“Nearly every week, the Indianapolis Star has a story about the current nursing shortage,” Provost Jewerl Maxwell said.
Thus came the catalyst, after years of discussion, to jumpstart Taylor University’s nursing program.
A shortage of nurses propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted healthcare providers across the nation. This increased demand pushed Taylor University to ignite conversation with Parkview Health last August.
“It is hard to imagine who would be better positioned to step in to fill this gap than Taylor graduates dedicated to servant-leadership,” Vice President for Strategy and Chief of Staff Will Hagen said.
Now, the university has a partnership with Parkview that will include benefits such as financial support, student loan pay-off opportunities and guaranteed practicums at one of Parkview’s 19 locations.
Incoming students this fall can enroll in the pre-nursing program. Dean of Science, Education and Social Sciences Grace Ju Miller says the university hopes to have the program accredited by 2024.
“There is a real need for committed Christians to be in health care,” Miller said.
Although it is yet to be finalized, Miller said that the university wants to renovate spaces in Nussbaum to accommodate nursing labs, office spaces and general classrooms. Other opportunities for expansion include unused areas in Euler and the IU Health Center next to the university.
Maxwell said that steps like curriculum approvals, working with the Indiana State Board of Nursing and gaining accreditation are necessary for this process — the university is still in search of a dean of nursing.
Nursing is one of the most requested majors that Taylor University does not currently offer. Initially, Taylor had concern for the lack of practicum opportunities nearby. This worry was one of the reasons the school had been hesitant in establishing a nursing program.
Their partnership with Parkview, however, alleviates that concern amongst many others.
Parkview Director of Strategic Educational Partnerships Heather Schoegler said Parkview will play a role as a clinical partner and advisor in the program’s curriculum and student experiences.
“One of the things that we're excited about is the creativity and uniqueness that this program is going to have,” Schoegler said. “When we consider our education partnerships, we are really looking to kind of diversify our portfolio of partners.”
The commonality in organizational values between the university and Parkview contributed to their partnership design in which both hope to achieve common goals of care for patients and health workers, a focus on empathy, a service-oriented environment and quality health care.
Nursing students who work with Parkview after graduation are eligible for up to $30,000 in student loan pay-offs via a monthly distribution over a four year period. Parkview is also providing the necessary funds to hire a dean of nursing and clinical instructors as well as additional capital.
After the announcement of this program, Maxwell said they expect a growth in the student body in correlation with the school’s efforts to “Widen the Circle of Learners.”
“The incredible mix of academic preparation, intentional community and spiritual development that Taylor offers is the ideal combination to prepare a new generation of medical professionals,” Hagen said.
Through this partnership with Parkview, Taylor University can pursue yet another avenue to serve a world in need.
