Working together to ease the shortage of nurses
Joyce Hein - Interim CEO, Newman Regional Health
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
MY JOB as interim administrator is to keep things running as smoothly as possible and build a good foundation for the arrival of the next CEO. Therefore, I would like to continue these monthly editorials. Last month’s editorial included some sobering statistics about the number of healthcare professionals that will be needed over the next 20 years. We can’t change the fact that we have an increasing number of aging baby boomers and or an aging workforce, but there are some steps we can take now to prepare for the future. I’m delighted to see some of those actions in motion here.
One of the things that has already impressed me about Newman Regional Health, and really the whole community, is the value placed on education. I understand that from the day the hospital opened, it has been a teaching institution. The Newman nursing program has always been an important part of the hospital’s mission, and an important asset to this community. You have a very nice educational facility here. As I learn more about the cooperative relationships that now exist, it is truly remarkable how this community has pulled together to support this school. As a result, the school not only survived an era when many nursing programs were phased out, but it is now thriving.
You’ve heard the expression, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I’ve learned a new expression: “It takes a community to educate a nurse.” As you already know, Emporia State University stepped forward about 15 years ago to work with our hospital in transforming the nursing diploma program to a four year degree program. Local contributors continue to donate critical funding to purchase needed equipment and provide scholarships. Together, you have accomplished much.
Judith Calhoun, Chair of the ESU Newman Division of Nursing, is especially pleased with grant funds that have come from the state in recent years. Working with ESU to provide matching funds, Judith made sure that some of these dollars were brought to Emporia. As a result, the nursing school has been able to add two new faculty members and increase each class size from 35 to 44 students. They can now also accept up to 10 additional articulating students; individuals who are already LPNs or non-degree RNs who want their degree. In spite of this expansion, we still have about twice as many applicants as slots available.
Judith went on to tell me that the state and matching funding also enabled the school to purchase computerized mannequins; “virtual reality” simulators that allow students to practice their skills. She is anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new infant IV simulator purchased with funds from private foundations in our community.
Newman Regional Health is taking many positive steps to ensure our community has an ongoing supply of nurses and other healthcare professionals.
F Newman contributes over a half million dollars each year to fund the nursing program.
F The hospital, our Auxiliary and the Newman Foundation have created scholarships to help students pursue healthcare careers.
F Newman serves as a clinical training site for nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, information management, and many other schools.
F An annual heathcare career fair is held for high school students.
F To retain nurses, Newman now offers a variety of more attractive working options. For example, most of our nurses now work 12 hour shifts, enabling them to work only three days a week with four days off.
Entrance into healthcare schools is highly competitive, and most are at full capacity. If we are to meet the growing demand for health care services, we must continue to work with together to expand educational opportunities, create scholarships to recruit students and utilize technology to offer alternative methods of learning. On behalf of our own nursing school, we extend our appreciation to our community for helping us to meet this challenge.