As National Nurses Week comes to a close, CHI Saint Joseph in Lexington, Kentucky is taking steps to improve the nursing landscape in the state. The hospital has partnered with Lincoln Memorial University to offer students a new pathway to earn their bachelor of science in nursing. Melissa Bennett, COO and chief nursing executive at CHI Saint Joseph, emphasizes the importance of nurses in connecting with patients and their families, understanding physicians’ messages, and providing care.
Bennett, inspired by her aunt who was a nurse, has dedicated her career to mentoring and leading nurses. Recognizing the global shortage of nurses, CHI Saint Joseph has been actively engaging with schools to introduce students to the profession at an early age. Bennett highlights the significance of exposure and access to the nursing profession in addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals.
The new partnership with Lincoln Memorial University will expand LMU’s Caylor School of Nursing to Lexington, providing classrooms, skills labs, and simulation rooms at the Saint Joseph office park. This initiative will not only offer educational opportunities to students but also enable current healthcare professionals to advance their education. The program is set to launch in August with an initial class of 40 students, with plans for further expansion in the future to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community.