News about Nursing & Health Sciences

Penn College Dental Hygiene Clinic Offers Care to Community

Pennsylvania College of Technology dental hygiene students, under the supervision of licensed dental professionals, provide affordable services to the public in the college’s Dental Hygiene Clinic.

The dental hygiene clinic at Pennsylvania College of Technology provides affordable preventive dental care to patrons from the surrounding community.

Services include cleanings ($5 to $15), exams, sealants ($10 first tooth, $5 each additional tooth) and X-rays ($2 to $15). To schedule an appointment, call 570-327-4500.

Read more

Director Appointed for Penn College Physician Assistant Program

Joshua A. Bower

Joshua A. Bower has been named director of the physician assistant program at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Bower is a certified physician assistant, licensed to practice in Pennsylvania. His primary focus is in ophthalmology. Prior to joining the Penn College staff in August, he was a physician assistant for six years at the Eye Center of Central PA.

Read more

Surgical Technology Board Exam Pass Rate Beats National Average

Penn College student Anna G. Thompson, of Mount Carmel, practices assisting with a laparoscopic surgery in the college’s mock operating room. Over 91 percent of the college’s August surgical technology graduates passed the national certification exam for surgical technologists on their first attempt.

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s 2018 surgical technology graduates passed the national Certified Surgical Technologist Examination on their first attempt with a 91.67 percent pass rate, which far exceeds the national average. The group of 12 graduated in August and took the exam the same month.

The Certified Surgical Technologist exam is conducted by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Read more

Pinning Ceremony Held for Summer Nursing Grads

The 37 members of the health arts: practical nursing emphasis Class of 2018 gather for a recent pinning ceremony at the Community Arts Center.

A day before the summer commencement ceremony at the Community Arts Center, graduates of the health arts: practical nursing emphasis major gathered at the venue to receive pins from mentors. During the ceremony, the honorees recited the Nightingale Pledge. Remarks were provided by class members Rachael J. Camacho, of Williamsport, and Chad M. Quail, of Lock Haven, as well as Diane L. Smith, director of nursing, associate degrees, and nursing instructors Kimberly A. Brenchley and Sherry L. Hyland. Class member Kayla J. Billheim, of Allenwood, sang “The Climb.”
Photo by Tina R. Strayer, nursing office assistant, completion degrees

Penn College Students Serve Health Care Needs at LLWS

Penn College emergency medical services students Michelle K. Waughen, of Montgomery, and Ali T. Alnasir, of Williamsport, stand ready to provide to provide care to those in attendance at the 2017 Little League World Series. Penn College students pursuing careers as physician assistants and paramedics are providing health care at the 2018 World Series.

Forty-three students in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s physician assistant and emergency medical services/paramedic programs will be on hand to help serve the health care needs of spectators and players at the Little League Baseball World Series, Aug. 16-26.

The event draws tens of thousands of spectators over 11 days as 16 U.S. and international Little League teams vie for the championship in South Williamsport, just a short drive from the Penn College main campus.

“We are proud to have our physician assistant and paramedic students participate with interdisciplinary members of the health care team to assist with providing care to Little League players from around the world,” said Sandra L. Richmond, dean of nursing and health sciences. “This event is an excellent example of the cross-cultural service learning opportunities we provide for our students.”

Read more

Dental Hygiene Students Treat 400 Children in Dominican Republic

From left, Penn College dental hygiene students Megan M. Mecouch, of Peach Bottom, Lancaster County; Kayla C. Summerson, of Emporium, Cameron County, and Lori M. Weaver, of Newmanstown, Lebanon County, join classmates in cleaning children’s teeth at a school in the Dominican Republic.

Seventeen Pennsylvania College of Technology students recently returned from the Dominican Republic, where they provided dental care to children at six schools in the Las Terrenas area.

The students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene. Most were enrolled in Oral Health Care Field Experience, an elective course that allows them to increase their cultural competency by planning, providing and evaluating primary oral health services for an underserved population.

Read more

Girded With ‘Armor of Compassion,’ PA Students Start Clinical

Members of the physician assistant Class of 2019 gather to celebrate their move from classroom to clinical learning.

Hannah M. Frantz, of Hershey, accepts a hug from Christine Frantz, who presented her pin. White coats were given by instructor Larissa D. Whitney, and each student chose an individual to attach his or her pin.

Jennifer L. Mitchell, of Kulpmont, flashes a smile at the audience as she is “pinned” by Elizabeth Bendas.

Katanga Muanza, of Williamsport, hugs Emil Lukasa after receiving his white coat and pin.

Elizabeth A. Belz, of Montoursville; Hannah M. Frantz, of Hershey; Dylan C. Griffin, of Milton; and Amber L. Grimm, of Milton, join classmates in reciting the physician assistant oath.

Students in the physician assistant Class of 2019 celebrated a milestone in their education on July 21 with the program’s traditional “white coat ceremony.” Twenty-seven students marked the completion of three semesters of intensive classroom study that will be followed – beginning with the Fall 2018 semester – with a full year of hands-on patient care at health care sites, under the supervision of clinical preceptors. The white coat, explained the program’s medical director, Dr. Gregory R. Frailey, in welcoming remarks, holds a great deal of symbolism. He dons his white coat each workday as though putting on the armor of compassion. Other speakers included Dr. Anju Sonia Dayal, a part-time instructor of physician assistant; Larissa D. Whitney, instructor of physician assistant; Brian M. McKeon Sr., assistant professor of physician assistant; and class representatives Kelly E. Heckman, of Bellefonte, and Wayne R. Jacobs, of Jersey Shore. The class, led by Physician Assistant Club President Valerie L. Kubalak, of Spring Mills, recited the physician assistant oath, pledging to hold the health, safety, welfare and dignity of all human beings as their primary responsibility, then presented gifts to the full-time physician assistant faculty, including a gift of $1,000 to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in honor of Carter Whitney.

Summer Commencement at Penn College Set for Aug. 4

Penn College’s Summer Commencement ceremony will take place Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Community Arts Center, Williamsport.

Nearly 250 students have petitioned to graduate in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Summer 2018 Commencement ceremony, scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Community Arts Center.

The student speaker will be Lara K. Duke, of Swengel, Union County, who will receive an Associate of Applied Science in physical therapist assistant. A Dean’s List student, Duke previously earned a Bachelor of Science in athletic training from Boise State University.

Read more

Alum Inspires ‘Future of Paramedic Education’

An on-the-job photo of Christopher T. Boyer, an alumnus and director of Penn College’s paramedic technology program, accompanies an article in the magazine of Wilmington University (another of his alma maters).

Christopher T. Boyer, director of Penn College’s paramedic technology program, is featured in the summer issue of WilmU, the magazine of Wilmington University. Boyer received a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Wilmington in 2017 and is a 2003 graduate of Penn College with an associate degree in paramedic technology. The article highlights Boyer’s vision for the future of paramedic education, “to train highly skilled technicians who not only understand theory but are able to make wise life-and-death decisions under pressure.” It also discusses Boyer’s doctoral research, which finds that paramedic students who have used high-fidelity patient simulators require 19 percent fewer patient contacts to fully demonstrate mastery of their skills. Penn College uses such patient simulators in its paramedic and nursing programs.

Employee Presents Research at Nursing Education Conference

Jessica L. Bower

A staff member in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s nursing program recently presented her doctoral research at the Nursing Education Research Conference in Washington, D.C.

Jessica L. Bower, simulation lab coordinator in Penn College’s nursing program, earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from ­Wilkes University. During a poster session at NERC, she presented her research: “Differences in Debriefing Practices in Nursing Education: Instructor-Led and Peer-Led.”

Read more

Campers Enjoy the Not-So-Lazy Days of Summer

A summer of refreshing, enlightening exploration

The hunger for knowledge continued for hundreds of young women and men who explored the hands-on world of Penn College’s summer camps mere weeks after their school year ended.

Read more

Last updated June 25, 2018 | Posted in Business & Hospitality, Construction & Design Technologies, Events, Faculty & Staff, Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, Nursing & Health Sciences, Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications, Students, Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies | This gallery contains 32 photos. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

Inside Look: Nursing Care of Children

With Carra M. Rishel, of Danville, a child learns how IVs work.

Throughout the spring semester, students in the Nursing Care of Children course shared a unique learning opportunity with homeschool students, each group learning from the other.

Over the course of the semester, small groups of nursing students invited small groups of homeschoolers to campus. Each student group developed a short education session – topics included fire safety and tooth care – then engaged the children in checking blood pressures and heart rates, testing hearing, and other activities.

Read more

Spring Commencement: A Mid-May Extravaganza of Emotion

Eyewear for the day, vision for the future

Pennsylvania College of Technology held three commencement ceremonies May 11-12 for more than 900 students who petitioned to graduate following the Spring 2018 semester. The Friday afternoon proceedings at the Community Arts Center honored students from the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies and the School of Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications. Saturday morning featured The School of Construction & Design Technologies and the School of Health Sciences, while students from the School of Business & Hospitality and the School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies graduated during the afternoon session. Student speakers were Hanna Jo Williams, of Marion, New York, awarded a bachelor’s degree in industrial and human factors design and an associate degree in studio arts on Friday; Glendalis Guadarrama, of Avondale, who received a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Saturday morning’s session; and Alexandra M. Lehman, of Williamsport, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration: sport and event management concentration to close out the festive weekend. The college also bestowed three teaching honors – the Veronica M. Muzic Master Teacher Award and two Excellence in Teaching Awards – as well as a pair of alumni awards.

Read more

Last updated May 12, 2018 | Posted in Alumni, Business & Hospitality, Construction & Design Technologies, Events, Faculty & Staff, Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, Institutional Advancement, Nursing & Health Sciences, President, Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications, Students, Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies | This gallery contains 32 photos. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

Nursing Students Share Research With Engaged UPMC Professionals

Students in the traditional bachelor’s degree nursing major presented their capstone research at the UPMC Susquehanna research symposium, receiving praise from health system staff and administrators.

The students are enrolled in the course Research and Theory in Clinical Practice, taught by Joni J. Pyle, assistant professor of nursing at Penn College. The students work in clinical groups to formulate a research proposal.

“The proposal is based upon something they see in their clinical experience that they think needs to be studied in greater depth to possibly be ‘changed,’” Pyle said.

Read more

Education Event Brings Disciplines Together to Improve Patient Care

During an Interdisciplinary Professional Education event at Penn College, students from several majors discuss a patient case, including what treatment each professional would provide and what information each would gather and share with professionals from other departments. The patient, in bed, is played by physician assistant student Danielle M. Klock, of Sunbury. Facilitating the discussion is Wayne E. Reich (left), director of nursing, bachelor degrees.

An April event hosted by Pennsylvania College of Technology’s School of Health Sciences brought together students from nine majors to simulate patient care.

“The event emphasized the importance of collaboration among health care professionals in providing optimal patient care,” said Larissa D. Whitney, instructor of physician assistant studies, who led the team coordinating the event.

Over two days, 230 students worked together on simulated patient cases to evaluate, diagnose and provide treatment to mock patients portrayed by senior-level physician assistant students.

Read more

Last updated May 3, 2018 | Posted in Events, Faculty & Staff, Nursing & Health Sciences, Students | This gallery contains 8 photos. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

Pennsylvania College of Technology is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University