Since North Central Missouri College began its first Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate Program in 1967, the regional community college has graduated more than 1,250 nurses and health care graduates.
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Since North Central Missouri College began its first Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate Program in 1967, the regional community college has graduated more than 1,250 nurses and health care graduates.
Offering a two-year associate degree in nursing and a one-year practical nursing program on the Trenton campus and a new one-year program in Maryville, NCMC?s graduates are in high demand by area hospitals, care facilities and both public and private institutions and agencies.
NCMC President Dr. Neil Nuttall says NCMC nursing students are sought for employment even before graduation.
?Our region, like many others across the country, is facing a shortage of health care professionals. Nationally, over 125,000 hospital positions – 12 percent of the total remain unfilled. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that by the year 2010, more than one million new nurses will be needed,? Nuttall said.
?Our community?s hospitals, nursing homes and doctors need nurses as well as professionals in the Medical Assistant and Health Information Management fields and at NCMC, we hope to do our part to address this demand,? he continued.
As a part of the college?s major gift campaign and master plans for expansion, NCMC hopes to construct a 30,000-square foot academic classroom building to expand the existing programs offered by the college and pursue additional health care and life sciences curriculum. Director of Development Steve Maxey said the health care initiative was the number one focus by nearly 100 individuals who participated in a feasibility study providing input on the College?s future.
?Recognizing the demand for health care professionals following graduation and the ability to earn a very good salary, an on-going successful program offered by the college, an aging society and the impact of the baby boomers who will soon need health care, friends of the college saw this need as the top priority for all of the above reasons,? Maxey said. ?Add to that the increasing number of applicants for admission to our existing health care programs made available at NCMC and the early age for retirement or ?burn-out? in these professions, we feel this need will only continue to grow for many years to come.?
Dean of Instruction at NCMC Dr. James Gardner recently reported that over 325 applications were submitted for consideration for fall classes in the health care fields at the college certainly indicating the continued interest in the health care industry.
?Students see tremendous opportunity here and know that positions will be waiting for them upon their completion of one and two-year programs,? Dr. Gardner said. ?We must do our part to address the shortage of professionals in this area and NCMC has a strong history of successful graduates in the various health care programs. Unfortunately our limited classroom space, equipment and available faculty have restricted growth in enrollment. Today only 127 students are admitted to our programs and with a new academic building; we will be better able to serve the number of requests for admission.?
Dr. Nuttall says that ?more demands than ever before are being placed on community colleges to address the needs of an aging society and a declining healthcare workforce.?
?Our facilities are over-crowded and in many cases, equipment is outdated and inadequate,? he said. ?We hope that in the next few months we can expand our enrollment in related health and life science areas by well over 300 students. By adding new curriculum, we will also be able to address other areas of instruction in the allied health field as well as prepare our students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities for additional training.?
Both CEOs of Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center praise the local college for the successes in the health care field and commends the efforts to expand additional services. Area administrators John Woodrich and James Johnson said ?an investment in North Central Missouri College is an investment in the future of healthcare.?
?The Saint Luke?s Health System partnership with the college is a strong one,? the two men commented. ?We are fortunate to have a college in our area that offers healthcare training with the vision of increased curriculum and improved facilities. We rely on NCMC graduates to staff area facilities and strengthen our ability to provide healthcare services to our patients.?
NCMC students currently utilize over 25 hospitals, nursing homes, and medical offices for clinical training throughout north Missouri and the metropolitan area along side their regular classroom requirements.
NCMC hopes to construct the new academic building immediately west of Hoffman and Geyer halls on the Trenton campus at a proposed cost of nearly $7 million.
?This complex will ensure our region of a continuing supply of health care professionals as well provide a critical component to the well-being of our region,? Dr. Nuttall said. ?We are excited with the opportunity that exists and invite both involvement and investment in the future of NCMC.?