Healthcare and worker needs recently reached crisis levels when Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency over the shortage of nurses in Kentucky. Now the Commonwealth is also seeing an alarming shortage of clinical functions such as lab technicians and respiratory therapists. Norton Healthcare is taking steps to fill the void and ease the strained industry by increasing tuition for students seeking degrees in Registered Nursing, Respiratory Therapy or Laboratory Sciences. while pursuing one of those degrees,” said Kim Blanding, Norton Healthcare’s director of talent acquisition and human resource development. “Anyone who has a calling to go into healthcare, who wants to serve the community, we can remove those barriers for them.” Data from local hospital systems shows that nursing and clinical positions make up the bulk of their vacancies. Baptist Health’s Floyd, Indiana campus has 94% of available clinical positions. Registered nurses make up 45% of their open positions in Louisville and 20% in Lagrange. UofL Health currently has more than 800 job openings, and Norton says their open positions fluctuate continuously. But to boost employment and meet demand, Norton supports finance students who want to fill those vacancies. “It really relieves the stress of that financial burden on top of the stressful study load we have,” says Britta Eden. “It’s an accelerated one-year program, so we’re working non-stop.” Britta Eden and Nicholas Hayes are two of the 60 Norton Scholars at Bellarmine University. While working in the healthcare sector can be difficult during an ongoing health crisis, they say the need for their service in the community outweighs the challenge. and their families is worth it,” Hays said. Amid a nationwide teacher shortage, Bellarmine’s medical students will get the full instructional experience. “I think it’s challenging to find good clinical instructors, but we’re so blessed,” said Christy Kane, dean of Bellarmine’s Donna and Allan Lansing School of Nursing and Clinical Sciences. “Many of our alumni come back and many of our graduate students come back to become clinical instructors.” so it’s important that we have qualified caregivers looking after our community,” Kane said. Norton Healthcare is partnering with local institutions such as Bellarmine University and Galen School of Nursing on the initiative. The program requires a work commitment after graduation. It also offers various career resources such as coaching, interview training, and resume writing.
Health care and worker needs recently reached crisis levels when Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency over the nursing shortage in Kentucky.
Now the Commonwealth is also seeing an alarming shortage of clinical functions such as lab technicians and respiratory therapists.
Norton Healthcare is taking steps to fill the void and ease the strained industry by increasing tuition for students seeking degrees in Registered Nursing, Respiratory Therapy or Laboratory Sciences.
“The student has a choice of school, and they can get up to $40,000 as long as they pursue one of those degrees,” said Kim Blanding, Norton Healthcare’s director of talent acquisition and human resource development. “Anyone who has a calling to go into healthcare, who wants to serve the community, we can remove those barriers for them.”
Data from local hospital systems shows that nurses and clinical functions make up the majority of their vacancies. Baptist Health’s Floyd, Indiana campus has 94% of available clinical positions. Registered nurses make up 45% of their vacancies in Louisville and 20% in Lagrange.
UofL Health currently has over 800 job openings and Norton says their open positions fluctuate constantly. But to boost employment and meet demand, Norton financially supports students who want to fill these vacancies.
“It really relieves the stress of that financial burden on top of the stressful course load we have,” said Britta Eden. “It’s an accelerated one-year program, so we’re working non-stop.”
Britta Eden and Nicholas Hayes are two of the 60 Norton Scholars at Bellarmine University. While working in the healthcare sector can be difficult during an ongoing health crisis, they say the need for their service in the community outweighs the challenge.
“It’s worth seeing the positive results of the work we’re doing and the effect it’s having on them and their families,” Hays said.
Amid a nationwide teacher shortage, Bellarmine’s medical students will receive the full instructional experience.
“I think it’s challenging to find good clinical instructors, but we’re so blessed,” said Christy Kane, dean of Bellarmine’s Donna and Allan Lansing School of Nursing and Clinical Sciences. “Many of our alums come back, and many of our graduate students come back to be clinical instructors.”
An effort to invest in education, the future of healthcare, and bridge a long-standing gap between the workforce.
“The health care shortage will affect all of us, so it’s important that we have qualified health care providers who care for our community,” Kane said.
Norton Healthcare partners on initiative with local institutions such as Bellarmine University and Galen School of Nursing.
The program requires a work commitment after graduation. It also offers various career resources such as coaching, interview training, and resume writing.