Pioneer Technology Center

PROJECT PURPOSE

Nurses are in high demand due to the impact of COVID, the increased number of patients seeking care, and the rapidly aging population over 65. The increased demand for nurses will continue to rise, causing staffing shortages in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Through this grant, PTC would begin a high school PN Select program. This program would allow us to increase the number of nursing program graduates by 12 students per year, with plans to expand as the number of qualified applicants increases. PTC will work with our partner high schools, Ponca City, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Newkirk, and Woodlands, to prepare their students to enter this program. We will also work with Northern Oklahoma College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University to promote the career pathway into their Registered Nurse (RN) program. Students may elect to move directly to the industry to work in their respective skills and certifications earned through PTC. Creating this career pathway will assist in meeting this increasing demand of nurses both now and in the future.

EVIDENCE

COVID-19 has exacerbated the nursing shortage. More than one-fifth of all nurses reported they plan to retire from the profession over the next 5 years. Nursing incomes have remained essentially flat over time. Employment setting, age, diversity, and education have all changed over the last 2 years. Challenges will continue in the nursing workforce such as matching workforce diversity to the population, compensation, and opportunities; preparing for the large numbers of nurses retiring; exploring the role of nurses in new practice settings; and changes in healthcare delivery modalities such as telehealth. (The 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, 2022)

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The region which will be impacted by this program includes all of Kay and parts of Osage and Pawnee Counties. Below are the demographics within each of these counties based on the United States Census data: County Population/Median Household Income (in2019 Dollars)/%Persons in Poverty Kay/43,700/$46,809/15.3% Osage/45,818/$49,103/13.0% Pawnee/15,553/$48,009/15.7% Pioneer Technology Center provides education for high school students at no cost and offers affordable tuition rates to adult students. Pioneer Technology Center also offers Federal Assistance such as Pell grants to qualifying adult students. Other funding opportunities for student financial assistance, such as the Community Health Foundation and/or Pioneer Technology Center Tuition Waiver for first time students exist to provide support to individuals with a financial need wishing to attend. Upon completion of a nursing degree, employment may be obtained within the PTC labor shed, which includes the counties listed above as well as Grant, Noble, and Payne counties.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Pioneer Technology Center utilizes continuous improvement strategies based upon the Baldridge Excellence Framework. An instructional area planning instrument is a strategy in place to outlines key performance indicators (KPIs) and ensure programs are consistently meeting established targets. The district has control methods in place to monitor programs for efficacy, quality, and success through internal audits and data monitoring within this quality system. If areas in the instructional area planning instrument fall below projected successful outcomes, a plan of improvement is implemented to improve the key performance indicators.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

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