Washburn Institute of Technology Nursing Program Review

Since its foundation in 1928, Washburn Institute of Technology (WIT) has gone through several different names, all the while keeping to its mission of providing work-force training. It was originally called Topeka Trade School. Later, in the 1960s, it became the Kaw Area Vocational Technical School (KAVTS) and then as Kaw Area Technical School (KATS) in 1992.

After coming under the direction of Washburn University in 2008, the school changed its name one more time, to the Washburn Institute of Technology. The school provides professional certificate programs, continuing education classes, and specialized employee training for employers in the surrounding area. Included among the school’s many programs are several options for students who wish to enter the rapidly expanding nursing field.

Practical Nursing Program

On a full-time basis, a student can complete Washburn Institute of Technology’s Practical Nursing program in just one year. Part-time study is also an option, if a student’s schedule cannot accommodate a full-time course load. On a part-time basis, the program requires four semesters. This does not include the program’s prerequisites. Before enrolling in the Practical Nursing program, on either a full-time or part-time basis, a student must complete the following prerequisites: nutrition, human development, and anatomy and physiology. In addition to these three classes, a student must complete a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) course and pass the state certification exam, possess a high school diploma or GED, and pass the Workkeys Entrance Exam.

The Workkeys Entrance Exam tests the student’s capabilities in reading and math. Once enrolled in the Practical Nursing program, a student must complete thirty-six credits. The coursework includes classroom and clinical instruction. Washburn Institute of Technology accepts thirty students each fall and each spring for the full-time Practical Nursing program; these students complete classes and clinical rotations during the day, Monday through Friday. Every other year, on odd numbered years, Washburn Institute of Technology accepts twenty students for the part-time Practical Nursing program. The part-time program only begins in the fall semester.

Students on this track complete classes in the evenings during the week, and do clinical rotations in the evenings and on the weekends. After completing the Practical Nursing program, a graduate receives a technical certificate. She is then eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). If she is successful with this licensing exam, she earns the title Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Washburn Institute of Technology’s Practical Nursing program is approved by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing.

Certified Nurse Assistant Course

As part of its Continuing Education division, Washburn Institute of Technology offers a CNA training course. Students who wish to enroll in the Practical Nursing program must complete this course first. The course is offered multiple times each semester, and requires five days to complete. The course includes classroom instruction and hands-on experience in a clinical setting. After completing the course, a graduate can take the certification exam offered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

HealthCare Technology Certificate Program

The HealthCare Technology Certificate program, which was created to introduce high school students to the medical field, can also prepare students to take the CNA exam offered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The program is more intense than the regular CNA course, as it covers additional material about anatomy, medical terminology, and medical math. Students complete the HealthCare Technology program over one semester, on a part-time basis. At the conclusion of the program, they receive a technical certificate. If they desire, they may take the test to become CNAs.

Contact:
Washburn Institute of Technology
5724 SW Huntoon,
Topeka, KS 66604

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