North Central Michigan College expands health care education with new practical nurse certificate program

North Central Michigan College is expanding its health care education offerings in January 2024 with the addition of a Practical Nurse certificate program. Students who take this new program and go on to graduate will receive the experience and knowledge needed to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-PN) to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs), who are typically tasked with implementing patient care plans in skilled nursing facilities and hospitals. 

Licensed practical nurses tend to earn up to $25 an hour in Michigan, and wages are expected to increase by $5 an hour in the next half decade according to Brent LaFaive, dean of nursing and health sciences at North Central Michigan College, who was quoted in an article on the school’s website.

“Anyone who wants to become a nurse in Michigan now has another path to reach that goal. North Central is providing students with multiple on-ramps to a nursing career, and our graduates are filling a critical need for nurses regionally and statewide,” LaFaive said.

The certificate program is cohort-style, and lasts for three semesters. It was created in collaboration with skilled nursing facilities and regional hospitals, both of which are facing history shortages of nursing employees, in no small part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey of almost 10,000 state licensed nurses working in Michigan showed that over half of newly trained nurses under 25 years of age are planning to leave the profession within a year, many citing burnout and lack of nursing support. 

LeFaive talked about the nursing shortage, saying, “Before COVID-19, demand for practical nurses was reduced because the trend was toward RN and Bachelor of Science in Nursing education. During and after the pandemic, demand for nurses has increased across the board, and practical nurses have an opportunity to help offset those shortages.”

Along with its practical and registered nurse programs, North Central Michigan College offers Fast Track career programs, which lead students toward industry-specific certifications in a wide array of concentrations within the healthcare industry, such as patient care technician, phlebotomist, and medical assistant, and a Certified Nurses Aide program, which will take off this summer. These programs range from four to 24 weeks, and also include placement in externships. 

Stephen Strom, vice president of academic affairs, talked about the range of programs at North Central Michigan College, saying that “a holistic approach to nursing education involves providing students with multiple entry points into their career. Students who complete a Fast Track program can return to complete a PN degree when it makes sense for them personally and professionally. With clinical work experience, they can advance to our RN program and continue their educational path as they desire.”

Students who take part in the practical nursing certification will complete lab work in North Central’s state of the art simulation lab, traditional lecture, and take part in an extensive on-site training at the school’s 10 clinical locations. The program is limited to just 40 students per cohort, and classes begin January 8, 2024. LaFaive noted that prospective students should waste no time applying from the program, as there is no waitlist. 

More information about North Central Michigan College’s nursing programs can be found at the school’s website.