The National Park College (NPC) Nursing program accepted a donation of six hospital
beds this summer from CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs (CHI), a value of more than $13,000.
The beds will be used to support additional training stations for Nursing program
students. NPC’s Registered Nursing program enrollment has increased more than 21 percent
in the past two years.
NPC and CHI announced a partnership in September 2017 and committed to increasing
the number of nursing graduates. CHI committed $800,000 over three years to equip
a state-of-the-art clinical simulation lab to provide students with additional hands-on
experience in the learning environment. The hospital has also committed up to $100,000
per year for financial aid packages for students. Students selected for the CHI Pathways
program are employed as nurses at CHI upon completion of their respective programs
and licensure.
CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs President, Dr. Douglas Ross said, “We are very, very
happy with the partnership. We know that National Park College is committed to the
education and wellbeing of this community, as we are at CHI St. Vincent. Education
is specifically mentioned in our mission statement, so this is just a natural fit
for us in terms of continuing to educate and for the future and wellbeing of the citizens
of this community.”
“In terms of the nurse staffing, we have not been a stranger to the dramatic nursing
shortage that the rest of the country has seen. We have seen that here in Arkansas,
so anything that we can do to partner with organizations in our community that not
only increase the number, but increase the quality of the nurses that come out, we
all benefit from that from a community standpoint,” added Ross.
Janice Ivers, NPC Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences said, “We are grateful for
the continued support from our partners at CHI. This gift will allow us to train more
nurses and continue our efforts to meet the needs of our community.”
Pictured is CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs President, Dr. Douglas Ross (left) with NPC
Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences, Janice Ivers (center) and Registered Nursing
Program Director, Janet Smith (right).
