Among the reasons Butler County Community College is creating a new licensed practical nurse program is the increasing need for nurses in Western Pennsylvania.

Patty Annear, dean of BC3's Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health, said the increasing number of geriatric patients means more jobs are opening up, and the college is responding to this need accordingly.

“What we have been seeing is we are in a grave nursing shortage, particularly at the bedside and long-term care facilities,” Annear said. “Where you have a high geriatric population is where you need more practical nurses.”

The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing has authorized BC3 to create a practical nursing program on its main campus, enabling the college to prepare students for the high-priority occupation in Western Pennsylvania, according to a Tuesday news release from BC3.

The 48-credit certificate program will accept up to 35 students for its first semester, set to begin in January. Prospective students can apply for admission to the program through Sept. 30.

According to Annear, the school of nursing will one day be able to offer crossover programs from LPN to registered nurse (RN).

“Practical nursing could be a goal for them, it also could be a stepping stone,” she said. “That's kind of a nice thing, because they could maybe be working as an LPN and then get licensed. That will be popular, and that is going to take additional planning.”

BC3 President Nick Neupauer said getting the program approved took about 18 months and lots of background work from the college's administrators.

“We could not be approved for an LPN program if it weren't for the great work of our faculty, and it was a very long process,” he said.

Concordia Lutheran Ministries committed $1 million to the BC3 Education Foundation toward the construction of the $9 million Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health building on BC3's main campus.

The 25,000-square-foot facility will provide an immersive learning environment and feature state-of-the-art skills laboratories, simulated medical-surgery rooms and simulated ICU rooms. BC3's Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health will be housed within the facility, and a groundbreaking could occur this quarter. The building could open in 2023, according to the BC3 news release.

Annear also said the college hired a new program director, and is in the process of recruiting more staff, both full time and part time, to teach in the LPN program.

“We will be hiring multiple positions to respond to this,” she said. “We will have the need for lab instruction as well.”

Neupauer said the process of implementing the program is an example of how community colleges, specifically BC3, are able to react and fill community needs in an efficient and effective way.

“I think this program really speaks to our ability to match community needs,” Neupauer said. “I think it speaks to us working with a partner who had a significant contribution to the college, hearing their needs, the college analyzing workforce data, validating that there was a need and investing some resources from (the) operating budget.”

Prospective students can attend an hour-long information sessions at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Haven I building at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot.

To register for the sessions, or to learn more about the health care provider's tuition sponsorship, email BC3NursingProgram@concordialm.org or call 724-352-1571, Ext. 8348 or Ext. 8372.