Representatives from Eastern Oklahoma State College, Kiamichi Technology Centers and McAlester Regional Health Center met today to discuss opportunities to increase the number of nurses entering the workforce. Eastern President Dr. Janet Wansick, McAlester Regional Health Center Chief Executive Officer T. Shawn Howard, Kiamichi Technology Centers Superintendent Shelley Free, KTC Director of Instruction Dr. Darlynn Cast, and Eastern Nursing Professor Maye Durant met on Thursday at Eastern's McAlester Campus. KTC currently offers a licensed practical nursing program (LPN) and Eastern provides a transition program to train registered nurses (RN). The group met to discuss opportunities to streamline the pathway for nursing students to enter the workforce amid an increasing shortage in the health care system.