March 28, 2011

HARRISBURG – Licensed practical nurses looking to upgrade their skills can take advantage of LPN New Pathways starting in May at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College.

The course responds to the professional needs of many LPNs who are finding that changes in the healthcare industry require them to obtain jobs in settings other than the acute care hospitals, said Brenda Aikey Trotta, coordinator of healthcare education, noncredit programs.

“As hospitals make changes in their nursing staff, there are many alternative places that would love to have skilled LPNs,” Aikey Trotta said. “The LPN New Pathways can prepare LPNs for other venues.”

She added, “Thanks to scholarships from Highmark Blue Shield, the training comes at an affordable cost to qualified students.”

Highmark Blue Shield has partnered with HACC to provide scholarships that cover about half of the $950 cost of the month-long program. Highmark also has made scholarships available for HACC’s RN/LPN Re-entry program. The program is for registered nurses and LPNs who would like to re-activate their license or refresh their skills after taking an absence from the nursing profession.

Opportunities exist at long-term care facilities, in assisted living, assisted care, home health and private physicians offices for LPNs with a hybrid of skills.

LPNs enrolled in New Pathways will complete 40 hours of classroom instruction and 96 hours of clinical experience, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, May 2-27, at the HACC-Harrisburg Campus, One HACC Drive. Textbooks are an additional cost.

Students will be expected to have an active LPN license, current CPR documentation, a physical, an immunization history, a tuberculin sensitivity test (two-step PPD, purified protein derivative, test), a Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check, malpractice insurance and current health insurance coverage.

More information about the programs, scholarships and class requirements can be found at www.hacc.edu/PublicSafetyCenter or contact HACC’s healthcare education department at 717-221-1351.