Sorry that I missed two weeks of Blemos.  I was visiting a small technical college in Chicago for the Higher Learning Commission this week and I was in Washington DC last week as a member of the American Association of Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Commission.  We had wonderful discussions about recognizing military training for college credit, awarding experiential credit, completion rates (and the fact that students with less than one year of college are not recognized nationally in that number), and the push to eliminate the ADN level Registered Nurses by people who just don't get it.  

Can you tell who is the ADN and who is the BSN?

This one really stirs me up; the negative PR that is being used trying to represent bachelor level RNs as more valuable than ADN level RNs, even though data contradicts this mis-belief, has a movement afoot (again) to eliminate the ADN level of education.  There is also false information regarding hospitals who are seeking "Magnet" status to attract more qualified health care workers must have a certain percent of Bachelor RNs.  This is absolutely false and could create a deeper and more long-lasting gap in the availability of nurses.  The same study that proved these beliefs as being wrong also showed that the way to improve health care in hospitals was (are you ready?) to have more nurses on the floor, not less nurses with higher degrees.  OK, I'm finished...for now.

Frank Avila in HVAC has started a Skills USA fundraiser to help get his students to the competition.  How does it work?  MATC employees who volunteer will have a money bucket in the commons.  Whoever ends up with the most money in their bucket will receive a pie in the face!  Who gets to throw the pie? Well that could simply be you! By buying raffle tickets at the price of $1 dollar each, or 5 tickets for $3 dollars you enter the drawing!  The buckets will be available from November 28th till December 2nd.  The pie flies December 5th in the commons area at 11:30!  To buy raffle tickets look for a member of Skills USA!  By the way, your President, Dr. Rob is one of the volunteers to get splatted.  How often do you get that kind of a chance?

Congratulations to Linn Schroll for being nominated and appointed to the board of directors for the MO-KAN SCRS (Society of Collision Repair Specialists). Linn will be serving a three term on the board starting in 2012. SCRS is one of the most active organizations in the Auto Collision industry that is working toward improving the education of technicians.

The Dental Hygiene Department would like to welcome our newest full-time faculty member: Natalie Delacruz. "Mrs. Natalie Delacruz, RDH, BS graduated from New York University with an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene in 2005. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Oregon Institute of Technology in 2011. Mrs. Delacruz has worked as a clinical hygienist for nearly 6 years in a variety of private practices with locations ranging from Idaho to Florida. Her primary area of interest is clinical instruction. Mrs. Delacruz has recently relocated from Tampa Florida and she is very excited to be a new member of the MATC family." Mrs. Delacruz is on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall and begins her full-time duties in the spring.

Wow!  Here is a list of the National pass rates for the Practical and Registered Nurse NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) taken between July and September 2011:

• NCLEX-RN pass rate for first-time, U.S.-candidates was 85.07%.

• NCLEX-RN pass rate for all candidates was 76.18%.

• NCLEX-PN pass rate for first-time, U.S.-candidates was 87.00%.

• NCLEX-PN pass rate for all candidates was 79.24%.

Now take a look at these 2011 NCLEX Pass rates for MATC's May graduating nursing classes: 

• The pass rate for ADN was 91%

• The pass rate for PN was 100%

I reiterate...Wow!

Our two most recent renovation projects are winding down.  The nursing labs have been painted, new tile laid, and more sink space added.  The commons has new drop ceilings with more lighting (almost too bright), and a new facade around all the vending machines.  We will wrap up two other renovations before the end of the month and then just sit back and enjoy the new look.

Here is an interesting debate: Law School versus Technical College...No Contest:  "Hedge fund manager Daniel Ades of Kawa Capital Management tells the Wall Street Journal that students should seek an education that pays the highest salaries relative to the cost of education. According to that analysis, technical colleges are the best. "We're in a skills based economy and what we need is more computer programmers, more [nurses]," he tells the newspaper. "It's less glamorous but it's what we need."  To see the rest of the article, CLICK this link: http://www.abajournal.com/mobile/article/for_the_best_pay_relative_to_education_cost_choose_technical_college_over_l/?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email

Next week the faculty and students are off all week and the rest of us are off from Wednesday on through the weekend.  Here is wishing all of you a very pleasant time off and a terrific Thanksgiving.  Please travel gently and come back safely to us.

Rob