Marion County Technical Education Center Nursing Program Review

Marion County Technical Education Center (MCTEC), which was founded in 1968, provides high school students from Marion County, South Carolina with the opportunity to learn a professional skill while, at the same time, earning a high school diploma from a traditional high school. MCTEC offers eight different training programs, each of which takes two years to complete. Students can use the skills they learn through these programs to enter the work force directly from high school, or they can transfer college credits (eight credits per program) toward a college-level work-training program.

For students who are considering a career in the rapidly expanding healthcare field, MCTEC offers a health sciences program, which can serve as a transition into entry-level work in the healthcare field, or as a stepping stone to a college program. In addition to its introductory health sciences program, MCTEC is the host of the Marion County School of Practical Nursing, which provides training for students who wish to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Here is a review of the two available programs of study in the health services field:

Practical Nursing Program

Students in the practical nursing program must complete two phases, each of which is nine months long. Phase I, which begins in August and wraps up in May, is part-time. Students take classes in the morning. Phase I focuses on background courses in nutrition, anatomy and physiology, nursing fundamentals, and nutrition. After taking the summer off, students return for Phase II. Phase II runs from August to May, and is full-time. Three days a week, students receive in-class instruction, and two days a week, students complete clinical rotations. In total, a student in Phase II will spend nearly 450 hours getting hands-on practice. After completing the program, a student receives a diploma in practical nursing, and may take the NCLEX-PN. If he passes the test, he will be able to pursue a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). If, at some point in his career, he decides to return to school to become a Registered Nurse (RN), he will receive fifteen advanced placement credits toward the nursing coursework at another South Carolina school. The program at Marion County School of Practical Nursing is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), and approved by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation Board of Nursing.

Health Science I and II

Juniors and seniors at high schools in Marion County (both public and private) are eligible to enroll in MCTEC’s Health Science I and II program. While this program does not prepare students for any specific licensing exam, it does give students an introduction to a wide range of careers in the health sciences field, from nursing to lab work to radiology. Students receive hands-on instruction in CPR and first aid as well as academic instruction in subjects such anatomy and physiology. A graduate of the Health Science I and II program will have all the information she needs to make an informed decision about her career path in the healthcare field.

Contact:
Marion County Technical Education Center
2697 U.S. 76,
Marion, SC. 29571