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Fortis College’s Practical Nursing Program addresses medical needs of community

By Bruce Hope bruce@opcfla.com
Posted 6/3/20

ORANGE PARK – Fortis College recognizes the ever-present need for medical professionals.

As such, while already having many medical programs to include Healthcare Management, Medical Assisting, …

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Fortis College’s Practical Nursing Program addresses medical needs of community


Posted

ORANGE PARK – Fortis College recognizes the ever-present need for medical professionals.

As such, while already having many medical programs to include Healthcare Management, Medical Assisting, Surgical Technology, and Medical Billing and Coding, among others, Fortis is now offering the Practical Nursing program. Upon completion and successfully passing the statewide certification, graduates of the program will be Licensed Practical Nurses.

“We’ve had the Associate in Nursing program for many years now,” said Ben Sedrine, president of the Orange Park Campus. “We’ve seen great success with that program. Last year the pass rate of the exam to become a Registered Nurse was above 90%. The demand for nursing is always high, regardless of COVID-19. We wanted to bring that rigor and success to the level in nursing where the demand is. We’ve seen hospitals looking for more practical nurses to fill the gaps. We thought that we had the experience, the reputation, the know-how, and we wanted to bring that program.”

LPNs generally focus on the comfort of the patient and work under the supervision of registered nurses. They take vital signs and tend to wounds. Many of them also work in long-term care facilities, but due to hospital shortages, more are now working in that environment.

An student into the program with Fortis College can expect to undergo 1,335 hours and 60 instructional weeks. During the program, there are clinical rotations to familiarize students with the real-world medical environment.

The program will have four start dates a year. The first is July 6, and the college expects to have between 12 and 20 students.

“As soon as they finish completing the program, students are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurse,” said Sedrine. “Once they successfully pass that exam, they obtain a license to practice as an LPN in the state of Florida.”

The tuition for the program for a student entering with no transfer credits, the cost to complete the program is $24,000. That amount, however, includes everything: tuition, fees, a laptop, uniforms, all textbook, background checks, drug testing and the cost of the licensure examinations. Students may also apply for financial aid.

“The fact that it’s a new program right now, there’s opportunities because we don’t have a waiting list for the program so folks can get started as soon as they meet our admission requirements and complete their financial aid,” said Sedrine. “You can’t go wrong, starting a career in healthcare.”

Fortis College’s track record says that he is probably right.