Pueblo Community College has created a Division of Nursing to accommodate growing demand and the addition of a bachelor’s degree in nursing, according to a news release.

The division will begin operations on July 1, under Paula Kirchner, interim director of the nursing program.

The programs that will be included in the division are nursing, surgical technology, psychiatric technician, medical assistant, nurse aide and certified addiction counselor.

“We are well positioned so that as we move forward with our Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, our dedicated team on all of our campuses can focus on filling the skills gap in this vital profession,” PCC President Patty Erjavec said.

Kirchner graduated from PCC’s nursing program in 1994, and received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Colorado State University-Pueblo in 2006 and a master’s from Regis University in 2011. After working as an registered nurse at Parkview Medical Center for 22 years, Kirchner returned to PCC as a faculty member in 2011. She has been interim director since October 2017.

“I am excited about this new appointment, and I look forward to leading our faculty and students into the next chapter of the PCC nursing program,” Kirchner said.