Columbus Community Hospital’s Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Program Changes Name to Student Nurse Internship
Columbus Community Hospital is committed to supporting those who are passionate about health care, which is why we began the Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Program in 2022. However, now that CCH has the opportunity to receive some state funding, it will rebrand the program to be called the CCH Student Nurse Internship.
According to the Nebraska Center for Nursing, Nebraska will experience a workforce shortage of 5,435 nurses by 2025. Seventy-three of Nebraska’s 93 counties have less than the national average ratio of registered nurses to patients. Sixty-six of Nebraska’s counties have been deemed medically underserved, and nine counties in Nebraska have no registered nurses.
Recruitment and retention of health professionals has long been a persistent challenge for rural providers. The nursing shortage is representative of a larger shortage of health professionals. The CCH Student Nurse Internship exposes students to all the various and unique health professions throughout Nebraska. Nebraska Legislative Bill 227 provides funding for hospitals and health care systems to promote and recruit individuals to the profession of nursing.
The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) is supporting LB227 by providing hospitals with resources, including program development of a Student Nurse Internship. The NHA, in collaboration with the Nebraska Center for Nursing, has developed nursing internship programs that work to retain students in the nursing program — the College Credit Model and the Non-College Credit Model.
By aligning with the NHA Student Nurse Internship, CCH will receive some of the LB227 funding designated for the recruitment of individuals to nursing.
Applicants for the CCH Student Nurse Internship will be vetted through a multidisciplinary selection committee. Potential applicants are identified through partnerships with high schools and colleges and through CCH employees.
Four tracks have been developed to meet the various needs of potential candidates — Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) students, associate’s degree in nursing (and) students, accelerated BSN students, and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who desire to be nurses.
Applications are due by March 31 and Oct. 31 each year. Additional applicants may be added to the cohort as qualified individuals apply.
CCH will cover up to 75% of school tuition, books and fees (after scholarships and grants), which can be as much as $20,000. The hospital will also provide a registered nurse formal coach to the apprentice.
RN apprentices are encouraged to choose an area of specialty at the end of their first year of nursing school for those who are in a community college program, or third year for those who are in a BSN program. They will receive a coach in their area of interest.
The CCH Student Nurse Internship coordinator will serve as supervisor and manager of the apprentices.
After apprentices graduate and pass their board examinations, they will receive loan forgiveness. The employment commitment to CCH will directly correlate to the amount of financial support the apprentice receives.
If you are interested in the program or have any questions, visit columbushosp.org.