Michigan nursing shortages addressed through new partnerships between State Universities and Community Colleges

Anyone who has been to an emergency room lately or had a hospital stay is probably aware of health care staffing shortages and its adverse effect on patient care. A shortage of nurses nationwide is a problem that states are dealing with in a variety of ways. [See “The State of the Nation’s Nursing Shortage” By Julia Haines, at USNews.com, 11/1/22] Michigan is doing its part to better train and incentivize nurses to stay at their jobs and to open up opportunities for training and employment in the communities where they live. It is a winning proposition for all concerned.

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An article from Bridge Michigan, “In Alpena, a bold effort to graduate more high-level Michigan nurses” by Isabel Lohman, 1/27/23, summarizes the problem and solution:

• Community colleges have sought for years to offer students a four-year nursing degree, a move fought by state universities
• Last summer, state leaders resolved the turf war by allowing schools to partner on four-year nursing degrees 
• Alpena Community College and Saginaw Valley State University announced the first of those partnerships, as the state strives to produce more nurses  
  

Under a budget deal arrived at last summer between the governor and the legislature, partnerships between community colleges and 4-year universities will allow nursing students at state community colleges to continue their studies on site for a four-year bachelor's degree, a credential that is preferred by many health systems. Community colleges can receive at least $2 million in grant funding to administer these programs.

“It’s a win for everyone, school leaders told Bridge Michigan. Two-and four-year colleges and universities are partnering instead of competing for nursing students, students will have more access to scholarship opportunities and local communities, particularly in rural areas, will be better able to keep nurses in the area to care for patients."

The program can also provide additional training toward and a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) for Registered nurses in Alpena that could include a hybrid setting with online classes.