b'16 CONCORD HOSPITAL TRUSTEmbracing a Nursing Education model When Jennie Small heard thatAt the time, Erin Collins, CH viceprogram. The difference is theyre New England College (NEC) waspresident of nursing professionalexperiencing the reality of care, while partnering with Concord Hospitalpractice and development,met withpartnering alongside our own nurses.(CH) to offer a three-year Bachelor ofDr. Angie McPhee-Smith, dean of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, thenursing & health professions at NEC toDegree completion within three years, 44-year-old mother of three knew itdiscuss a collaboration that wouldinstead of the standard four-year was the right time to make a change. combine traditional nursing educationtimeline, is an additional benefit of with practical experience.the partnership. The approach also While Small had held various jobs inbenefits the hospital with that much-health care over the last two decades,What clicked immediately was that weneeded recruitment and development including 11 years as a surgicalcould partner in growing the nursingof the workforce. The idea is that, when technologist in the operating room,workforce, Collins explains, and thatdegrees are completed in the NEC she had long thought about pursuing ameant starting much earlier in theprogram, most of the students will stay career in nursing. education process than in the past. at Concord Hospital health system.NEC and Concord Hospital haveIn an innovative approach, each BSNIt was the shared responsibility of both created an experience where westudent is paired with registered nurseNEC and Concord Hospital to embrace can earn while we learn, while alsopreceptors, who serve as on-site clinicalwhat this new nursing education model creating connections with healthcareinstructors to oversee their educationalcould mean, Collins says. Its directly staff, Small says. The commitmenttraining. Weve been gifted withmeeting the needs of the hospital to to produce educated, competentthe opportunity to learn alongsidehave LNAs working while going to professionals proves that this kind ofsome of the best professionals in ourschool. And, while we help in their partnership is essential in creating thecommunity, Small says. learning, theyre providing direct care next generation of nurses. to the patients we serve.Whats also different about the NEC/CH partnership is that students workCollins is grateful that the partnership as LNAs and get paid for their work,is supported by funding from Beverly 24-hours a week, while rotatingGrappone and the Concord Hospital through multiple clinical settings acrossTrust, which covers operational Concord Hospital health system. Theexpenses and supports the goal is to accelerate the transition fromemployment of LNAs and training academics to practice and increase thefor preceptors. While the program is number of well-trained nurses. currently based in Concord, Collins expects at least 10 students from Small is a member of the first cohortIts a transparent process for thosethe second NEC cohort to begin of 24 nursing students in the program,engaging in this program, thattheir rotations which launched in August 2022(shownemployment as an LNA is part ofat Concord above in a NEC class and right at Concordtheir curriculum, Collins says, notingHospital - Laconia Hospital).The idea was conceived yearsthat being licensed as an LNA in Newin 2024. ago, but came into sharper focus dueHampshire is a prerequisite. Their LNA to an exacerbated nursing shortagework hours contribute to their overall created by COVID-19. course credits toward the nursing'