. Applications are only accepted two times per year, in June and October. Only applicants who meet established minimum criteria will be considered for the nursing programs. More information about the nursing programs at MCCC, including the application process and requirements, can be found at https://www.monroeccc.edu/divisions/healthsciences and select the appropriate program.
A practical nursing certificate prepares students to function as beginning licensed practical nurses and members of the health team under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician or dentist in the care of stable individuals with acute and chronic illnesses. Licensed practical nurses provide basic bedside nursing care and are qualified for employment in structured practice settings, including acute care hospitals, extended care facilities, community settings, nursing homes, clinics and physicians’ offices. Practical nursing is an excellent entry-level career choice, and graduates may qualify to complete advanced degrees in nursing with more education.
Upon PN program completion, students will be prepared and eligible to apply for licensure in the State of Michigan. Students must meet the Michigan Board of Nursing eligibility requirements and successfully pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-PN) in order to become a licensed practical nurse. Students may also be eligible for licensure in other states; students are encouraged to contact a state’s board of nursing for eligibility requirements. Also, a PN program graduate may automatically progress to the PN to RN program option offered by MCCC in the year immediately following program completion.
The associate of applied science degree with specialization in nursing prepares graduates to function as beginning registered nurse clinicians and members of the health care team in the care of acutely and chronically ill individuals. Registered nurses are qualified for employment in structured practice settings, including acute care hospitals, extended care facilities, nursing homes, clinics, and physicians’ offices. With experience, nurses may also participate in providing skilled care in more specialized areas, including psychiatric units, emergency departments, pediatric and obstetric units, critical care units, and home health settings and is a flexible and mobile career choice.
Upon program completion, students will be prepared and eligible to apply for licensure in the State of Michigan. Students must meet the Michigan Board of Nursing eligibility requirements and successfully pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) in order to become a licensed registered nurse. Students may also be eligible for licensure in other states; and are encouraged to contact a state’s board of nursing for eligibility requirements.
Graduates of the RN program may also be eligible to enroll in a RN to BSN completion program. MCCC’s RN program has articulation with several four-year university partners. For information regarding transfer opportunities for this or any program, please visit the Transfer section of the MCCC website. The MCCC Health Sciences Division also offers students concurrent enrollment options with partnering four-year universities, allowing accepted nursing students to work towards a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree while enrolled in the associate of applied science (AAS) in nursing program at MCCC.
For more information, contact the Health Sciences Division at (734) 384-4102. To learn more about becoming a MCCC student or the many programs of study offered, call the Admissions Office at 734-384-4104.
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition. The college’s mission is to enrich and transform lives by providing opportunities and excellence in higher education. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located at 7777 Lewis Ave.,Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.