During recent visits to Kearney and Lexington, UNMC College of Nursing Dean Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) that will provide eligible high school students with pathway programs that will prepare them to attend the UNMC College of Nursing.
In two separate signing ceremonies on Oct. 20, Dr. Sharp-McHenry met with Jason Mundorf, EdD, superintendent of Kearney Public Schools and Matthew Rogers, principal of Kearney Catholic High School in Kearney; and Eric Bell, principal of Lexington Public High School, and Annette Fitzgerald, director of curriculum, in Lexington.
As a part of the agreement, high school students at all three high schools can receive a reserved seat in the UNMC College of Nursing-Kearney Division BSN Program, so long as they meet all nursing prerequisite requirements and complete the UNMC College of Nursing’s admission process.
The college now has signed MOUs with several Nebraska high schools, and these latest create a robust pipeline to the UNMC College of Nursing’s Kearney Division for Kearney and Lexington high school students who want to become nurses.
Dr. Mundorf called the MOU a win for the students, the city of Kearney, and medical professional needs throughout Nebraska and the Midwest.
“In Kearney Public Schools, one of the key pillars of our Board Strategic Plan is preparing students for their postsecondary pursuits — whether that is college, the workforce or the military. It is no secret that we have an incredible shortage of nurses throughout Nebraska, and we firmly believe this partnership will not only be beneficial to our students but will also help build interest and eventual practitioners to help tackle this shortage.”
Rogers said Kearney Catholic was proud to partner with UNMC in this new opportunity for students and appreciated UNMC’s emphasis on rural health.
“With so many of our graduates going into the healthcare field, it is encouraging to know that this program will help keep those very students right here in Kearney and the surrounding area,” he said. “It is a win for Kearney Catholic students and it’s a win for our community.”
Lexington’s Bell said the district was excited about the opportunity the early admission program will provide Lexington High School students.
“It was only four years ago that Lexington High School added a health sciences program to our career and technical education department. This memorandum of understanding is the appropriate next step in providing opportunities for our students to further their education in the health sciences field. It is especially encouraging that the opportunity exists right down the road on the Kearney campus.”
The UNMC College of Nursing’s growing number of MOUs with Nebraska high schools to affiliate them with the college’s Northern, West Nebraska and Kearney divisions is indicative of its efforts to combat the growing nursing shortage in the state, Dr. Sharp-McHenry said.
“Our state needs approximately 6,700 new nurses to fill its needs,” she said. “We have young people who want to find out more about the profession. These agreements provide a pathway into nursing for interested Nebraska students, and we’re so excited to be working with Kearney Public Schools, Kearney Catholic Schools and Lexington Public Schools to make this opportunity available to their students, as well.”