Alabama University Doubles Nursing Enrollment

0:00It's March 13th. Here's your Birmingham News in two minutes. Alabama faces a tough nursing shortage that's straining hospital statewide. The University of Alabama is stepping up with plans to double enrollment at its Capstone College of Nursing. This move aims to produce more than 500 new nurses each year once fully ramped up. The program will grow to over 3,400 students by 2030. That means twice as many practice-ready nurses graduating from the University to help fill the gap. Nursing leaders like Don Alexander from BCH Regional Medical Center say the shortage has been around for years. It's partly due to limited spots in training programs, lower pay in Alabama, compared to most other states, and tough competition from high salary. Spots like New York during strikes. DCH is fighting back with long-term recruiting and retention efforts. They're building ties with local schools including the University of Alabama, Shelton State, the University of West Alabama, and Bevel State. The goal is to become the top

1:01choice for nurses in West Alabama by listening to what students want. To make it all happen, the University plans to hire more faculty and strengthen statewide partnerships. They're even adding a pedestrian bridge linking the nursing college directly to DCH for easier clinical training. The daily news now is made possible with support from our sponsor. Some chase peace. I put my head in it. S-O-L-I-SOLIPILLO.COM