Portland, Maine – America needs nurses, and some schools have programs to accelerate the training of nurses.
To speed up the process, these programs reduce the training period from up to four years to one year.
“I really think this is a win-win for students and local hospitals and facilities,” Elizabeth Mann, a clinical assistant professor at the University of New England, said in an interview with Fox News. She is based in Maine.
Fewer than half of nurses are ‘fully engaged’ in their jobs, while many are ‘disengaged’, new report finds
Prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree and complete eight prerequisite courses.
This is significantly shorter than typical 2-4 year nursing programs.
A student attends training to become a nurse at the University of New England. (Kylie Schuyler)
“I think being able to earn a second degree in something like a bachelor’s degree in nursing is very appealing to a lot of people,” Donna Hyde, interim dean of the UNE School of Nursing, told FOX News. .
“They don’t need to have any medical experience; we’ll get them there.”
Nursing shortage hits rural America hardest
The University of New England’s new fast-track nursing program is scheduled to begin in May.
Experts say the aim is to help students find jobs faster, but they also have to receive formal training.
The states with the greatest need for nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan and Georgia, according to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. (Kylie Schuyler)
“Nothing is being cut. They’re doing the same amount of clinical hours, so we’re allowing them time to do that,” Hyde said.
“You may need to be a little more flexible with your schedule to account for weekends.”
According to the National Center for Health and Medical Care Workforce Analysis, there will be a shortage of more than 78,000 registered nurses next year.
Nursing programs are struggling to sustain themselves amid a nationwide shortage of nurses.
The states with the greatest need for nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan, and Georgia.
“As each state considers its own options for growing its nursing workforce, this is another option,” Jennifer Mencik Kennedy, president of the Oregon-based American Nurses Association, told Fox News. told.
Click here to sign up for our health newsletter
Mann said the shortened 12-month program will not only be attractive to students, but will also benefit local medical facilities.
Hyde said he has spoken to many nurse managers at local healthcare partner companies and “they clearly recognize the need for more nurses sooner rather than later.”
Nursing students train in simulation labs for employment. Experts say the shortened 12-month program will be attractive to students and will also benefit local medical facilities. (Kylie Schuyler)
Mann noted that some have expressed doubts about whether students can be ready in just one year.
“They might interpret it as [offering] poor quality [of training] Or maybe people think we’re pushing our students forward, but I want to emphasize that that’s not actually the case,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The University of New England expects up to 40 students to begin the program in May.
To address the nursing shortage, some schools are implementing programs to accelerate the training of new nurses. (St. Petersburg)
Once students complete the program, they must pass a national exam just like a traditional fourth-year student in order to officially become a nurse.
For more health articles, visit: www.foxnews.com/health.
