Latest news with #MetroTech
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Metro Tech celebrates new nursing simulation lab
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A ribbon cutting was held Thursday morning to celebrate Metro Tech's Springlake Campus' new nursing simulation lab. 'I can tell you this simulation lab is going to be a game changer,' said Kerri Bayer, the Regional Chief Nursing Officer of SSM Health. LOCAL NEWS: Last minute preps ahead of Festival of the Arts The project was funded by an ARPA grant, awarded through the Oklahoma Healthcare Workforce Training Commission. The hope is that it will help tackle the critical nursing shortage. 'During the pandemic, when people said we didn't have enough beds, we had physical beds, but we didn't have enough staffed beds and there are people that could potentially still be alive today had we had more nurses,' said Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Kyle Hilbert. Destiny Smith is a second-semester student. 'It looks like a hospital and this is how we treat it,' said Smith. She showed KFOR around the nearly 10,000 square-foot facility Thursday. We started in the simulation lab, where students can practice patient care scenarios. 'We can check blood pressure. We're able to check our vital signs,' said Smith. 'If you put your hand on her chest, you can feel her breathing up and down.' LOCAL NEWS: Dollar Tree announces return of Marietta distribution center There's also the skills lab for students to get hands-on experience with fundamental nursing skills. 'This is where we take a picture of the heart,' said Smith. Our last stop on the tour was the surgical lab with four operating room suites. 'When we talk about nursing, we're building hope for all of Oklahoma. It's a really big deal,' said Brent Haken, Oklahoma CareerTech State Director. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
February layoffs up 245% from January; highest since 2020, outplacement firm says
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — We all know that DOGE is cutting thousands of federal jobs. It's impacting the nation's employment figures, but it isn't the whole story. U.S. employers announced over 170,000 layoffs for February, an increase of 245% since January. Only a third of the layoffs are DOGE cuts. We haven't seen layoff numbers that high since the early months of COVID. News 4 visited a local job fair to take the temperature of employers and job seekers as our economy hits some turbulence. 'There are a plethora of opportunities and jobs, but we have to be willing to go out there and seek them,' Metro Tech CEO and Supt. Aaron Collins said. About 50 employers were at Metro Tech Springlake Campuses career fair on Thursday. Collins is also on the Central Oklahoma Workforce Innovation Board and he said work is needed everywhere. 'Welders, construction, plumbers, auto body, automotive mechanics, nurses,' Collins said. 'The job search has been challenging,' job seeker Bryan Johnson said. Those seeking the work are not brimming with such confidence though. More cuts planned at Veterans Affairs 'Uncertain. Very shaky,' Johnson said on his view of the job market. Johnson has a bachelors and masters degree in mechanical engineering. He was laid off from UPS last fall and for the past five months he's been working as a Lyft driver and at Remington Park to make ends meet. 'Keeping a good attitude and just every day just waking up in the morning and just improve myself,' Johnson said. 'It's kind of hard trying to get people to get back to me,' Metro Tech culinary student Joseph Tryial said. Tryial is an 18-year-old student at Metro Tech who is also seeking work. He's hoping to land something before his may graduation. 'I want to start small, you know, build up my experience,' Tryial said. With layoffs in February up 245% from the month before, job seekers know the competition may increase. That's despite Oklahoma numbers that show about 103,000 job openings compared to over 50,000 unemployed people. State job openings and labor turnover data for January of this year are set to be released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 20. National data will be released on March 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Career and Technical Education is a driving force for economic growth in OK
As superintendent and CEO of Metro Tech, I've witnessed firsthand how education transforms lives. Students walk through our doors ready to gain skills that will shape their futures and leave with the tools to thrive in the workplace and life. The success of our students has a ripple effect on our communities, local businesses and the economy. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is more than classrooms and certifications. It's a driving force for economic growth in Oklahoma. CareerTech is not only Oklahoma's workforce leader, but it also fuels the economy, contributing nearly $1 billion annually and providing taxpayers with a high return on investment. For every $1 of state funding invested in technology centers like Metro Tech, there's a $9.82 impact on economic output and $10.48 in earnings for secondary and adult students over a decade. These numbers are a testament to CareerTech's work to prepare students for high-demand careers and help businesses thrive. Metro Tech serves as a vital resource for workforce development. 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. 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 Healthcare Workforce Training Commission. With the healthcare industry facing a significant workforce shortage, this initiative couldn't come at a better time. This new facility is helping us train more students and expand our Practical Nursing and Surgical Technology programs, which will help provide more than 100 new healthcare graduates to the workforce each year. More: Does Oklahoma have enough economic freedom to lift people out of poverty? | Opinion But CareerTech's impact extends far beyond this. Whether it's welding, culinary arts, automotive service, or early childhood education, our programs are tailored to meet the needs of both our students and the businesses that hire them. CareerTech's bridge between education and industry is the backbone of our success. As we celebrate Career and Technical Education Month this February, to take a closer look at how CTE impacts our community. At Metro Tech, we're committed to continuing this legacy of excellence. Together, we're building a stronger, more prosperous future for generations to come. Aaron Collins is superintendent and CEO of Metro Technology Centers, which has four campuses offering full-time, short-term, career and customized business training across Oklahoma City. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Career and Technical Education ensures a strong workforce | Opinion
