High Tech North in Cape Coral graduated its most recent class of nurses Wednesday.

The 11 graduates attended the center’s Practical Nursing Program where students take 1,350 hours of instruction that includes theory covered in the classroom and real life experience with realistic mannequins.

“We all will be needing these nurses for our own care eventually,” said Candy Shearer, the program’s director. “I am confident that they can meet the needs of any patients they may encounter in the future.”

The 11 graduates include Kristin Blackwell, Patricia Ulrey, Karen Nelson, Cecilia Sutkowski, Sancionnat Joseph, Kathleen Hudson, Alexandra Mullane, Nichole Rodrigues, Corinth Ann C. Calvo, Timothy Thurston and Darla Villalon.

During their clinical experiences, the students dealt with a variety of patients ranging from infants to the elderly. They learned methods of CPR, how to take vital signs and to give medications or injections.

According to Robert Fain, assistant director of High Tech North, most of the graduates will continue their education at Edison State College where they will become registered nurses (RNs) or earn a higher degree.

Jackie Houle, an instructor in the nursing program, said “that this group of new students is one of the best qualified classes she has enjoyed working with.”

The school prides itself on having over 100 years of collected nursing experience within its faculty. Sharon Charlton and Robin Randolph, both instructors, have more that 120 years of experience between them.

According to the Florida Center for Nursing Care, the state is facing a shortage of nurses by 2020.

A 2007 shortage of 11,000 is expected to balloon to 52,000 in the next 13 years, officials said, and now, more than ever, nurses are in high demand.

High Tech North will offer another practical nursing class in September and later classes in January and March. For more information on the program, contact the school at 574-4440 or visit hightechnorth.com.