The grant comes on the heels of a partnership between Lipscomb University’s School of Nursing and Ascension St. Thomas Midtown, established in 2023, designed to address nursing education and staffing needs.
Lipscomb University's School of Nursing has received a grant from the Tennessee Hospital Association in the amount of $50,000. The Healthcare Collaborative grant was awarded to the School of Nursing in collaboration with Ascension St. Thomas Midtown, with which the university has been working to address local nursing education and staffing needs via a Clinical Teaching Partnership. The grant will allow for the enhancement of clinical nursing programs to strengthen the quality of nurses working in the area.
According to an article on Lipscomb University's website, Andrew Burnett, who serves as the vice president of workforce and rural health at the Tennessee Hospital Association, was quoted as saying of the grant award, “We are impressed with the program’s goals and the School of Nursing’s dedication to healthcare workforce development in Tennessee. We look forward to working with you and your team as you implement this important initiative. Your work will undoubtedly improve the landscape of the healthcare workforce in your region and beyond.”
The Clinical Teaching Partnership formed between Lipscomb University’s School of Nursing and Ascension St. Thomas Midtown gives nursing students the opportunity to work at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown during their program to receive hands-on clinical training and become immersed in the nursing environment. This partnership helps address staffing shortages, as nursing students are able to fill roles during their training, and enhances the education nursing students receive while still in school, leading to more qualified nurses upon their graduation.
Chelsia Harris, who is the executive director of the School of Nursing at Lipscomb University, explained the grant and what it will help the institutions accomplish. She is quoted as saying, "This grant represents a crucial step forward for our institution. This funding will strengthen our partnership for sustainable growth. It provides students with hands-on experience in a dynamic healthcare setting, enhances their clinical and time management skills, and immerses them in the nursing profession early, fostering a strong sense of belonging within a professional team. This grant will allow both Lipscomb and Ascension St. Thomas Midtown the opportunity to work collaboratively on how to sustain this partnership long term, while navigating the ever-changing nature of healthcare. This partnership equips the future nursing workforce in a manner it would not have traditionally received.”
For more information about Lipscomb University, visit the school’s website.