Allied Health Programs at GCC continue to grow.

The past year was a year of growth and development for the Allied Health Division at GCC. Late last spring, approval from the State of Michigan and the GCC Board of Trustees was granted to expand the on-campus Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program from 30 students to 60. “By doubling our capacity, we are able to do our part to help the nation-wide shortage of nurses,” said Kari Luoma, Director of Allied Health Programs.

Next on the agenda was seeking and gaining approval to offer a full time LPN program in the Copper Country. “We have worked with Michigan Works for quite some time to secure a full time program in that area,” said Luoma. “The College has offered Certified Nurse Aide programs with Michigan Works in the Copper Country for several years now, and expanding to an LPN program was a natural fit for us and for them.”

The College maintains an office in the Michigan Works! Office complex on Razorback Drive in Houghton. In the past year, Michigan Works! also rented the adjoining space and created a nursing laboratory. “The location is very convenient and the lab is top notch,” said Luoma. “Michigan Works identified the work force need and worked with us to be able to help provide the training”

New full time LPN programs on campus will begin in June for summer school and another at the end of August for the Fall, 2007 semester. The Houghton program also starts in June. Applications are still being accepted for all programs.

Local clinical sites for the Ironwood LPN program include Grand View Hospital, Howard Young Medical Center in Minocqua, Westgate Living Centre, Gogebic Medical Care Facility, Regional Hospice, and the Grand View Clinics in Ironwood and Hurley.

In addition to the full time programs on campus and in the Houghton area, GCC also offers a part-time LPN program that is accessible to students from other areas.. “The part time program enables students who have families or need to work to train for a career in nursing on a part-time basis.” It provides lectures on the interactive television system at Grand View Hospital and is broadcast to the Houghton area. Students do their lab work at either the GCC lab on campus or at the new lab in Houghton and use a variety of clinical sites. The next part time program will begin in the Fall, 2007 semester and openings are still available.

GCC has also offered an Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN) on campus to train Registered Nurses for many years. Capacity expansion of that program is also forthcoming. Currently, students in the ADN program do clinical work at Grand View Hospital, Marquette General Hospital, Grand View Clinic, The Western UP Health Department and Iron County Health Departments, and the Headstart and Evenstart programs.

Along with the coursework, labs, and clinical work, students in both the LPN and ADN programs are required to perform at least eight hours of relevant community service each year. “Graduates of the GCC programs are very well trained in a variety of settings,” said Luoma.

In addition to the nursing programs, the GCC Allied Health programs also offer certified nurse aid training each semester, as well as Emergency Medical Services. The one-year certificate program in EMS prepares students to become Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). If students choose to continue their education, an Associate Degree for Paramedics is also offered.

For information on any of the Allied Health Programs, contact Kari Luoma or Cara Matrella at 932-4231 or visit the Allied Health Program site at http://www.gogebic.edu/academics/Allied_Health/