Western Technology Center

PROJECT PURPOSE

Recognizing the workforce shortage of healthcare professionals due to COVID, early retirements and the historically large population over 65, Western Technology Center (WTC) proposes to increase the number of Practical Nursing (PN) students in western Oklahoma. WTC covers a large geographical area of Oklahoma (2600 square miles), and the WTC PN program provides most of the Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) that are employed in western Oklahoma. WTC does an excellent job of preparing LPNs for the Oklahoma workforce and would like to offer more opportunities to more students through a Practical Nursing Extended Program. By extending the PN program, more PN students will be prepared to meet the nursing need within the local long-term care (LTC) facilities and other rural health facilities. This program will also streamline opportunities for continuing education with the LPN to ADN or BSN Registered Nurse programs at the local collegiate programs.

EVIDENCE

There is evidence of need for more nurses due to two specific areas: (1) Impact of COVID-19 on the staffing needs of the healthcare systems, and (2) the aging population within our nation and our state. See attached documentation along with cited sources.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

COVID has impacted everyone in western Oklahoma but greatly impacted the most vulnerable Oklahoma residents in our long-term care facilities. WTC school district encompasses 2600 square miles, with Clinton Veterans Center and 15 other long-term facilities and assisted living facilities within our district. These facilities rely on the WTC PN program to supply them with competent, caring LPNs to care for their residents. WTC also certifies most of the certified nurse aides (CNAs) and certified medication aides (CMAs) that are employed by these facilities. WTC also utilizes these facilities as clinical sites during the student's educational process. Since March of 2020, these facilities have experienced 523 cases of the COVID virus amongst the residents and 77 deaths. This leaves stress on the families and the nurses that cared for them. Studies reveal that COVID working conditions are causing fatigue and burnout for nurses, as well as significant moral injury and critical distress to their emotional foundation related to long working hours, patient deaths, and shortage of staff. WTC PN program needs to expand to assist its communities in this healthcare crisis.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

WTC, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE), and the Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) collect data annually on PN programs for accreditation and program review purposes. Data collected includes the number of students who meet entrance requirements, enrollment, completion, and the number of students taking the NCLEX-PN exam, ODCTE's follow up data including employment , workplace, and salary.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma