DUBOIS, Pa. — Penn State DuBois officially opened its new Practical Nursing (PN) program on Aug. 21 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant step toward addressing critical workforce shortages in health care across the region.
The event was held in the DuBois Educational Foundation (DEF) Building on the DuBois campus, where faculty, staff, students, community members, elected officials and health care partners gathered to celebrate the launch of the program. Attendees heard remarks from campus leaders and program staff before the ribbon was cut to signify the program’s opening.
“This program benefits the community because these students are going to be working in these facilities when they completed their program,” said Nicki Dufour, PN Program cordinator. “The other benefit, too, is that as these students start training there, they may see that there’s jobs that they can be doing there now that also they could be working there as they’re training and going through school. So, it’s the relationship that really works both ways. The students are supporting the community, the community, supporting the students.”
The Practical Nursing program, approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, offers students the opportunity to earn a certificate in practical nursing and prepare for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. Designed to meet the growing demand for licensed practical nurses (LPNs), the program combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical experiences in local health care facilities.
Local health care providers and community leaders have expressed support for the program, noting its potential to help fill vital nursing roles at hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.