DuBOIS, Pa. — Penn State DuBois Continuing Education program is now taking applicants for a new Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program that will begin in August.
The non-credit 18-month clock hour certificate program will launch at Penn State DuBois beginning Aug. 18, offering a part-time path for students to enter the nursing profession.
The program, having received final state approval, is designed to support the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals across north central Pennsylvania. Courses will be held in the DEF Building at the campus on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Students will gain hands-on experience through a state-of-the-art on-campus simulation lab and clinical rotations every other weekend at local healthcare facilities.
“We’ve already had an overwhelming response as the news of our program got out,” Nicki Dufour, program coordinator, said. “We have more than 30 potential participants and are excited to add to that total now that we have the final approval to move forward. Potential nursing candidates should contact us soon, as the process will take a few months to complete and registration deadlines are approaching.”
Licensed Practical Nurses provide essential, direct patient care under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and physicians. Their responsibilities include monitoring vital signs, administering medications, providing basic medical care such as wound dressing and catheter insertion, assisting with feeding and bathing, maintaining patient records, and serving as a vital communication link between patients, families and healthcare teams.
With a nationwide shortage of nurses in all clinical areas, Penn State DuBois hopes to help fill local needs at all types of healthcare facilities in the region. The state’s high priority occupation list for the North Central PA region shows an annual demand for more than 50 LPNs.
“Practical Nurses play a critical role in patient care and communication,” said Dufour. “We developed this program to offer flexible, accessible training for those passionate about helping others and ready to step into a high-demand field.”
Practical Nurses are commonly employed in nursing homes, extended care facilities, hospitals, physician offices and home healthcare settings. The program at Penn State DuBois includes both classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience to prepare students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), a requirement to earn licensure in all 50 states.
“We hope to recruit candidates from across the region and have been working on clinical affiliations with healthcare organizations in DuBois and Punxsutawney,” Dufour said. “We would be interested in additional sites throughout Clearfield, Jefferson and Elk counties as the program grows.”
Since the state approval is finalized, those interested in the program have a limited time to investigate preparing to be in the fall class.
To apply, interested individuals must complete an online interest form. Applicants will be contacted with next steps, which include submitting two professional letters of reference and a one-page essay describing their motivation to become a nurse. Candidates must also complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) at the appropriate time. Individuals who have further questions, or would like more details about the program, should contact Dufour directly.
“We’re committed to building a strong pipeline of healthcare professionals locally,” Dufour said. “This program is a meaningful step toward meeting community needs while offering life-changing opportunities for our students.”
For more information or to begin the application process, visit the program website.