PHH and BC3@Brockway partner to expand nursing program
DuBOIS - In light of the nationwide nursing shortage, the Brockway campus of Butler County Community College and Penn Highlands Healthcare have teamed up to to expand the college’s nursing program.
During a press conference Thursday, BC3@ Brockway and PHH announced the partnership to expand the registered nursing program with PHH sponsoring tuition for select students who sign an employment agreement.
Beginning this fall, the PHH will fund tuition for up to 30 qualified students in the BC3@Brockway’s 4-year nursing program.
On Thursday, officials from both PHH and BC3 signed an initial 4-year agreement in which PHH will also provide annual operating funds to support increased enrollment and expand clinical space at PHH.
PHH Chief Nursing Officer, Heather Franci addressed the issue of the nursing shortage and how the expanded program will help alleviate the regional shortage.
“Anyone who has followed the news for the past two years is well aware that there is a critical shortage of nurses throughout the United States and here in Northwestern Central Pennsylvania. We are not immune from this reality,” Franci said. “Beginning in 2021, registered nursing was the fifth most in demand job in the American workforce. That’s largely because nurses are leaving the profession.”
Franci went on to explain that the COVID-19 pandemic compounded the shortage and that nursing school enrollment is not growing fast enough to meet the demand for more nurses.
BC3 President, Nick Neupauer agreed that while the nursing shortage is prevalent throughout the country, the BC3@Brockway expanded nursing program with the help of PHH will create some relief in the region.
“This is a tremendous day for this region,” Neupauer said. “Now perhaps more than ever, it’s important to put qualified nurses into the workforce. Nursing students and the region will benefit for years and years to come.”
Tuition and fees for BC3@Brockway students pursing 15 credits per semester for one year in the 2022-2023 school year are $8,400, while the average salary for registered nurses in the region is $66,629 annually, according to college officials.
The college’s associate degree nursing program began in 1973 and expanded in 2018 to include BC3 in Brockway.
Applications for the nursing program for the fall 2023 semester will begin Aug. 1.
BC3@Brockway’s service area includes Clarion, Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson Counties.