PCC classes rank tops in state

From http://www.koaa.com/news/pcc-classes-rank-tops-in-state/

PUEBLO – Pueblo Community College was recognized for helping students find work after graduation. Hospitals are especially eager to hire graduated from the colleges new Surgery Technician program which just began this fall semester.

In addition to classroom lectures and lessons on surgical tools, students who enroll in the program five hours at a time in a learning lab in the form of a full scale operating room.

“We run it like a real operating room,” said Diana Montoya, Chair of the Surgery Technician Department. “From the time they enter the O.R. they have to be sterile, they have to set up sterilely, they can’t drop their hands, they have to follow all the guidelines and all the rules.”

The lab in housed inside St. Mary Corwin Hospital was designed along with the course curriculum to give graduates the skills needed to fill high-demand jobs.

“There are a lot of hospitals that are just waiting for techs to get out and have the experience,” Montoya said.

Instructor Kendyl Ingram works as a surgical technician and said the college’s laboratory about as close as it gets to the real thing.

“It’s very close to what we do, we try to give them real life situations in here,” Ingram said.

The surgical technician program is latest addition to the college’s successful Health and Public Safety Programs. Graduates from the various degree tracks in Health and Public Safety must pass national licensing exams. The numbers show most do.

Over the last three years graduates in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Radiology and Respiratory Care Technician programs have between 89 and 94 percent licensure pass rate.

“We are known at Pueblo Community College for putting out some of the best respiratory technicians,” said Sandy Curtis, Clinical Director of the Respiratory Care Program.

Outside the hospital, the colleges police, fire and paramedic programs also have a reputation for turning out quality graduates.

“Just the reputation of the (police) academy here at PCC is what brought me out of retirement to get some follow on training from my military,” said student Michael Scmitz.

The high retention and licensure rates brought the lieutenant governor to town to applaud the college. Pueblo Community College ranked first among two year colleges by Department of Higher Education in their Colorado Completes Program.