Due to a critical post-war nursing shortage in the 1950’s, the practical Nursing Program was established in 1959. A year in length, the Practical Nursing Program was able to provide bedside nurses to the workforce much more quickly than the typical three (3) year RN diploma programs.

It began as the Wilkes-Barre City School of Practical Nursing and, under the leadership of its first administrator, Ms. Nancy Reese, the first class of 19 students graduated in February 1960.

The nursing program which was initially located on the second floor of the Mackin Elementary School, Wilkes-Barre, PA, was then moved to the Guthrie Building, N. Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA, which then became the Adult Program Center to the Wilkes-Barre School District. The program, which began classes every September, was in session year round, with clinical assignments beginning in February of each year. Until the late 1960’s, all clinical teaching was done at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, where students had to punch a time clock and received a “stipend” for their clinical experiences. In 1969, with the addition of Mercy Hospital as a clinical site, enrollment increased to 25 students per class. The faculty consisted of 3 full-time instructors, all with B.S.N. in nursing education degrees, being paid $4.00/hour.

The Practical Nursing Program continued to grow in the early 1970’s, under the leadership of Ms. Kitty Panzitta, and with the opening of the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center in 1971, the Program relocated to this facility. The nursing program then became the Practical Nursing Program of the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center, and was sponsored by the Joint Operating Committee of the school.

During the administration of Ms. Mary Lenahan (Cawley) from 1981-2002, the program first received the National League for Nursing Accreditation status in 1990. Since 2002, under the leadership of Mrs. Mary Beth Pacuska, M.S.N., the program has seen its greatest growth, now t he third largest Practical Nursing program in the State of PA. In order to again meet the need in a time of crisis, two (2) classes per year are accepted with approximately 80 graduates per year are entering the work force. The Practical Nursing Program, today, has a staff of 8 full-time MSN and BSN prepared faculty members and 5 part-time clinical instructors.

More than 2,800 students have graduated from the Practical Nursing Program. These graduates have proudly represented the practical nursing program in our community by serving in a variety of healthcare settings. Currently, the Practical Nursing Program is rated as one of the finest entry-level nursing programs in the community, and is approved by the PA State Board of Nursing and fully accredited by the National League for Nursing.