North Central Kansas Technical College (NCK Tech) is proud to announce starting in Fall 2022, it will now offer a Practical Nursing (PN) and Registered Nursing (RN) program on the Beloit campus. “We are excited to being offering our current and future students the opportunity to advance their education and achieve an Associate Degree in Nursing,” said Melissa Crump, Director of Nursing. Now is an exciting time to enter the nursing profession. Nurses are in high demand, and we hope that by offering the RN educational pathway we can help fill some of this need.
According to Samantha Miller, Nursing Instructor, “Technological advancements and the aging population have made the need for higher-level education evident for some time. Additionally, it has also been established that higher education can improve safety standards as well as patient outcomes. By expanding our nursing program to include an Associate Degree in Nursing, we will be able to stay competitive in what we offer to best meet the needs of our industry.”
The new educational pathway will be considered a 1+1 program which will mirror what we currently offer on our Hays campus. A 1+1 program essentially means Practical Nursing (PN) + Registered Nursing (RN). Our students will be qualified for the NCLEX-PN after completing the 1st year. The NCLEX-PN is the national licensure exam to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). This is a step-off/ step-on point that allows flexibility to our nursing students. Not only does this make education more achievable for many, but it also allows our students to earn an LPN wage while in the 2nd year program. Upon completing the 2nd year, graduates will earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). They will then be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN to become a registered nurse (RN).
Our program is an excellent fit for all types of students. We work closely with the students to make sure they achieve their educational and career goals. Our faculty employs several different teaching methods to assist students in attaining a high level of learning regardless of their learning style. Our program has a long history of proven success, with a current first-time pass rate of 100% for the NCLEX-PN. “NCK Tech is truly the best educational program I have ever been a part of. I have learned so much in such a short period of time. The nursing instructors, as well as the rest of the staff, are phenomenal. They strive to make you a better version of yourself,” shared Riley Shurts, current NCK Tech Practical Nursing student.
Besides the expansion of the nursing program, there are also facility changes occurring. Our maintenance crew has been working diligently to prepare our building for the addition of a new program by completing numerous renovations. The nursing department will also be acquiring a variety of different training simulators, including a high-fidelity manikin, in order to make the training process in the laboratory as realistic as possible. Additionally, the lab setting will be remodeled to better match the characteristics of actual medical facilities. The plan is to add a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU), an OB manikin, a medical room complete with a Pyxis automated medication dispenser, and several other pieces of equipment that will complement these specialty areas. Our building is also being renovated to include a testing center to mirror the testing centers that students attend when taking their licensure exams.
“This is an exciting time to join us as we expand and update our program. We are committed to offering students a superior academic experience and look forward to meeting the needs of our students and the profession,” adds Sara Arnold, Nursing Instructor. If you are interested in becoming an LPN or RN, please contact Melissa Crump at 785-738-9025 or mcrump@ncktc.edu or if you would like to set up a tour, please feel free to schedule one at ncktc.edu/visit.
