LOCAL NURSING STUDENTS JOIN GRMC As Texas Lutheran University’s (TLU) nursing program continues to flourish, GRMC has hired seven recent graduates. With the demand for nurses exponentially increasing—especially in rural areas—having graduates remain local is a testament to both the program itself and the strength of this community partnership. According to TLU Nursing Director Amie Bedgood, PhD, RN, CNE, Guadalupe Regional has been a key supporter of the program through the provision of clinical placements for student learning, scholarships and the hiring of graduates. “Community partnerships are critical to the success of a nursing program,” Dr. Bedgood says. “These programs rely on community partners, such as GRMC, to support nursing education and nursing students as they navigate the transition into practice.” Not only does GRMC support TLU students through hands-on, clinical initiatives, they also established a Nursing Excellence Scholarship in October 2021, providing $10,000 total per year for up to two students enrolled in the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program each year for the next four academic years. According to the Rural Health Information Hub, a long-term strategy often referred to as “grow-your-own” suggests that healthcare professionals are more likely to consider serving the community where they were trained and raised. Dr. Bedgood says that since the inception of the nursing program, their focus has been to recruit and retain diverse nursing students from surrounding counties with hopes they will graduate and enter the local workforce. GRMC Chief Nursing Officer Daphne Blake, RN, MSN, also expresses her gratitude for the program. “GRMC is proud of the dedication TLU has put into its nursing program and the reputation that has come from producing a highly qualified nursing staff who are committed to our community.” Homegrown talent 5 | GRMC Heal th Currents
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzIxMDA=