Oklahoma celebrates Career and Technical Education Month with new nursing lab

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) proudly recognizes its partners at the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Training Commission (HWTC) for their efforts in expanding nursing and surgical technology training. With funding from the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA-SLFRF), HWTC is strengthening Oklahoma’s health care workforce and addressing critical shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment will improve access to quality care for the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

As part of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, Metro Technology Centers (Metro Tech) recently unveiled its new state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab in Oklahoma City. Designed to enhance hands-on learning, the lab will allow nursing and health care programs to expand enrollment and equip students with cutting-edge technology, better preparing them for careers in the field.

The state Legislature appropriated $80.3 million from the ARPA-SLFRF to HWTC for nursing education expansion across Oklahoma. Metro Tech received $2 million to renovate its Springlake Campus STEM building, upgrade equipment and add classrooms. This investment will enable Metro Tech to train more students in high-demand health care fields, producing more than 100 new graduates annually.

“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vital need for investment in Oklahoma’s health care education pathways,” said Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, a former educator. “Metro Tech’s new nursing lab will help more students receive world-class training and pursue nursing careers throughout the state. I look forward to seeing its positive impact on our health care workforce pipeline and all Oklahomans who need quality care.”

“As a former nurse and lifelong advocate for people in need, I am deeply proud of this meaningful support for both our health care professionals and the patients they serve,” said Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany. “Hands-on training is essential for preparing future nurses. This new facility isn’t just about expanding classrooms – it’s about ensuring Oklahoma has a strong, skilled workforce ready to make an immediate impact in our communities."

Metro Tech is a career and technology center with four campuses across the Oklahoma City area. As one of 29 career and technology centers in the state, its program offerings include aviation, automotive, cosmetology, childhood development, health care, visual arts and more. Vocational programs are offered for adult and high school students with opportunities to earn both college and concurrent high school credit.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workforce shortages were magnified. Early retirements, increasing cases of burnout and increased patient demand have all been attributed to such staffing shortages. The American Nurses Association notes that some health care workers may have either been enticed by higher wages elsewhere or simply left the career path to care for their families in the wake of the pandemic. As a result of these trends, the state’s current nursing education capacity does not meet demand, and hospital staffing levels are critically low.

Metro Tech’s practical nursing program aims to prepare students for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) and employment as a licensed practical nurse, an important member of any health care team.

Low-income citizens are statistically more likely to experience poorer health outcomes and adverse health effects. At the time of Metro Tech’s request to the Legislature, the population of low-income individuals in Oklahoma County exceeded the national rate by 2.6%; in 2023, it exceeded the national rate by 4.9%. This data, combined with the aging population of the state, highlights the need for qualified health care professionals to care for the state’s abundant at-risk and vulnerable populations.

ARPA-SLFRF was created to help respond to and recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the health care workforce was identified as a priority area for investment. The U.S. Department of the Treasury even highlighted the State of Oklahoma’s nursing education expansion project for catalyzing investment to support a strong and equitable recovery. While the new Metro Tech lab is just one part of that project, it is a significant milestone toward addressing a crucial need. By doubling nursing class capacity and providing students with practical experience, the initiative increases opportunities for Oklahomans to enter the health care field and ensures hospitals statewide have access to a well-trained workforce.

“We provide full-time, short-term, and customized business to fill critical gaps in the workforce, ensuring our local businesses have the talent they need to grow and remain competitive,” said Aaron Collins, superintendent and chief executive officer of Metro Tech. “An example of this is the recent construction of our Nursing Simulation Lab on the Springlake Campus, made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant awarded through the Oklahoma [Health Care] Workforce Training Commission.”

OMES’ Grants Management Office looks forward to the positive impact this investment will have on the state’s health care industry and applauds HWTC and Metro Tech for their dedication to workforce development. For more information, visit Metro Tech’s website.

Christa Helfrey
christa.helfrey@omes.ok.gov

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services provides financial, property, purchasing, human resources and information technology services to all state agencies, and assists the Governor’s Office with budgetary policy matters. Our mission: Provide excellent service, expert guidance and continuous improvement in support of our partners’ goals. For more information, visit oklahoma.gov/omes.

The Grants Management Office is the central administering entity of the American Rescue Plan Act's State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for the State of Oklahoma. Our team builds partnerships and collaborates with state agencies in the use of ARPA-SLFRF dollars. Our goal is to be a supportive partner to agencies to help them accomplish their ARPA-SLFRF project goals. For more information on the state’s ARPA-SLFRF progress, visit oklahoma.gov/arpa.