A local college hopes to fill in need for more nurses

Dyersburg State Community College received a grant that takes students from working right here in the classroom to hospitals across West Tennessee.

At West Tennessee healthcare alone. There are over 300 RN positions open.

Governor Bill Lee announced Thursday that Dyersburg State Community College will be receiving a one million dollar grant under the GIVE Act.

Dean of Nursing, Amy Johnson, says, “Enhance their curriculum, enhance their labs, give them a lot of the things we have in this lab. It’s exciting it will get the students on fire for healthcare.”

As Tennessee’s need for more nurses in the workforce continues to grow this grant could fill the gap.

The grant will help Dyersburg State develop CNA programs similar to their nursing program at high schools in West Tennessee.

“But we will be working with Tipton, Lauderdale, Dyer, Lake, and Obion County. So, all the high schools in those counties we’ll have a much better developed cna program", says college President, Karen Bowyer.

College officials hope bringing CNA programs to high schools will make a pathway for students to earn their RN and BSN.

A current nursing student says having a CNA program at her high school is what sparked her interest in medicine.

“I think it will help a lot, that’s what made me choose nursing i started mine in high school.”

And she says the experience she received continues to help her now.

“Well i kinda started learning about all the medical and the charting and just got you started learning about everything.”

For 39 News I'm Imani Williams.