Panola College offers FLEX Nursing

            Panola College’s new Online FLEX Delivery Nursing Option, one of the first of its kind in the nation, began this semester with 10 students. The FLEX Option allows nursing students to earn their degree while continuing to work full time.

            The FLEX format combines online classes with clinical experience at night and on weekends. Students who successfully complete the program will earn their associate degree and be ready to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for licensure as a registered nurse.

            “In the past, the traditional full-time program for nursing has not been very flexible for those who need to continue working full time,” said Dr. Barbara Cordell, program director.

“We are proud to be offering an option for these students. Hopefully, this will enable more people to enter the nursing profession and help to alleviate the shortage.”

The four-semester FLEX Option allows students to attend summer school, shortening the program completion time to a year and one semester rather than the usual two years.

“This program will especially benefit LVNs, paramedics and fire fighters who want to become registered nurses,” Dr. Cordell added.

The ADN FLEX Option resulted from Panola College’s innovative and customer-focused approach to education. Dr. Cordell explained that the nursing department compiled statistics on the number of students requesting part-time or evening nursing programs, as well as conducting benchmark research with other nursing schools. What she found was a need for more flexible nursing education programs.

            While the primary advantage for FLEX nursing students is the ability to remain in their present full-time jobs, students in the program say they also enjoy the more flexible study options and convenience of online classes as well as the weekend clinical opportunities.

            Because students in the FLEX Option must be self-motivated, self-directed and highly organized, Panola College set higher standards for entry into this program than the regular nursing degree plan. Students in the FLEX Option must maintain a 3.0 GPA and must score an 85 on the HESI entrance exam. They must also have access to a computer with high-speed Internet access.

            Dr. Cordell says that despite the fact that the classes will be delivered online, students will have the benefit of support from nursing faculty.

            “We’re having a half-day in-person orientation, and we’ll be providing lots of online support via email and chat. Students will also have the phone numbers for all their nursing instructors,” she said.

            Not everything will be done online. Clinicals will be face-to-face for an average of 16 hours per weekend during the semester, and all major tests will be done face-to-face.

            FLEX nursing students are taking a skills class during Panola College’s minimester, May 17-27, and then will begin their clinicals in the Summer I semester, which begins May 30.

            FLEX students include Amanda Bishop, Flint; Michelle Bishop, Carthage; Teresa Cofran, Shreveport; Scott Illingworth, DeBerry; Matthew Latus, Longview; Dana Leonards, Waskom; Uwadilachi Nzeakor, Mesquite; Michele Plumlee, Carthage; David Smith, San Augustine and Brant Watson, Kilgore.

            The next application deadline for FLEX Nursing will be October 1, and that class will begin in January 2007.

            For more information contact the Panola College Associate Degree Nursing Department at 903-694-4000 or go to www.panola.edu and navigate to the nursing department.