NursesMC has passed a key milestone in its journey to open a free, public, nursing high school in Nashville! NursesMC Nashville leaders and supporters testified on Monday before the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, which will decide whether to authorize the school in October. Powerful testimony from current nursing students at Belmont University underscored the value of exposing teens to the workplace and preparing them for the rigors of a nursing education before they enter college. Dr. Andrea Poynter (far left), executive director of NursesMC Nashville; board chair Dr. Mamie Williams (far right), senior director for nurse diversity and inclusion at Vanderbilt Medical Center; and board member Tilita Shaw (second from right), vice president and director of academic affairs and partnerships at the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) all testified before the commission. HCA Healthcare-TriStar Division is partnering with NursesMC in hopes of inspiring more local young people to pursue nursing careers and work for HCA. “The school would be a direct feeder for many of our local nursing programs that are experiencing decreased enrollment post-pandemic,” Shaw testified.
NursesMC Director of Nursing Programs Jenny Santana (second from left) and CEO Dr. Pam McCue (center) were also on hand. Watch this space for news of the Commission vote on October 17.