The University of Texas Permian Basin's School of Nursing has entered into a practice-academic partnership with Midland Health. This collaboration comes at a time when local hospitals are experiencing a critical shortage of nurses. The partnership allows fourth-semester nursing students, who are currently in the MMH Nursing Intern Program, to work on the floor alongside nurses during their precepted clinical hours, which are required to graduate. This will provide relief to current nurses who are dealing with significant staffing challenges due to COVID-19 and allows UTPB nursing students to gain more confidence with additional hands-on learning. The nursing students will also be compensated for their work.
This opportunity will not only provide much needed clinical education to assist in meeting program requirements, it is an unparalleled opportunity for our nursing students to assist the community in a time of crisis
"This new partnership is a great step in improving nursing care in the Permian Basin. Students benefit with more hands-on learning with patients and nurses benefit by having additional support at the bedside. It’s a true win-win scenario,” said MMH Chief Nursing Officer, Kit Bredimus.
The practice-academic partnership with Midland Health came to fruition after the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) recommended that nursing education programs and health care facilities collaborate in a clinical agreement due to the pandemic. UTPB nursing students who are already in the MMH Nursing Intern program were chosen as the pilot group for this partnership. These students have already committed to being nurses at Midland Health after they graduate but now they will have more confidence once they become registered nurses and begin working on their own full time.
"This opportunity will not only provide much needed clinical education to assist in meeting program requirements, it is an unparalleled opportunity for our nursing students to assist the community in a time of crisis and learn the principles of population health and emergency management,” said Dr. Donna Beuk, Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Performance.
This pilot program will run through spring 2022, which is the expiration date enacted by NCSBN. The, UT Permian Basin's School of Nursing along with Midland Health will look to extend if allowed.
