A nursing shortage continues to be a challenge for healthcare organizations across the country and in the greater Philadelphia area. 

Manor College has served as an entry point into nursing through Pre-Nursing programs, but this Fall, the institution is helping to address the nursing shortage through a new Practical Nursing Program. 

“Practical nursing is nursing at its most interactive form with patients,” said Program Director Dr. Marti Trudeau. Practical nurses are supervised by a higher-level licensed provider, usually a registered nurse or a medical doctor. They provide basic nursing care and are able to be certified in other tasks like IV therapy. 

Dr. Trudeau is an industry veteran. She served as the Deputy to the Medical Director for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and prior to Manor College was a clinical educator at BAYADA Home Health Care.

She holds a Master’s Degree from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Southern California. Dr. Trudeau got her start in the medical field by first working as a Practical Nurse herself.

“I was not sure if nursing was really for me, so rather than investing four years into the profession, I decided to complete a one-year practical nursing program,” Dr. Trudeau said.

Manor College’s Practical Nursing Program is a 15-month, Associate’s degree program. Scholarships are available for the Fall 2023 semester. In addition, Manor College offers a special grant to award students who are refugees fleeing from another country, immigrants and first-generation college students.

Manor College students additionally benefit from strong clinical partnerships with Jefferson Health, Bayada Home Health Care, Cathedral Village and the Artman Home. 

Dr. Trudeau believes the program, which is still open for the Fall 2023 semester, directly addresses the health of the community. 

“Simply put, sick people need care and if there are insufficient numbers of nurses to provide care, then patients will not do as well as they should. Having more practical nurses in the field ensures patients are safe,” said Dr. Trudeau.

Read more about the practical nursing program on Manor College’s website.

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