ASUMH and Baxter Health receive $625,175 grant for Nursing Programs

Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) and Baxter Health received a grant in the amount of $625,175 on Monday, May 13, through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for the Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses (ALIGN) Program. The award, presented by Governor Sarah Sanders in Little Rock, will allow ASUMH and Baxter Health to develop an innovative new partnership that will create a clinical pre-residency experience for students at Baxter Health. This collaborative initiative aims to enhance nursing education by expanding simulation lab experiences and by standardizing nursing clinical practices.

Program Objectives and Strategic Impact

The objective is to increase the LPN and RN nursing admission capacity at ASUMH and to actively recruit and retain clinical nurse educators, and decrease the time required for graduates to integrate into hospital operations. Dr. Bentley Wallace, chancellor of ASUMH, said the grant will create pipelines into the workforce for students that are critical. “This partnership between Baxter Health and ASUMH is a perfect example of how workforce education can be streamlined and elevated in a way that allows for higher completion and employment rates,” Wallace stated.

The project draws inspiration from the innovative approach implemented by Baxter Health, a hospital distinguished by its Magnet status – the highest mark of excellence in nursing globally. As Wallace noted, “Baxter Health’s commitment to this process is an industry-leading example of creating education-to-career pipelines.”

Support for Student Nursing Residents

Students that sign to be future Baxter Health nurses will be supported by scholarships and additional funding to help with personal expenses by Baxter Health during their nursing education through ASUMH. The grant will serve approximately 75 students across the timeline. The nurse residency pipeline program will include preceptorship opportunities, specialized training, hands-on experience, and ongoing support to help new nurses thrive in their roles.

“Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for nurse residents, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver exceptional care to our patients," said Sarah Brozynski, director of education at Baxter Health. “This initiative not only benefits the graduates and Baxter Health, but also contributes to elevating the standard of healthcare in our community.”

Infrastructure and Advanced Simulation Equipment

To achieve the goals of the program, ASUMH will hire a Clinical Nursing Educator to oversee all aspects of the LPN and RN pre-residency program who will be housed at Baxter Health. Additionally, a Clinical Nursing Coordinator will be hired to oversee the clinical scheduling, recruitment, retention of clinical nursing instructors, White Coat Program, and student nursing education for the apprenticeship program. The grant will also facilitate the acquisition of additional simulation equipment for use on the ASUMH campus and at Baxter Health.

The state-of-the-art equipment provided by the grant includes:

• Baxter Health Equipment:
  • Apollo Manikin
  • Aria Manikin
  • Learning Space Technology – Medical Trainer
• ASUMH Equipment:
  • Laerdal SimBaby
  • Laerdal SimJunior
  • Nursing Kelly Manikin

Similar to other hospitals of its size, Baxter Health faces challenges in attracting and retaining nursing personnel in a rural market, while faced with increasing demands for patient care services. The partnership this grant creates between ASUMH and Baxter Health provides an innovative program to meet the demands of the local hospital while nurturing the growth and development of future nurses in our region through advanced education locally.