W-B Vo-Tech Nurses Will Get Degree Aid: The School Signs a Deal With Marywood University to Speed Nursing Degrees.

By Bonnie Adams, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Times Leader

Apr. 25–PLAINS TWP. — The Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational Technical School has completed one agreement and is working on others to give its licensed practical nursing graduates a year of academic credit at area colleges.

Administrative director Thomas O’Donnell announced the agreement with Marywood University in Scranton at Monday night’s Joint Operating Committee meeting. He said a similar agreement is in the works with Wilkes University.

Vo-tech program coordinator Mary Beth Pacuska, a registered nurse, said the Marywood agreement is the first one the vo-tech has signed. She said College Misericordia and the University of Scranton are interested in participating.

She said students who graduate from vo-tech’s 15-month program for adults will be given a year’s academic credit at participating colleges and universities. Pacuska said that will save time and money and help fast-track the graduates in pursuing a registered nursing degree. “I think it’s a definite plus for our program as well as nursing in general,” she said. Pacuska said one graduate has already decided to continue his education at Marywood.

Gov. Ed Rendell earlier Monday released findings of two nursing-shortage studies completed by the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers that project the shortage of registered nurses could reach 16,100 by 2010 and the shortage of LPNs could hit 4,100 in four years.

In other business, O’Donnell explained corrective actions the vo-tech began last August in response to state audit findings. The school must repay the $24,423 in vocational education subsidies it was overpaid after erroneously reporting instructional hours in its practical nursing program.

The school had reported snow days as days of instruction when classes were canceled and reported days of instruction for students who had withdrawn. O’Donnell said a form has been developed for communicating withdrawals and a computerized attendance program is used daily.

The Joint Operating Committee adopted a four-paragraph addendum to the school’s existing bullying policy that says in part that bullying will be “dealt with on a timely, fair, firm and just basis by school officials.”

Bonnie Adams, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7241.

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