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Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) in Miami and Northeast Tech’s Kansas Campus recently signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the NEO Associate Degree Nursing Program Fast Track for licensed practical nurses and licensed paramedics on the Kansas, Okla., Campus of Northeast Tech. Through the support of Northeast Tech, the NEO Nursing Program would deliver the classes and provide the student support services for the Nursing Fast Track on the Northeast Tech Kansas Campus. This collaboration between Northeast Tech and NEO would create a path for graduates of the Northeast Tech practical nursing program to pursue the associate degree nursing program for registered nurses while living and working in the Kansas, Okla. area. Under the current plan, the program would begin in 2022.

“This is the first step in developing a program that will allow our institutions to collaborate and provide for one of the most high-demand careers in Oklahoma,” said Dr. Kyle Stafford, NEO president. “We’re able to use our individual areas of expertise to educate Oklahoma students and enhance our own institutions at the same time.”

Contingent upon receiving the required approvals, Northeast Tech’s support would create the capacity for NEO to admit 10 students annually. The Fast Track program at the Kansas Campus would be supported with one new full-time nursing faculty and one new adjunct faculty position.  These faculty would teach classes, supervise clinicals, advise students, and coordinate program activities under the direction and supervision of the NEO Nursing Program Director. “This partnership stems from a true desire to meet the needs of the district,” said Northeast Tech Superintendent Roger Crutchfield. “What we do at Northeast Tech, is find a workforce need and figure out a way to meet it. We look forward to working with NEO to close the gap on that nurse shortage.”

Janet Trimble, the Northeast Tech Director of Nursing, notes that the new partnership would be yet another way that the two institutions have collaborated over the past several years. “We have established a strong partnership with NEO’s Department of Nursing over the years through serving on each other’s advisory committees,” she said. “Bringing the bridge program to our Kansas Campus would bring even more opportunity for the LPNs in our local communities to further their nursing education.”

The Northeast Tech Practical Nursing program prepares students for a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse through a variety of hands-on and in-class learning. As LPNs, graduates have opportunities in a variety of fields, including long-term care, hospital nursing, and home health, among others. The NEO Fast Track program provides opportunities for LPN/Paramedics to receive advanced standing in the completion of an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing (RN). NEO Nursing Program Director Debbie Morgan notes that the expansion of the Fast Track program would provide many benefits for both institutions. “We are excited to expand the NEO A&M College Fast Track LPN/Paramedic-RN program to the Northeast Tech Kansas Campus,” she said. “This partnership would not only benefit the students, but also the healthcare facilities in the region by preparing more registered nurses.”

Contact Jordan Adams, NEO Coordinator of Public Information, for more information at Jordan.m.adams@neo.edu. For information on Northeast Tech, contact Cassie Woods at cassie.woods@netech.edu. (Top Photo: NEO A&M College is based in Miami, Oklahoma. Bottom Photo: Northeast Tech Kansas Campus is based in Kansas, Oklahoma.)