Nursing program

Public education in the Cape Girardeau region has taken an unprecedented step, at least in Missouri, by offering high school seniors early access to its practical nursing program.

The program, to begin in August, will accept qualified students into the two-year program; the seniors will receive three credits after completing the first year, and after graduation, they can finish the remaining courses to complete the program the following year.

Only 15 students will be admitted to the program each school year; students will have to be 17 years old, have a cumulative B grade average in all high school courses and have completed English I, II and II, Algebra I and biology. They must have no more than eight absences in a school year, no more than three discipline referrals and must complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills. Last, they'll go through an interview process with an admissions committee.

It won't be easy to get into the program.

The program will give students an early start to a career in nursing, but it also will help the local health-related workforce.

"There's a definite need to keep the pipeline of nurses full," said Rich Payne, the CTC director. "At the center, we're contributing to the supply of qualified nurses. In the last five years, we've had 100 percent pass rates for students who take their Licensed Practical Nurse boards. A majority of our students become registered nurses."

The high schools that send students to the Career and Technology Center will pay the tuition for their seniors who qualify for the practical nursing program, about $2,150 per year. Payne said tuition offsets will be made available through a grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development administered by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

The Missouri State Board of Nursing granted preliminary approval for the expansion of the practical nursing program at the Career and Technology Center on March 5. Chris Cline, spokesman for the board of nursing, said in an email that full approval of the expansion is contingent on a successful site survey to be conducted in July.

This appears to be a great program on several different fronts. Clearly, it took a lot of coordination to accomplish this goal. The coordination is impressive. We hope the program succeeds and grows.

For more information about the practical nursing program or how to apply for the program, contact the Career and Technology Center at 334-0826 or visit capectc.org.