Fruitata Hospital's Exclusive Nurse Training Program Revealed

FRUITA, Colo. (KKCO) -- A U.S. healthcare labor correspondent from Mercer projects a shortfall of 10,000 registered nurses by the year 2026.

Family Health West Through grants and a collaboration with Colorado Mesa University, they are providing a specialized educational program aimed at bridging this gap.

The President and CEO of Family Health West, Dr. Korrey Klein, mentioned that their organization experienced a reduction in staffing levels a few years back.

"We observed significant changes in personnel at the hospital following the COVID-19 pandemic. Many left the medical field entirely, while others relocated to different areas," stated Klein.

Klein, along with the Vice President of Human Resources, Kimber Barnes, started to develop a strategy.

"We have plenty of local talent. The challenge is how to help these individuals advance in their careers so they can reach the positions they aspire to within our healthcare team," explained Klein.

Barnes mentioned that they initially collaborated with organizations like the Western Healthcare Alliance, Colorado Hospital Association, and the Health Career Advancement Program. It was from this collaboration that their Nurse Training initiative emerged.

This program is open to students, present hospital employees, as well as individuals looking to explore a new professional direction.

"For a fee, we naturally cover that educational component, after which a prospective apprentice joins us. These individuals commit to pursuing their education online during their personal time and then have the chance to work at our company, acquire new skills, and receive a salary throughout this period," explained Barnes.

Barnes mentioned that both online and in-person course choices are provided based on each student's individual situation regarding their studies and/or work commitments.

Klein mentioned that prior to the program, there were 80 job vacancies. However, last fall, following the launch of the program, this number dropped to 12.

“From having too few employees to nearly having more than enough,” Klein stated.

Although the program primarily assists individuals entering the healthcare sector for the first time, Klein mentioned that it has also had an effect on the present workforce.

Those individuals have reignited an interest in learning among our current staff, including some who have been with us for many years," Klein stated. "This initiative effectively brings together our history, present, and future.

Barnes notes that the program boasts nearly a 100% retention rate, which gives them optimism about its potential effectiveness beyond the healthcare sector.

I believe this could be the direction for the future, particularly within sectors like healthcare or others," stated Barnes. "The only requirement is having staff members who are ready to contribute their expertise and dedicate additional time to nurturing the upcoming workforce and transferring their knowledge. We discovered that individuals welcome this idea; they actively seek such opportunities.