CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs announced Wednesday a new $1.6 million investment in and strategic partnerships with National Park College and Henderson State University to focus on training nurses and enriching nursing programs at both institutions.
The money, even split between the two, will be distributed over three years. Of the total, $1 million will be used for program growth and development; the other $600,000 will fund financial aid packages at $100,000 per year per school ($200,000 a year total).
The financial assistance will go to students enrolled in National Park College’s registered nursing program and Henderson State’s bachelor’s of science in nursing program, which is based in Hot Springs.
The hospital will also provide financial support to equip a state-of-the-art clinical simulation lab at NPC to provide hands-on experience in a learning environment and to hire more faculty at Henderson State, doubling the capacity of the program.
Students selected for these partnership programs will be employed as nurses at the hospital upon completion of their respective programs and licensure.
“These strategic partnerships are innovative ways to respond to a critical nursing shortage in Arkansas and across the country … Nursing is a rewarding career and this private-public partnership shows our joint commitment to ensuring we have the appropriate talent within the community to care for the citizens of the greater Hot Springs area,” CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs President Tony Houston said in a news release. “Moreover, careers in nursing provide very good pay and benefits and help strengthen the overall economic health of the community.”
Up to 20 financial aid packages will be offered to each institution annually for a total of 40 per year for each year of the agreement.
Students who qualify and select the financial support must agree to to work at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs for at least two years.
In May, CHI St. Vincent announced a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to expand its nursing program.
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