The Franklin County Career and Technology Center formally dedicated its newly constructed Practical Nursing Program Building in June.
The Grace Gilbert Brooks building honors Chambersburg Area School Board member Sally Brooks late mother Grace, a Chambersburg Area High School graduate, World War II nurse and local teacher.
Brooks donated $100,000 to the building fund in 2017. The 64-year-old PNP program is part of the Franklin County Career and Technology Center program. It first opened in September 1958, under the sponsorship and direction of the Chambersburg Area Joint School Board as a part of its adult education program.
The program has undergone several changes of administration and currently is under the direction of CareerTech.
Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the course provides an inexpensive educational program for a lifetime career.
Grace Gilbert Brooks tended wounded soldiers in WWII as a WAVE nurse and later became a teacher and lifelong advocate for children.
The dedication brought to fruition a 4-year project that resulted in an extensive learning experience for the FCCTC Construction Academies and Horticulture Students.
The project, which received broad-based community support to include a contribution from the FCADC, was spearheaded by Janyce L. Collier, MSN, RN, CNE. Collier retired as the program’s director on June 30.
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The program
The Franklin County Career & Technology Center Practical Nursing Program (PNP) is a one-year program for adult students. It provides the theory and clinical learning experience to prepare the graduate for the licensure exam, NCLEX-PN, and to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
The Licensed Practical Nurse is an integral member of healthcare teams.
The PNP is a full-time day program meeting Monday through Thursday. Class and clinical hours are 6:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Two classes enroll each year – in March and September.
The Program consists of six levels.
Level I starts with the foundations for practice. Each level becomes increasingly more complex as the student transforms into a thinking nurse, ready for entry-level practice.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Veteran’s Affairs approve the program. The Accreditation Commission for Education provides accreditation.
