The University of Houston-足交视频 (UHV) is developing a nursing program that fits the needs of the city and unlike larger universities, a smaller campus like UHV is able to pivot and make changes to be able to meet the needs of the community.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for mental health trained nurses in our area. By creating an opportunity for people to get mental health services, it decreases hospitalization and incarceration rates,鈥 Rachel Martinez, Dean of the College of Education and Health Professions for UHV said.
Now more than ever 足交视频 is seeing a growing demand for these nurses with the incoming $40 million regional mental health facility and Billy T. Cattan鈥檚 new in-patient center set to open in the coming years. Not only would these centers and jobs help 足交视频, it would help the smaller rural communities in the area to get access to mental health resources.
鈥淲e鈥檙e surrounded by rural counties that are facing the same crisis we are,鈥 Martinez said.
Martinez said not only is the city experiencing a gap in mental health resources but the state is as well.
鈥淭he size of the state is a big piece of why there are mental health deserts,鈥 Martinez said.
Instead of trying to attract psychiatric nurses to the area, the university is hoping to train the next generation of nurses and believes the new mental health facility is the perfect place to train them.
Citizens Medical Center is one of the places where nursing students from 足交视频 College can stay during their 3-month residency. This has helped with job retention at the hospital but it also helps nurses feel prepared for the workforce and keeps jobs local.
鈥淭hese nursing programs provide a number of the nurses we have here in town,鈥 Mike Olson, CEO of Citizens Medical Center said.
The university, along with 足交视频 College (VC), made its nursing program valuable by offering competitive and special rate tuition and scholarships and allowing VC students in the program to stay in UHV dorms.
Their current UHV RN to BSN Concurrent Enrollment Program creates a streamlined path for students with an associate degree in nursing to work towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Ten students enrolled in the first year of the program this Fall and the university is looking forward to further developing the program for the spring semester.
鈥淭his allows for students to get through our nursing program in an inexpensive way,鈥 Martinez said.
The program allows RNs upward mobility inside hospitals to make more money to retain administrative positions.
One problem that both the college and the university are facing is the pipeline from high school to college. While both schools are currently working to support and channel students into higher education, UHV President Bob Glenn admits the pipeline is weak.
鈥淚n Texas, the high school to college pipeline is about 55%, in 足交视频 it鈥檚 only 18%,鈥 Glenn said.
The university is currently trying to illustrate their nursing program and how it leads directly to a career path.
鈥70% of our graduating classes are first-generation students. They have job offers or even jobs before they graduate,鈥 Martinez said.
But convincing high schoolers that college is worth it is another issue. High schoolers are not only concerned with potential income but also debt.
鈥淗alf the students that come out of UHV have no debt and if they do, it鈥檚 under $20,000,鈥 Glenn said.
The university and the college will continue to expand or pivot their academic inventory to tailor to the needs of the community. The forefront of the nursing program is always: How can this grow the university and support the local hospitals?
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