Manor College announced that its new Practical Nursing program received final approval from the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing.
“It’s a big relief,” said Marti Trudeau, director of the Practical Nursing program. “This has been nearly two years in the making. I’m excited to get students here, learning and using the wonderful skills lab that we have created.”
The program leads students to an Associate of Science degree and eligibility to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing.
Trudeau is an industry veteran who served as the Deputy to the Medical Director for the Ohio Department of Mental Health. Prior to coming to Manor, she was a clinical educator at Bayada Home Health Care.
Practical nurses are supervised by a higher-level licensed provider, usually a registered nurse or a medical doctor. They provide basic nursing care and are able to be certified in other tasks like IV therapy.
“Practical nursing is nursing at its most interactive form with patients,” Trudeau said. “Sick people need care, and if there are insufficient numbers of nurses to provide care, then patients will not do as well as they should. Having more practical nurses in the field ensures patients are safe.”
Trudeau believes the program is vital as a solution to the nursing shortage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, employment opportunities in the nursing field are growing 10.7 percent nationally and more than 16 percent in the Philadelphia metro area.
“It provides a new option for our student population, one that can be a game changer,” Trudeau said. “With 15 months of education, graduates will enter the workforce making close to $50,000 a year. With the many academic and social supports available, students will have every opportunity to do well in this rigorous program.”
As for Manor, Trudeau specifically pointed to the new skills lab in the Basileiad Manor building.
“It’s set up like a hospital,” she said. “We have two high-tech, simulation-ready manikins, IV pumps and hydraulic lifts. We’re ready to welcome our first cohort.”
The program is taking applications for the fall 2024 semester. Those interested should contact Manor’s admissions team at [email protected] or 215-884-2216. ••
