TCAT Upper Cumberland is launching a new evening practical nursing program in Cookeville to address workforce shortages and provide flexibility for students.
TCAT Upper Cumberland President Cliff Wightman said the decision to add the night classes came down to utilizing available facilities to meet high industry demand. The new offering utilizes shared space at the Cookeville Higher Education Center to expand training opportunities beyond traditional daytime hours.
“Well, we’re very excited to be able to offer this evening program in the space that we share with Vol State at the Cookeville Higher Ed Center,” Wightman said. “Practical nursing is one of the strongest programs throughout our Upper Cumberland campuses as well as TCAT campuses across the state.”
Wightman said the first cohort of students will begin classes on May 4 with a limit of 30 seats available. The program runs five days a week from 3:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and lasts for one year.
“And then when they transition into the clinical setting, that’s where we’ll reach out to our clinical partners, which we’re very, very, very fortunate to have one of the best right with Cookeville Regional,” Wightman said. “And the students will stay on that same hour throughout the program for the entire length, which is one year.”
Wightman said this schedule is designed to open doors for working adults or parents who cannot attend school during the day due to employment or childcare constraints.
“But yes, you are correct, it opens a whole different door for people that maybe having either work issues during the day that can’t come to school in a traditional day setting or maybe they are full-time parents that don’t have access to childcare until the evenings,” Wightman said. “And so the evening programs offer a huge door for that education opportunity.”
The initiative aims to bolster the local healthcare workforce as many current professionals reach retirement age. Wightman noted that rural healthcare initiatives have highlighted the need for new tradespeople to replace those leaving the field.
“Healthcare is no different than any other trade,” Wightman said. “We have a lot of folks that are reaching retirement age that are coming out of healthcare. So these funnels into folks to replace them are just that much more of a benefit.”
Interested applicants can contact Brittany Qualls at the Cookeville Higher Education Center or visit the TCAT Upper Cumberland website for more information.