Nursing & Health Sciences Articles

Kelly T. Bidlespacher, director of nursing, bachelor and graduate degrees, at Pennsylvania College of Technology, completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice in educational leadership from Grand Canyon University in November. Bidlespacher’s studies culminated in an evidence-based direct practice improvement project that she titled “The Effect of Teach-Back on Readmission Rates in Rehabilitation Patients.”

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s dental hygiene program provided free oral care to 22 children and teens during a Sealant Saturday event on Nov. 4. “The future of our community’s oral health looks brighter, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our students and volunteers offering free dental services to children in need,” said Tiana L. Minnick, instructor of dental hygiene, who spearheaded the event. “It was a rewarding experience for everyone involved.”

Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, chair of the state Senate Communications & Technology Committee, was among those visiting on Wednesday, impressed by a variety of instructional areas alongside Penn College administrators, state Sen. Gene Yaw and legislative colleagues.

At Pennsylvania College of Technology, you'll hone the hands-on skills to thrive in the rewarding field of physical therapy. Physical therapist assistants help rehabilitate patients and inspire them to move more freely and independently. In this two-and-a-half-minute video, you'll see Penn College graduates in action, explore on-campus lab spaces, and learn more about this engaging and impactful hands-on program.

In this episode of Penn College's Tomorrow Makers podcast, you'll meet Elizabeth A. Legarski, nursing instructor, and Kayla Kerstetter, a nursing student from Trevorton. Each holds two degrees from the college – Legarski in physical fitness specialist and nursing, Kerstetter in exercise science and applied health studies – and both found their way to nursing after exploring other possible career paths.

To celebrate National Physical Therapy Month, students in Penn College’s physical therapist assistant program are spreading the word about why individuals should choose physical therapy to decrease pain, increase mobility, maximize health and improve their quality of life. Every October, the American Physical Therapy Association celebrates National Physical Therapy Month to raise awareness with consumers about the many benefits of physical therapy.

Meredith Bigger, a specialist in health promotions for the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania, joined the Pediatric Nursing class on Tuesday to share with the future health care professionals a simple, three-step process to prevent lung disease: Ask, Advise and Connect.

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s radiography program celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Oct. 18 with a show of pink – the color designated for bringing attention to breast cancer and early detection of the disease. Earning a degree in radiography is the first step to becoming a mammographer (a mammogram is an X-ray that allows a radiologist to examine the breast tissue for any suspicious areas) – one of several advanced modalities in the medical imaging field.

WNEP’s Chris Keating visited Penn College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic on Monday to report on the upcoming Sealant Saturday. During the Nov. 4 event, second-year dental hygiene students will be joined by faculty and volunteer dentists and dental hygienists to provide free oral care to children and teens.

Students in the physician assistant program capped off PA Week, celebrated Oct. 6-12 every year, with a Wednesday pizza picnic in front of the Physician Assistant Center.