Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 16, 2015
Beginning in April, American Career College will answer the growing need for registered nurses in California by offering the school’s first Associate Degree in Nursing program.
This inaugural registered nursing program, which will be offered exclusively at American Career College’s Los Angeles campus, is the first to be approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing in three years.
“We are delighted to play our part in meeting the medical needs of Southern California,” said American Career College President Tom McNamara, noting that this new program enhances what ACC already offers in the field of health care. “We have served the community for nearly 40 years and graduated nearly 40,000 students in that time. We really have been successful because we have tried to partner with the community as much as we can.”
The program consists of eight, 10-week sessions that will take place over a 20-month period. Students in the program will need a total of 97 quarter units to complete their degree. Those who receive their associate degree in this program will be eligible to sit for the state’s licensure exam for registered nursing.
McNamara noted that the Los Angeles campus of American Career College is a modern facility located on near the 101 Freeway and Vermont Avenue offramp.
He said the existence of the new program comes in no small part because of the hard work of Ellen Lewis, the Program Director for the Associate Degree in Nursing.
Lewis is well-known and respected in the nursing profession and has received multiple accolades and awards for her work.
She is best known for her leadership in developing and launching the undergraduate and graduate Program of Nursing Science at UC Irvine, and also led the effort to gain full approval and accreditation from the California Board of Registered Nursing and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Additionally, Lewis currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Mission and Laguna Beach Hospital in Mission Viejo, which is owned by Saint Joseph Health in Orange and is current President of ARCS Orange County Chapter. ARCS is a foundation to advance science and technology in the United States by providing financial awards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in science.
Lewis is the immediate past president of AANSR, the Association for the Advancement of Nursing Science and Research, which promotes nursing excellence in education, research and practice. Further, she is a Fellow in the American Nursing Academy, which is made up of approximately 2,100 of nursing’s most accomplished leaders in education management, practice and research.
Lewis cited the technologically advanced facilities at the ACC campus as one reason the program received approvals from the state board.
“I have always been very impressed with the Los Angeles campus and the fact that we are giving opportunities to students, who otherwise would not get the chance,” Lewis said. “By launching this new registered nursing program, we will now give them entry-level access to a career in nursing and the chance for lifetime advancement in the healthcare field.”
About ACC
Founded over 35 years ago, American Career College has grown to meet the demand for highly skilled health care employees across a broad spectrum of disciplines. ACC offers a total of 15 unique health care training programs at 5 locations in California. ACC also offers a no-cost High School Equivalency Preparation Program designed to help members of the communities served by the school achieve their goals in life. ACC cannot guarantee employment. For graduation rates, median debt of graduates completing programs, and other important information, visit http://americancareercollege.edu/disclosures
