State awards $580,000 grant to Panola College Nursing Program

 

 

 

 

 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded a $580,000 grant to

the Panola College Associate Degree Nursing program as part of a statewide

program to alleviate a shortage of nurses in the future. The 84th Texas

Legislature appropriated funds for the Professional Nursing Shortage

Reduction Program as a means to assist nursing programs in filling the

future need for registered nurses in the state’s workforce.

 

 

 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16 percent growth in the job market

for registered nurses, but demand is outpacing supply. The new Health &

Natural Sciences Building has allowed Panola College to offer

state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and clinical settings.

 

 

 

The demanding curriculum for nursing requires an incredible commitment of

time and resources. Financial constraints coupled with family

responsibilities often make it difficult for students to complete the

two-year course of study. The new grant will offer Panola College

opportunities to identify areas of concern that may be contributing to

students’ lack of persistence in completing the ADN degree.

 

 

 

“We will use the funds to help students stay in the program through

multiple retention activities,” says Dr. Barbara Cordell, Dean of Nursing

and Health Sciences. “Some students need academic assistance to improve

their grades, but others need guidance with finding childcare or budgeting

living expenses so they will have more time to study.”

 

 

 

Dr. Cordell said the college will spend the grant funds in a targeted

approach designed to double the graduation numbers in the ADN program

within the next two years. When that goal is met, the grant will continue

to provide funding for an additional two years.