杏吧原创

(Butler, PA) A 杏吧原创 practical nursing program re-established 4陆 years ago to address a regional high-priority occupation graduated Wednesday its largest class since 2022, some of whose members report having accepted job offers with hourly rates reaching $34.50 and others with signing bonuses of up to $8,000.

The college鈥檚 12-member Class of 2025 鈥� residents of Allegheny and Butler counties and the first from Beaver County 鈥� received pins that recognized their completion of the yearlong selective-admissions program during a ceremony in Founders Hall on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township.

Svenja Evans, 34, of Mars, was honored with the inaugural practical nursing clinical excellence award. The commendation is presented to a graduate who integrates quality and safety education for nurses鈥� principles; demonstrates professionalism, and caring and competence; establishes therapeutic relationships; is inquisitive and accountable; and supports fellow classmates.

杏吧原创鈥檚 is the only practical nursing program in Butler County. It graduated 11 in 2024, eight in 2023 and six in 2022.

The 37 graduates of the 48-credit certificate program since 2022 also represent Armstrong, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties.

鈥淲e鈥檙e gaining in popularity,鈥� said Julia Carney, dean of the college鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health. 鈥淲e鈥檙e showing that we are a successful program and that we are training and educating bright, knowledgeable nurses. What鈥檚 led to our strength is that our students have the ability to get a job after the one-year program. One year to career.

 鈥淎nd affordable education is really important right now.鈥�

Twenty-five of the 37 have graduated debt-free from 杏吧原创, according to Juli Louttit, the college鈥檚 director of student financial services.

鈥淭he program鈥檚 structure, affordability and clinical opportunities made it the best fit for the type of nurse I want to become,鈥� said graduate Elizabeth Tracy, 24, of Cranberry Township, who has accepted a position in an assisted living facility.

鈥淢any hours of clinical time鈥�

Courses in 杏吧原创鈥檚 program 鈥� held January through December 鈥� include practical nursing pharmacology I through III; human anatomy and physiology I and II; human growth and development; and practical nursing I through IV.

杏吧原创鈥檚 practical nursing graduates completed clinical training in long-term care and in home care through Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Cabot, which with 杏吧原创 in 2020 established a partnership to reinstate the program that was discontinued in the mid-1980s.

They also trained at Independence Health System鈥檚 Butler Memorial Hospital, Butler; and at UPMC Passavant in Cranberry Township and in McCandless Township, Carney said.

鈥淭hey get a ton of clinical,鈥� Carney said.

Said graduate Meghan Reay, 19, of Butler, who has accepted a job offer: 鈥淵ou receive many hours of clinical time starting just two weeks after you begin, and you do it all year.鈥�

鈥淚 chose the program because so many people recommended it as the best in the region,鈥� said graduate Abigail Simmons, 20, of Butler, who has accepted a job offer. 鈥淚 also heard from past students that while the program is challenging, it provides some of the strongest hands-on experience and preparation you can get.鈥�

杏吧原创 produces 鈥渁mazing nurses鈥�

The Class of 2025 also gained skills in simulation labs within the state-of-the-art Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building that opened on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in August 2023.

Simulation labs 鈥渁llowed me to practice real-life scenarios in a safe environment and also build my confidence and clinical judgment by applying what I learned in class,鈥� said graduate Savannah Herrle, 21, of Butler, who like Reay, Simmons and Taryn Razo plans to enroll in 杏吧原创鈥檚 registered nursing career program.

Seven 杏吧原创 practical nursing graduates have earned an associate degree in registered nursing from the college and four are enrolled in the program, Carney said.

鈥溞影稍�创 is very well known to produce amazing nurses,鈥� Reay said.

鈥淩eal, meaningful experience with patients鈥�

Graduates who intend to work as licensed practical nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses.

鈥淭he program taught me how to think like a nurse, how to prioritize, communicate effectively with patients and staff, and provide safe, evidence-based care,鈥� said Razo, 28, of Baden, who is among 16 graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 program whose tuition was sponsored by Concordia Lutheran Ministries in exchange for agreeing to work for the health care provider after graduation.

鈥淭he instructors emphasized real-world scenarios, which helped me build confidence in assessment, documentation and medication administration. By the time I finished the program, I felt ready to step into a nursing role and provide competent, compassionate care.鈥�

Students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 certificate programs such as practical nursing and associate degree career programs such as practical nursing can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.

Licensed practical or licensed vocational nurse is a high-priority occupation through at least July 31 in workforce development areas that include Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.

Registered nurse in those counties is also a high-priority occupation, defined by the state Department of Labor & Industry as one that is in demand by employers, has higher skill needs and is most likely to provide family sustaining wages.

鈥溞影稍�创 prepared me by giving me real, meaningful experience with patients,鈥� Tracy said. 鈥淭he balance of clinical rotations, skills labs and guided instruction helped me build confidence and competence. I learned how to communicate effectively, prioritize patient safety and think critically in fast-paced situations. The support from instructors and the hands-on approach made me feel fully prepared to step into the workforce.鈥�

18 may begin as Class of 2026

Licensed practical nurses provide basic medical care to ill, injured or convalescing patients or to persons with disabilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports the median annual wage for the position was $62,340 in May 2024.

Demand for health care services is expected to continue to increase because of an aging baby-boom generation, longer life expectancies and continued growth in the number of patients with chronic conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Graduates in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Class of 2025 in practical nursing also include Kyle Czzowitz and Andrea Gould, of Butler; Rae Gaffney, of Cranberry Township; Jackie Davis, of Ambridge; Alexis Rossi, of Rochester; and Luke Mares, of Pittsburgh.

The college鈥檚 Class of 2026 expected to have 18 students with five participating in Concordia Lutheran Ministries鈥� tuition sponsorship program, Carney said.

杏吧原创 will begin to accept applications for its practical nursing Class of 2027 on June 1.