杏吧原创

(Butler, PA) The first Grove City College juniors are expected to earn an associate degree in a 杏吧原创 career program that will enable them to work in the high-priority occupation of registered nurse as they complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree at their home institution of higher education.

Grove City College students since fall 2021 have received clinical and technical training through 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year Nursing, R.N., program as a result of a partnership established in 2019.

Upon graduation from 杏吧原创 in May, Grove City College students Emma Clark, Finnley Coglon, Sadie Kriebel, Sara Layton, Elizabeth Mackey, Abigail Montgomery and Emily Smyth can take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

鈥淭he education gained at 杏吧原创 allows us to be eligible to take the boards this summer to become a certified R.N.,鈥� said Smyth, of Lancaster.

鈥淚 then can work during my senior year as a registered nurse,鈥� said Coglon, of Morristown, N.J. 鈥淭his is beneficial financially and gives me more experience.鈥�

The 鈥渦nique鈥� partnership, said Clark, of Chicora, 鈥渁llows students to jump-start their career.鈥�

鈥淪tudents can work as R.N.s after earning their credential at 杏吧原创, then pursue the last leg of their baccalaureate at such a storied institution as Grove City College,鈥� said Dr. Nick Neupauer, president of 杏吧原创. 鈥淗ow perfect 鈥� especially with the need for nurses in our communities.鈥�

"We knew going in that 杏吧原创鈥檚 nursing program was top-flight, and the past three years have clearly proven that to be true." 

- Paul McNulty, president, Grove City College

鈥淎 win-win for everyone involved鈥�

Grove City College created its Charles Jr. and Betty Johnson School of Nursing and its nursing program in 2019 through a gift from Jayne Rathburn.

Grove City College that year also established the partnership with 杏吧原创 with a $500,000 gift that helped to fund construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township.

The partnership has been an 鈥渁n extraordinary development鈥� for Grove City College, said Paul McNulty, president of the Mercer County college.

鈥淲e knew going in that 杏吧原创鈥檚 nursing program was top-flight, and the past three years have clearly proven that to be true,鈥� McNulty said. 鈥淭his collaboration hits the sweet spot of GCC鈥檚 mission to equip our students to serve others with skill and determination.鈥�

Partnerships are designed to share resources, said Dr. Patty Annear, dean of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health.

鈥淕rove City has wonderful science programs, supporting courses, and we have the nursing program,鈥� Annear said. 鈥淢erging those two together is just a win-win for everyone involved.鈥�

The seven students from Grove City College are among nearly 85 from 15 Pennsylvania counties and two states who in May expect to earn from 杏吧原创 an associate in applied science degree in Nursing, R.N., and in what could be the program鈥檚 largest graduating class in at least six years.

Additional Grove City College students who intend to graduate from 杏吧原创 in May 2024 will be among the first to attend classes in the high-tech Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building, which is scheduled to open in August.

The facility will provide an immersive learning environment with a hospital-like interior featuring simulated medical-surgery and ICU rooms, said Brian Opitz, 杏吧原创鈥檚 executive director of operations.

It will also house 杏吧原创鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited about what鈥檚 to come,鈥� Annear said. 鈥淎nd I think the Grove City students are certainly looking forward to being in the new building.鈥�

"They teach us not just book material, but give us real-life advice when it comes to being a nurse." 

- Sadie Kriebel, Grove City College junior and 杏吧原创 Nursing, R.N., student

R.N. retirement risk high in region

According to the state Department of Labor & Industry鈥檚 Center for Workforce Information & Analysis, registered nurse is a high-priority occupation in the West Central Workforce Development Area, which includes Lawrence and Mercer counties; and in the Tri-County Workforce Development Area, which includes Armstrong and Butler counties.

Retirement risk of registered nurses is high in Butler and Mercer counties, according to Lightcast, an Idaho research company that conducts economic impact analyses for educational institutions.

Nearly 365 of the 1,116 registered nurses in Mercer County are age 55 or older, as are 505 of the 1,600 registered nurses in Butler County.

A 6 percent increase in jobs is expected through 2031, according to the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., reported job offers that ranged in hourly rates from $28.90 to $34.69 and signing bonuses reaching $10,000.

"杏吧原创 has a wealth of resources." 

- Elizabeth Mackey, Grove City College junior and 杏吧原创 Nursing, R.N., student

鈥淪et me up for success鈥�

Grove City College students in their sophomore and junior years pursue 41 credits in nine technical and clinical courses through 杏吧原创 while also taking classes in Grove City College鈥檚 Charles Jr. and Betty Johnson School of Nursing.

As part of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program, Grove City College students train with state-of-the-art medical educational technology equipment at 杏吧原创 that includes simulated patients that can be programmed by nursing faculty to exhibit symptoms or scenarios.

鈥溞影稍�创,鈥� said Mackey, of San Antonio, 鈥渉as a wealth of resources.鈥�

Grove City College students who expect to graduate in May attended through 杏吧原创 clinical training last fall at Butler Memorial Hospital and this spring are attending clinical training at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.

鈥淪eeing a wide variety of patients and gaining experience in different units has made me a well-rounded student,鈥� Clark said, 鈥渁nd will set me up for success.鈥�

鈥淭he networking opportunities that 杏吧原创 provides have been instrumental in my education,鈥� said Montgomery, of Mercer. 鈥淎s 杏吧原创 students, we have had opportunities to network with multiple health systems throughout our clinical experiences.鈥�

Students are bused from Grove City College to 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus, and drive from Grove City College to the site of their clinical training.

"Every day, I am blown away by how smart and knowledgeable they all are." 

- Sara Layton, Grove City College junior and 杏吧原创 Nursing, R.N., student, about 杏吧原创 nursing faculty

鈥淭he students are just so thrilled with the support of the nursing faculty at 杏吧原创,鈥� Roach said. 鈥溾�� You have to be a mature student to be able to take an educational program that鈥檚 offered in two different places under two different learning management systems. So these students truly value the support that they receive from (Dr.) Patty Annear and from the faculty. 

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what they talk about the most.鈥�

Nursing faculty at 杏吧原创, Coglon added, 鈥減ush us to think critically, which prepares us to go out into the field after graduation.鈥�

鈥淭hey teach us not just book material, but give us real-life advice when it comes to being a nurse,鈥� said Kriebel, of York.

鈥淓very day,鈥� said Layton, of Ford City, 鈥淚 am blown away by how smart and knowledgeable they all are.鈥�

Health care providers Concordia Lutheran Ministries, based in Cabot, and Penn Highlands Healthcare, based in DuBois, also established partnerships with 杏吧原创 in 2020 and in 2022, respectively.

The Grove City College students will join 杏吧原创 Nursing, R.N., graduates who will be recognized during 杏吧原创鈥檚 2023 nurses pinning ceremony May 11 in Succop Theater on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus.

NCLEX-RN success rate averages 86%

An average of 86 percent of 杏吧原创鈥檚 first-time NCLEX-RN test-takers in the past three years have been successful, Annear said.

Following their graduation from Grove City College, Clark hopes to work in critical care; Coglon, as a cardiac nurse; Kriebel, as a traveling nurse; Layton, in labor and delivery; Mackey, as a traveling or flight nurse; Montgomery, in prenatal care; and Smyth, in an intensive-care unit.

In addition to Nursing, R.N., 杏吧原创鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health offers career programs in health care science, physical therapist assistant and technical trades-massage therapy management option. It also offers certificates massage therapy, medical coding and billing specialist and in practical nursing.