Keystone Job Corps Center to double size of LPN program

The licensed practical nursing program at the Keystone Job Corps Center in Drums, Pennsylvania is expanding. Mike Martine, the center's director of finance and administration, says funding has been increased for the program to double in size.

"An additional 20 slots will be available," Martine said. "There had been 20 slots. Now there will be 40. Many people don't know it, but 93 percent of the students who have graduated from the program have jobs earning $18 an hour or more."

Beverly Vespico, director of the LPN program at Keystone, said the course expansion will better help meet student demand. "There is still a great demand, because there is such a shortage of nurses," Vespico said. "It's such a great opportunity. Last year, we had 56 applicants for the 20 slots."

Nursing assistant and clinical medical assistant are the other two medical programs offered at the rural Pennsylvania center. Over the past several years, the Keystone center has been changing its curriculum to better reflect job needs in the health care field. The LPN program was added, as were the two other programs.

Center officials want to house all of the health care programs under one roof. So now, officials at the center in Drums are going to try to get a medical arts building constructed at the center.

"We're pushing for the medical arts facility," Martine said. "It would be state-of-the-art. It would be a real plus for students. They would be learning at a high-tech facility."

(Posted 7/20/2010)

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