Cape Coral Technical College’s LPN program earns No. 1 rankings
Cape Coral Technical College’s Licensed Practical Nursing program has been recognized with a pair of No. 1 industry rankings.
The school has been ranked as No. 1, according to PracticalNursing.org as well as No. 1 in Florida by NursingProcess.org.
“Cape Coral Tech was previously ranked No. 2 in 2023 by NursingProcess.org, and we’re extremely proud to take over the top spot,” said Cape Coral Technical College Director Charlie Pease. “We’re grateful for the excellent instruction, professionalism, and wealth of industry experience and knowledge that our outstanding nursing faculty provide to make our Practical Nursing program consistently one of the best in the nation!”
Pease said they have been one of the top-ranked programs in the state for several years now. The school takes a lot of pride in the program and the teachers are very proud of the work that they put in, as well as the students.
To receive this ranking, students must take a national certification exam, according to Practical Nursing and Health Science Department Chair Candy Shearer.
“It measures their clinical judgement, critical thinking, how would they take care of a patient – priorities,” she said. “In order to do that they have to complete our program.”
The pass rate for Cape Coral Technical College has been great, even with the change to increase the clinical judgement focus of the exam to mirror more of what students are experiencing at clinicals.
“So far, we have had two classes take it with a 100% pass rate. That is good. We are very excited,” Shearer said.
Pease said one of the great things about Cape Coral Technical College is the small school environment – 12-to-1 student to instructor ratio.
“We run three cohorts at a time,” he said of the LPN program. “We typically have a junior class running and a senior class running. We have a part-time Practical Nursing cohort as well.”
The next full-time Practical Nursing program will begin May 6, 2024, with the application requirements due March 8, 2024. The classroom hours are from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with clinical times varying. The cost of the program is $7,776.
Shearer said applicants must take a placement test, which includes reading, English and math.
“I do an interview. We look at the student’s work history and if they have gone to any other school to give credit,” she said.
With the popularity of the program applicants are put into a selection matrix with the highest scores being accepted into the program.
“It’s highly competitive,” Shearer said.
The LPN program takes one year to complete and is composed of clinical, mostly the second semester, and theory components.
“We work really hard. We want to inspire our students to be knowledgeable and compassionate at the same time and flexible. You have to be flexible,” Shearer said.
After a year, students will have a career with the majority of them making $28 an hour – or $58,000 a year as a new graduate, which is at the low end.
The instructors have 130 years of experience among them. Shearer said she has been a nurse since 1996.
“I am very proud of our instructors and the hard work that they put in. It shows in the results,” Pease said. “We get our students jobs and good careers. We have a career in a year motto. It really is great seeing our students get out in a career and continue to grow – the sky is the limit.”
The majority of the 16 programs offered at Cape Coral Technical College are enrolling with January start dates. Pease encourages those interested to enroll. He said they can help students receive financial aid and scholarships.
“Finances should not be a barrier for someone trying to enroll here,” Pease said.
Shearer said they have an evening Nursing Assistant Program from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday for 15 weeks.
“All the other programs are full-time, day-time programs,” Pease said. “We are clock hours, which is different from credit hours. Clock hour school students have to clock in and are here for the full day – 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a break for lunch.”
More information can be found at capecoraltech.edu.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com