North Platte – Great Plains Health and the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing are pleased to collaborate to bring accelerated clinicals in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to North Platte.
In 12 months, qualified applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree can complete the UNMC Accelerated BSN program while participating in the Clinical Pathway Partnership at Great Plains Health. Students choosing this pathway complete their didactic courses at the UNMC Kearney campus, while receiving exceptional clinical training at Great Plains Health. This immersive clinical training gives students the chance to get to know the culture, values and clinical practices in depth at Great Plains Health.
“It’s no secret that we need more nurses across the state,” said Ivan Mitchell, CEO of Great Plains Health. “There are many wonderful efforts in North Platte and in Nebraska to help train the next generation of health care professionals. We are pleased to deploy another strategy to encourage nursing careers.”
Nebraska is facing a growing shortage of nurses. In 2020, the state faced a shortage of about 4,100 nurses; by 2025, the Nebraska Center for Nursing estimates shortfalls exceeding 5,400 nurses. This prediction takes into account the 3.8 percent predicted growth as nurses graduate from nursing programs and enter the workforce. The unique educational pathway is designed to help students who are passionate about health care and want to take the next step in their career as quickly as possible, while being immersed in the clinical environment of Great Plains Health.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to fast-track a nursing career and get in-depth clinical experience with Great Plains Health,” said UNMC College of Nursing Dean Juliann Sebastian, PhD. “The UNMC College of Nursing is proud to partner with Great Plains Health to make nursing education more accessible and also enhance the BSN pipeline in our state.”
