One-hundred percent of the 2007 completers of WWTC's
Practical Nursing program passed their National Certification Licensure Examination (NCLEX). This exam certifies them as licensed practical nurses. Licensed Practical Nurses are working in our area for up to $18.00 per hour.
Statistics from The National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) were released the first of February which announced that Wes Watkins Technology Center's practical nursing completers had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX exam that certifies students as Licensed Practical Nurses and qualifies them to practice in the state of Oklahoma. The National pass rate is 87% and the State of Oklahoma pass rate is 90% for the period of January 1st - December 31st, 2007.
WWTC's PN classes have consistently had high pass rates as much emphasis is placed on teaching methods and continually analyzing and updating the subject areas that are taught to ensure that quality health care workers will be present in our health care facilities. The PN program also offers co-enrollment with Seminole State College for the student completing 16 hours of their RN degree through WWTC.
WWTC’s Practical Nursing Flex Program is an open-entry program in which a student can enter any month that there is an opening within the program. The course is self-paced and uses the LAPs system of individualized Learning Activity Packets. Students are required to attend a minimum of 24 hours per week and may take as long as 12 to 18 months to complete the program. Clinical rotations are the only portion of this course that is not flexible. When a student reaches this part of their studies, students attend clinicals three days per week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Practical Nursing program provides an opportunity for students to learn the theory and skills that are needed to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The program requires active participation of the student in an organized, goal-directed program of study. The faculty of WWTC's nursing program assists the students in obtaining knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function as vital members of the health care team.
The program includes time in the classroom for theory instruction, laboratory practice of skills, and clinical practice where laboratory skills and theory knowledge is applied. Students rotate through area hospitals performing procedures and providing patient care. This requires additional commuting to the regional and metro area facilities. Field trips to metropolitan hospitals are also part of the students' learning experiences.
Up to 36 students can be accepted into WWTC’s PN program. Admission requirements state that a student be 18 years of age or older by the completion of the program. Students must complete a formal application form and a high school diploma or a GED is required. Students have to take a pre-entrance test on basic education, the COMPASS test and the Capabilities Assessment Profile (CAP). These tests are scheduled on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The candidate preference point system is used to select students for the program. Points are obtained by weighing certain criteria such as high school transcript, college credit, completion of a health science program or short term health courses, health related certifications, work history, COMPASS test scores and assessment profiles.
