WATC and PCC form partnership

Wichita Area Technical College and Pratt Community College form partnership to expand nursing education opportunities in Wichita; new South Central Kansas School of Nursing to create enhanced educational pathway for students

 
WATC and PCC partnership creates pathway for students to go from CNA to LPN to RN; articulation agreements with area universities offer B.S.N., M.S.N. and other advanced degrees

 
Thanks to the formation of a new healthcare education partnership, students in central Kansas will soon have access to a full range of nursing education opportunities via an expanded nursing pathway producing Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Associate Degree Registered Nurse (RN) graduates in Wichita for the Kansas workforce.
 
The new South Central Kansas School of Nursing, a partnership between Wichita Area Technical College and Pratt Community College Chandler School of Nursing, will jointly deliver nursing education programs that efficiently produce high-quality LPNs and RNs. Both WATC’s PN and PCC’s ADN completion programs are nationally accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Articulation agreements with area universities can lead to B.S.N., M.S.N. and other advanced nursing degrees.
 
The partnership begins July 1, 2012 and all operations will be phased in by June 30, 2014. WATC will be responsible for the Practical Nursing portion of the program. PCC will be responsible for the Registered Nursing portion. The South Central School of Nursing will serve the following counties: Pratt, Sedgwick, Kingman, Kiowa, Barber, and parts of Stafford and Comanche.
 
"This partnership is exciting because it delivers more options to students in the Wichita area," said Sheree Utash, Vice President of Academic Affairs at WATC. "We’ve identified significant efficiencies that will result from sharing instructors, administrators and labs. Instruction and facilities will be superb."
 
Aside from offering more options to students, the quality of nursing education will also receive a boost from the partnership. The creation of a first-class, state-of-the-art Simulation Lab will be used by students enrolled in both institutions. Additionally, use of the Simulation Lab and Skills Lab will be available for students in other medical programs in addition to nursing.
 
"We’ll be able to efficiently utilize scarce clinical opportunities and reduce clinical time by cooperatively using the new Simulation Lab," said Gail Withers, Dean of Nursing at PCC. "There will be increased observation opportunities and preceptorships in addition to continuing our clinical partnerships with healthcare facilities in Wichita. Students will benefit from the additional opportunities for clinical learning."
 
The new programs will be housed at modern, well-equipped education facilities including WATC’s National Center for Aviation Training campus in Wichita and the Chandler School of Nursing in Pratt.

 
 
Press Release by Joe Ontjes, WATC Executive Director, Recruiting and Marketing