Nursing

Degrees and Certificates

Nursing A.A.S.

Oakton offers an associate in applied science (A.A.S.) in nursing for students who wish to start a career in nursing. If you plan to pursue a BSN in nursing, consult the Office of Advising, Transitions and Student Success, as well as the transfer institution's catalog. This will help you select courses that will meet both Oakton's and your transfer school's requirements.

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Perioperative Nursing Certificate

The goal of the Perioperative Nursing Certificate program is to provide individuals with the fundamental knowledge and skills required to provide safe, patient-centered care in the operating environment. This three-hour certificate can be completed in one semester.

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Transfer Agreements

• Oakton - Dominican University A.A.S. to B.S. Nursing transfer agreement
• Oakton - Illinois State University A.A.S. to B.S. in Nursing transfer agreement 
• Oakton - Northern Illinois University A.A.S. to B.S. Nursing transfer agreement
• Oakton - National Louis University A.A.S. to B.S. in Health Care Leadership and Master of Health Services Administration transfer agreement
• Oakton - North Park University A.A.S. to B.S. Nursing transfer agreement
• Oakton - Purdue Northwest University A.A.S. to B.S. Nursing transfer agreement
• Oakton - SIUC A.A.S. Nursing to B.S. Nursing transfer agreement

What's Next?

We are glad you are considering attending Oakton College. No matter where you are in your decision-making process, we are here to help you with your next steps. Whether you're ready to apply now, need information on paying for college or have questions and want to contact someone, we're here to help.

Job Outlook

Take Career Assessment

Paying for College

Enrolling at Oakton College can save you thousands of dollars and help you earn more over the course of your career. Our tuition is among the lowest in the region, and we offer many ways to bring your costs down even more.

99 percent of Oakton students graduate without debt.

To help you get there, you can apply for a scholarship, which you don’t have to pay back. We award $12 million in scholarships annually. Financial Aid includes grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance that can reduce your costs of attending college.

We offer payment options that give you control over how you pay. Pay all at once or spread your payments over the course of the semester.

Learn more about your options for paying for your education

Apply to Oakton

As your community college, we serve students from various backgrounds. We aim to make the application process as easy and as clear as possible for everyone.

We can help you get started on a degree or certificate. Applying to Oakton is fast and easy.

Your first step before you begin your studies is filling out an admission application and completing your enrollment process.

Get Started at Oakton

What You Need to Know

Admission Minimum Requirements

Nursing is a limited enrollment program. Students must complete a series of prerequisites in order to be considered for admission to the program.

Fall 2025

• Fall 2025 applications will be accepted Oct 1, 2024-Feb 14, 2025.
• Prerequisites for students entering fall 2025 must be completed by Feb 28, 2025.

We are no longer accepting applications for spring 2025.

Call 847.635.1266 with questions or for more information.

Minimum Requirements

• High school graduation or High School Equivalency Certificate. Foreign high school graduates or students with foreign college credits need to send English-translated copies of their transcripts to Educational Perspectives. Students with foreign college credits should request a catalog match.
• Official high school and all college transcripts (except Oakton).
• ACT score of 18 or higher, or SAT score of 960 or higher, or 12 hours of college credit with a minimum grade point average of 2.5.
• Chemistry (CHM 105 or equivalent) or one year of high school chemistry with lab or equivalent college course completed within the last five years with a minimum grade of C.
• BIO 231, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, or equivalent college course with lab, within the last five years with a minimum grade of C.
• EGL 101 placement based on Oakton’s Writing Skills Assessment Test (WSAT), or completion of EGL 101 course or equivalent.
• HESI Admission Exam taken within the last two years;
  HESI cumulative score: Minimum 75%;
  HESI English composite score: Minimum 80%;
  HESI math score: Minimum 75%;
  HESI science composite score: Minimum 80%;
  Students may take the HESI exam once every 6 months.
  (Register for the HESI exam (Register for the HESI exam online. Go to “Browse Programs, Health Careers, View Health Career Courses, HESI Exam” or register through the Alliance for Lifelong Learning Office.
  Call 847.982.9888 with any questions.
• Overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
• ACT score of 18 or higher, or SAT score of 960 or higher, or 12 hours of college credit.
• Complete a Basic Nurse Assistant Training (e.g., Oakton’s BNA 100) and pass the Illinois State CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Exam. (Oakton offers a 9 week or 16-week course titled Basic Nursing Training (BNAT).
• Completion of MAT 070 or a higher-level math course within the last two years or placement above MAT 070 within the last two years.

Students who complete all prerequisites by Feb. 28, 2022, are ranked and accepted by the following criteria:

• In-district residency;
• HESI Admission Assessment Exam cumulative Score (minimum 75%);
• HESI Admission Assessment Exam English composite score (minimum 80%);
• HESI Admission Assessment Exam math score (minimum 75%);
• HESI Admission Assessment Exam science composite score (minimum 80%);
• Cumulative college GPA. After 12 credit hours earned at Oakton, the Oakton GPA takes precedence.

Gateway Admission (fall semester only)

Students meeting all other nursing minimum requirements, but having lower than the specified scores on the English or science composite section of the HESI exam, may be admitted as “conditional students,” with priority given to in-district students. Space is limited. Additional requirements are completion of BIO 232 and an English or science composite score between 70 - 79. Students are admitted by ranking and must complete an eight-week summer program prior to entering the fall nursing program.

Other Requirements

• Current physical exam
• Proof of health insurance
• Meet physical, communicative/cognitive, emotional/psychological criteria

Students who refuse a criminal background check and/or drug screen will not be considered “clear” and will not be authorized to participate in the clinical component of the health career program, necessitating withdrawal from the program at that time. Individual results of student background checks and drug screens are considered confidential. Determination of whether or not a student can participate in the clinical component of a particular health career program will be communicated to the respective program chairs by the background check/drug screen vendor. Students may view their personal results on the vendor’s website.

For more information contact Margaret Gas, nursing chair, at mgas@oakton.edu.

We also recommend that you view an Information Session video below prior to applying.

Limited Enrollment Application Process

• New Oakton students should apply online. Current and returning Oakton students should apply through the applicant dashboard found in the New Student Information section on the home page of their myOakton account.
• View your Admission Checklist with your New Student Portal, which includes your Admission Checklist and next steps.
• Submit admission documents, including transcripts (high school, college, AP, military) and proof of residency.
• Complete all minimum requirements needed for admission.

All applicants must meet with Julie Rosenberg (jmrosenb@oakton.edu), health career specialist.

Clinical Requirements

Clinical placements require a health assessment, certain immunizations, yearly flu vaccine, substance abuse testing, criminal background check, specific skill certification (i.e., CPR) and health insurance. These requirements represent an additional cost to the student.

All Oakton College Health Career students in nursing, physical therapist assistant, medical laboratory technology, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy, health information technology, cancer registry management, and medical assistant programs must have "clear" criminal background checks and drug screens in order to participate in any and all clinical components of any health career program courses. See the career programs pages for further details.

To comply with state statutes and clinical affiliation agreements, and to provide a safe environment for students, employees, and patients cared for by students, those accepted into Oakton's health career programs will be required to complete a criminal background check and drug screening through a company contracted by the College. Health Career students will be charged a fee for this service.

Timelines for completing criminal background checks and drug screens may vary among the various programs. Deadline dates for each program will be provided by the individual department chairs at the time of a student's acceptance into a health career program.

Students without a clear criminal background check and/or clear drug screen will not be allowed to enroll in clinical practicum courses or attend clinical programs. This would further necessitate that the student withdraw from the health career program at that time.

Students who refuse a criminal background check and/or drug screen will not be considered "clear" and will not be authorized to participate in the clinical component of the health career program, necessitating withdrawal from the program at that time.

Individual results of student background checks and drug screens are considered confidential.

Determination of whether or not a student can participate in the clinical component of a particular health career program will be communicated to the respective department chairs by the Background Check/Drug Screen vendor. Students may view their personal results on the vendor's website.

Pre-Admission Test

HESI A2 Entrance Exam

The HESI Entrance Exam is used by Nursing Programs nationwide as a tool to help them screen applicants. The test is also referred to as the HESI Admissions Assessment Exam or the HESI A2.

The HESI A2 consists of both an academic portion and a personality portion.

The HESI A2 content exams that Oakton has chosen are:

• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary and General Knowledge
• Math
• Biology
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Learning Styles
• Personality Profiles
• Critical Thinking

For more information on the content exams Oakton has chosen, and also in order to prepare for the HESI entrance exam, you can access the HESI information page.

Material for preparation:

• HESI Admission Assessment Exam, Edition 3 or 4
  This book is available for purchase in Oakton’s bookstore and on Amazon.com

Register for the HESI exam online. Go to “Browse Programs, Health Careers, View Health Career Courses, HESI Exam” or register through the Alliance for Lifelong Learning Office (Room 1420  Des Plaines and Room A120, Skokie), or online. Call 847.982.9888 with any questions.

Program Accreditation

The Associate Degree Nursing Program at Oakton College at the Des Plaines campus located in Des Plaines, Illinois is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.975.5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree Nursing Program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program.

Oakton’s nursing program is approved by:

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Board of Nursing
320 West Washington Street
Springfield, IL 62786

Licensure Requirements

Each state and territory has different licensure and certification requirements.  Oakton has researched and/or contacted state licensing authorities to confirm that the program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure. Other licensure requirements may include professional certification exams, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting, etc.

Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. As of July 1, 2020, we have determined that individuals that successfully complete LIcensed Practical Nursing Certificate Program curriculum:

Meets the education requirements leading to licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Illinois

Does NOT meet the education requirements For licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: 

We have not made a determination if the program curriculum meets the requirements for licensure/certification in these states and US Territories: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,New Hampshire, New Jersey,New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

If you intend to practice in any state other than Illinois, you should contact the appropriate licensing agency to independently verify whether Oakton’s program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in a particular state before beginning Oakton’s program. Be aware that state licensure requirements may change from time-to-time and that states may have conditions for licensure in addition to educational requirements.

This information is provided to meet the Disclosure Requirements for Academic Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification.

Student Achievement Data

Year	Oakton ADN Pass Rate	State Pass Rate	National Pass Rate	Completion Rate (On-time)	Completion Rate (Time and a half)	Job Placement
2021	93%	82%	82%	70%	83%	87%
2022	89%	77%	80%	47%	90%	76%
2023	92%	85%	89%	50%	15.3%	92%

Meet Your Faculty and Experts

Oakton's professors and lecturers are experts in their fields with advanced degrees and years of real-world experience. 

In addition to classroom learning, students receive support from our panel of expert advisors.

Meet Your Instructors

Margaret Gas, Chair
Professor of Nursing
B.S.N. Lewis University
M.S.N. University of Phoenix
M.P.A. Roosevelt University
mgas@oakton.edu
847.635.1833
Office: Room 107, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Dezrine Dunn
Associate Professor of Nursing
A.D.N. Oakton College
B.S.N. Lewis University
M.S.N. Lewis University
D.N.P. Chamberlain College of Nursing
ddunn@oakton.edu
847.376.7261
Office: Room 202, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Nefize Fejza
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N. Loyola University
D.N.P. Rush University
nfejza@oakton.edu
847.376.7359
Office: Room 260, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Carla Ferguson
Professor of Nursing
B.S.N. Loyola
M.S.N. Rush University
cferguso@oakton.edu
847.376.7043
Office: Room 205, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Carrie Kelly
Professor of Nursing
B.S.N. Loyola University of Chicago
M.S. DePaul University
ckelly@oakton.edu
847.376.7219
Office: Room 205, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Teresa Kirwan
Assistant Professor of Nursing
BS Boston University
M.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
A. S. N. Harry S. Truman College
M.S.N. Rush University
tkirwan@oakton.edu
847.376.7278
Office: Room 227, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Ciaran O'Sullivan, Coordinator
Professor of Nursing
B.S.N. Loyola University of Chicago
M.S. National-Louis University
M.S.N. University of Phoenix
Ed.D., National-Louis University
cosulliv@oakton.edu
847.635.1825
Office: Room 223, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Leandro Resurreccion
Professor of Nursing
B.S. University of Santo Thomas
B.S.N. Aurora University
M.S.N. Lewis University
Ed.D., National-Louis University
lresurre@oakton.edu
847.376.7213
Office: Room 223, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Debbie Schiltz
Associate Professor of Nursing
A.A.S. Oakton College
B.S.N., University of Illinois
M.S.N., Chamberlain College of Nursing
dschiltz@oakton.edu
847.367.7259
Office: Room 225, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Winnie Sitt
Professor of Nursing
B.S.N. Loyola University of Chicago
M.S.N. Rush University
wsitt@oakton.edu
847.635.1829
Office: Room 227, Des Plaines, Lee Center

Advisory Committee

Jennifer Davis-Spells BSN, RN
Village of Skokie
Community Health Supervisor
Health and Human Services
5127 Oakton Street
Skokie, IL 60077
847.779.7731
www.skokie.org

Jim Gywnn
KHE Regional Territory Director (Illinois and Wisconsin)
Working in Collaboration with Purdue Northwest College of Nursing
630.294.8109
jgwnyy@purdue.edu

Teri Hamilton, MSN, RN, NE-BC, FNP-BC
Director of Nursing & Surgical Services
Ascension Holy Family
100 North River Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847.813.3207 Office
Teresa.MaglioneHamilton@ascension.org

Kari Kennedy, RN
Alumni
kkennedy963@yahoo.com

Audra Lawer, RN
Alumni
Preceptor/registered nurse case manager
Residential Home Health
audra.lawlor@gmail.com

Tammy Lis MSN, RN-BC, CCRN, NPD-BC
Nursing Professional Development Specialist, Nursing Education and Professional Development
Prelicensure Nursing Clinical Affiliations Placement Coordinator
System Online EKG Course Support Team
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
1775 Dempster Street
Park Ridge, IL 60068
O: 847.723.5565
Tammy.Lis@aah.org

Michelle A. Madda DNP, RN, CWOCN, GCNS-BC
Vice President Senior Living Health and Wellness
Mather
1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 1010
Evanston, IL 60201
Cell: 847.868.5624
mmadda@Mather.com

Mary C. Meyer MS, RN, NPD-BC
Manager Professional Development and Academic Affiliations
NorthShore University Health System
2100 Pfingsten
Glenview, IL 60026
847.657.5839
mmeyer@northshore.org

Peggy Ochoa MSN, RNC-OB
Adjunct clinical instructor Obstetrics
ochoapeggy@yahoo.com

Linda S. Ramirez DNP RN, PCCN
Director of Clinical Operations
Ascension Resurrection
7435 West Talcott Ave.
Chicago, IL 60631
773.990.7763
Linda.Ramirez@ascension.org

Stephany D. Tana BSN, RN
Director of Nursing
Alden Estates of Northwood
5831 North Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631
773.775.8080
www.AldenEstatesofNorthmoor.com

Maryla Wozniakowski MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CIC
System Nursing Professional Development Specialist
Advocate Condell Medical Center
801 South Milwaukee Ave
Libertyville, IL 60048
O: 847.990.2486
Maryla.Wozniakowski@aah.org

Ex-officio members

Maribel Alimboyoguen
Dean of Health Careers
Oakton College
1600 East Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847.376.7053
malimboyguen@oakton.edu

Margaret Gas MPA, MSN, RN
Program Chair, Associate Degree Nursing
Oakton College
1600 East Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847.635.1833
mgas@oakton.edu

Teresa Kirwan MSN, MS, CMSRN
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Oakton College
1600 E Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847.376.7278
tkirwan@oakton.edu

Ciarán O’Sullivan EdD, MSN, MS, RN
Coordinator, Associate Degree Nursing Program
Oakton College
1600 East Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847.635.1825
cosulliv@oakton.edu

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