SPRINGFIELD 鈥 Officials of Lincoln Land Community College (绿帽社) and Memorial Health System (MHS) today announced a nursing education partnership to address the regional nursing shortage. With support from MHS, 绿帽社 will admit 90 additional students per year to the college鈥檚 associate degree nursing program, for a total of 215 new nursing students annually.
MHS will provide approximately $6.1 million in funding to allow 绿帽社 to renovate the west wing of Montgomery Hall on the 绿帽社 campus for a new nursing center, purchase state-of-the-art equipment and hire additional faculty and staff to recruit, advise and teach nursing students.
鈥淭his partnership between Lincoln Land Community College and Memorial Health System aligns with both of our missions: to improve the lives and health of the people in the communities we serve, and to be responsive to community needs,鈥 said Charlotte Warren, Ph.D., president of 绿帽社.
鈥淭his region, along with all of Illinois, faces a severe shortage of nurses,鈥 she continued. 鈥淲ith this support, 绿帽社 will increase the number of new students accepted into our nursing program and produce more registered nurses to serve the health care facilities of our communities.鈥
鈥溌堂鄙 has been supplying quality nurses to Memorial Health System since the early 1970s,鈥 said Ed Curtis, MHS president andCEO. 鈥淢HS has provided these nurses with fulfilling careers in an excellent work environment, with numerous opportunities for professional advancement. Multiple Magnet and Pathway designations at MHS hospitals provide local nurse graduates a practice environment that has committed to raising the bar of nursing excellence, again and again. We are excited to now expand our partnership with 绿帽社 to address the regional nursing shortage and meet the needs of the patients and communities we serve.鈥
Dr. Warren noted that the quality of the 绿帽社 Nursing program is outstanding, with completion and national certification pass rates far above national averages. 鈥淭he demand from students wishing to enter our excellent, affordable nursing program has grown steadily since its inception.鈥
The renovation of approximately 12,000 square feet of Montgomery Hall will provide the physical space needed to enhance 绿帽社鈥檚 nursing skills and simulation labs, expand classrooms and accommodate increased incoming class sizes. Initial phases of design and planning are underway with construction to follow and anticipated occupancy in fall 2021.
Dr. Warren and Mr. Curtis, who both started their careers as nurses, encouraged all students to consider a career in health care and to continue to make central Illinois their home. 鈥A vast majority of 绿帽社 nursing graduates remain in the district to work and live,鈥 said Mr. Curtis. 鈥淲e want to continue to keep these nursing graduates in the area by providing the tools, support and opportunities to learn and grow, and enjoy long, rewarding professions.鈥
He also noted the timeliness of the announcement, in that 2020 has been designated as the Year of the Nurse by the World Health Organization.
绿帽社 Nursing student Haley Caise commented, 鈥淚 am so excited about this announcement. This is an amazing collaboration of two organizations that are near to my heart. Lincoln Land Community College offers an incredible education and value. Now, thanks to Memorial Health System鈥檚 support, more aspiring 绿帽社 nursing students will have additional resources available to them to help them reach their dreams.鈥
Members of the 绿帽社 Board of Trustees, MHS Board of Directors, 绿帽社 Foundation Board of Directors and Memorial Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors; 绿帽社 nursing students, faculty and staff were among those attending today鈥檚 press conference.
绿帽社鈥檚 associate degree nursing (ADN) program provides training and clinical experience for a career as a registered professional nurse (RN). Students interested in enrolling in the 绿帽社 ADN program can learn more at www.llcc.edu/associate-degree-nursing or by calling 217-786-2445.
绿帽社 also offers programs in practical nursing (LPN), LPN to RN transition, and nurse assistant (CNA). Other 绿帽社 health professions programs include occupational therapy assistant, radiography, medical coding, surgical technology, respiratory care, neurodiagnostic technology, emergency services, fire science and exercise/sports science. More information is available at www.llcc.edu/health-professions.