BUCYRUS — A new educational option is available for those looking to work in the medical career field.
North Central State College at the Crawford Success Center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new medical training lab at the center on North Walnut Street in Bucyrus.
The first cohort to utilize the lab, a class of eight individuals seeking their license in practical nursing, began classes this fall as the program got underway.
Amanda Sheets, operations manager of the Crawford Success Center North Central State College, said the idea began after Bucyrus City Schools Superintendent Kevin Kimmel indicated Bucyrus High School’s plans to host an in-house State-Tested Nursing Assistant program through Pioneer Career and Technical Center.
Sheets said the success center is always looking for ways to pathways for individuals to continue to better themselves. She said the natural pathway for STNA students to continue was to provide an LPN opportunity, which is the step between STNA and registered nurse status.
Chris Copper, executive director of the North Central State Foundation supporting the Crawford Success Center, said feedback from local hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities also led to the decision to start the program.
“During those conversations with the hospitals on how to prepare the next workforce, we kept being told ‘nurses, nurses, nurses,’” Copper said. “To help fill that need, we needed a local lab.”
Three main sponsors answered the call The Community Foundation for Crawford County, John Q. Shunk Association and The Ralph E. Boyd Foundation combined to donate approximately $110,000 to complete phase one of the lab project.
Copper said another $110,000 is needed to complete phase two, which will focus on key equipment for obstetrics. The equipment would help educate in fields such as labor and delivery, pediatrics and would include a mannequin that simulates childbirth.
She said she has a vision for the expansion to accommodate the projected growth in the program.
“We currently have 8 students in the cohort and we hope to increase that to 16 next year,” Copper said. “We will look to programs through places like BHS and Pioneer to encourage students to continue their education. Local hospitals also are providing prospective students.”
Kimmel said educators from NCSC will be coming to BHS to share the options available to the STNA students, and the STNA students will take a trip to the facility to see the new training lab.
He said it is a way for students to know what is available should they choose to continue in the medical field.
Sheets said working with the school, hospitals and foundations has been a great chance for collaboration in the community.
This is an example of how the Crawford Success Center can serve the community,” Sheets said.