Indiana's health care providers are under a growing amount of stress, fatigue, and burnout as the effects from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to linger. Indiana has a growing desire for nurses to meet health care needs around the state. Hoosier hospitals just experienced their most devastating year financially, which has continued to worry many about the potential of hospital closures—especially in rural areas.
That's why one northern Indiana hospital and a local university put their heads together to address the nursing shortage in their area. Cameron Memorial Community Hospital and Trine University are working together to train new professionals to help meet health care need in Steuben County and the surrounding region. This partnership includes a new 32,000-square-foot educational facility, known as the Cameron Education and Innovation Center, to be added to Cameron Memorial's campus this spring, and a new nursing program on Trine's Angola campus that is enrolling students for fall 2023.
Cameron Memorial Community Hospital is one of a few independent critical access hospitals across the state. Angie Logan, president and CEO of the hospital, said this new partnership is one step in the right direction to address the ever-growing nursing shortage.
“Cameron Memorial Community Hospital is committed to strategically investing in our organization's growth so we can be here to care for this community for generations to come," Logan said. “But the intent of this investment goes beyond the walls of our hospital. It's about how we can also promote growth within Steuben County. This addition will help to recruit, grow, and retain critical health care providers to this community."
Trine University President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D. said he is looking forward to the tremendous impact Trine University nurses will have on their patients, their workplaces, and their profession.
“We are grateful for Cameron Hospital's partnership in helping Trine University continue to expand its programming in areas that allow us to meet this region's growing health care needs while equipping our graduates for successful careers," said Brooks.
The three-story education and innovation center will include simulation and skills labs, and many classrooms to be used for health education and training. Along with the state-of-the-art facility, Cameron Memorial Community Hospital plans to engage with local schools and other community members in allowing access to this new environment supporting education and hands-on training.
Trine University says their new Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program will aid in addressing the nursing shortages anticipated over the next decade. Trine's ASN is a five-semester program that allows graduates to apply for licensure as a registered nurse by examination.
“It's no secret that health care organizations across the United States are dealing with nursing shortages and Cameron is not immune to those trends," said Julie McCormick, Chief Nursing Officer of Cameron Memorial Community Hospital. “Cameron's decision to invest in this new facility allows the organization to be proactive in addressing our future needs by aligning with a great partner like Trine University and developing a new program to be housed in a state-of-the-art education and training facility."
Officials from both Cameron Memorial Community Hospital and Trine University hope this collaboration will encourage students to roll up their sleeves and dive into the rewarding field of nursing.
To learn more about the program, or to apply for admission, visit
trine.edu/asn.
