State Recognizes Innovative Nursing Education Collaboration With $1.7 Million Grant

October 13, 2005 - Nurses who are currently Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) now have the opportunity to become Registered Nurses (RN) through an Accelerated Health Care Training Grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and the Department of Community Health. The grant is a collaborative effort between Mercy Health Partners, Hackley Hospital and the Muskegon Community College Nursing Program. A $1.7 million grant was awarded for this project, which addresses the Michigan nursing shortage.

This is an excellent opportunity for LPN’s who are currently employed at MHP and Hackley Hospital and will provide salary, tuition and other support while they further their education and obtain an Associate Degree for RN licensure. “The grant represents a wonderful opportunity to increase the number of qualified nurses in our communities,” notes Robert Ferrentino, MCC Vice President for Academic Affairs. Many LPN’s have already begun the process of testing and starting the prerequisite work to ensure they are ready when the program begins in May 2006. Over a 12 month period, the grant will expand the RN workforce by 50 RN’s and will increase the numbers of prepared clinical nursing faculty to supervise students in labs and clinical at MCC.

“This grant provides a unique opportunity for talented LPN’s who have the desire and intelligence to become Registered Nurses, says Gay Landstrom, MSN, Vice President of Patient Care Services at MHP. Many of these talented people have only been held back by a lack of funds, confidence and support. These individuals will serve the remainder of their careers as Registered Nurses with significantly improved incomes. The impact on each of these LPN’s families and, in turn, Muskegon’s economy is significant.”

RN’s holding a Bachelor of Science or Masters of Science degrees in nursing and are currently employed at either hospital will be subcontracted by Muskegon Community College to undergo clinical faculty educator training and will serve as adjunct faculty.

“This important program not only addresses the critical shortage which exists in nursing today, but it allows us to accomplish it through the development of our own committed staff,” says Ronald Haase, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Hackley Hospital. “Many of these outstanding LPN’s will now have the opportunity to pursue an advanced degree in a supportive educational program.”

One of the reasons for this type of training and education was to address the need for additional RN’s in the state. The state of Michigan nursing shortage is a high priority at this time. The goal is to train and retain these nurses to help assist in the vacancy rate locally. With an aging and more acute population, nurses continue to be in high demand both locally and nationally.