November 29, 2018
The following article is from Education Drive.
To address the growing need for skilled workers, Altierus Career College launched three new programs at its Tampa campus: Nursing Associate of Science, Computer Information Technology Diploma and Dental Assistant Diploma.
Students may enroll now for classes beginning in December and January.
"Tampa and the surrounding areas are facing skills gaps in several occupations including nursing, dental assisting and IT," said Oluyemi Awolola, campus director of Altierus Career College-Tampa. "Not only do these programs fill a need in the market, but they also provide a path to a career where there is an immediate need for workers."
Filling the Nursing Skills Gap
By 2025, the Florida Center for Nursing predicts a statewide nursing shortage of more than 50,000, signifying the need in this market. In addition, reports show Florida is expected to experience some of the highest population growth and increasing average age in the United States, but also has the lowest number of nurses entering the workforce by 2030.
Students enrolled in Altierus' Nursing program will receive hands-on instruction in the school's Nursing Lab, which enables them to learn and practice their skills in a realistic clinical setting. The lab includes state-of-the-art equipment and anatomically correct mannequins with functioning organs. Per Florida Nursing Board requirements and other curriculum standards, students must successfully complete 600 contact hours with patients during multiple clinical rotations at a local hospital, long-term care facility or another professional nursing setting. Through their rotations, students gain valuable experience providing direct care to patients in preparation for their career.
To date, Altierus has secured 10 clinical site partners in support of the Nursing program. One of them, Florida Hospital Connerton Long Term Acute Care, is eager for students to arrive.
"At Florida Hospital Connerton Long Term Acute Care, we rely on partners like Altierus to educate and train the next generation of health care workers," said Linda Trocino, MSN RN, CNML, assistant VP nursing/CNO. "Together, we are arming the students with real-life skills they can use in the field."
The new program, which is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing, is designed to be completed in as little as 24 months. Altierus provides robust preparation via ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute) and covers the cost for the National Council of Licensure Examination, which is required for registered nurse (RN) certification.
In addition to the Nursing program, Altierus introduced the Computer Information Technology Diploma and the Dental Assistant Diploma programs in September. The Computer Information Technology program is designed to be completed in 12 months and teaches students how to diagnose and troubleshoot IT issues, install and repair PC hardware and software, perform management tasks used by Linux system administrators, install and operate Cisco hardware, safeguard network data and provide customer service. In addition, Altierus provides preparation and covers the cost for the CompTIA A+ Certification exam.
The Dental Assistant program is designed to be completed in nine months and teaches students the skills to process exposed radiographs, create impressions, construct casts, support dental procedures, aid patients and handle office emergencies. Preparation and testing for Radiation Health and Safety Certification and Infection Control Certification are included in the program at no extra cost.
In addition to diploma and degree programs, Altierus supports students with professional skills development, resume development, job interview practice, externships for select programs and job placement. Recognizing that a student's success relies on a balance between the demands of daily life and their education, Altierus provides ride-share programs, library computers, tutors and other resources to help provide continuity to students in their school experience.
"We are committed to serving the greater Tampa area by providing a contemporary learning environment while also graduating well-trained professionals," said Awolola. "We offer a low instructor-to-student ratio, as well as professionally equipped learning labs to ensure our students have the training they need to successfully enter and thrive in the workforce."
To learn more about this program and others, visit www.altierus.edu.