Vidant Medical Center helps fund Pitt Community College Nursing Program Expansion | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    Greenville, N.C.     July 31, 2018     Vidant Medical Center (VMC) recently awarded Pitt Community College (PCC) a $500,000 grant to help fund nursing simulation equipment and the expansion of their nursing program.

    "We are always looking for opportunities to invest in our partners to help sustain our future workforce," said Linda Hofler, PhD, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, senior vice president, nurse executive for VMC. "Vidant Medical Center and Pitt Community College have needs that are very much aligned when it comes to serving eastern North Carolina."

    The grant, which is funding a portion of a nearly $1.3 million project, will enable to the college to expand its nursing program from 225 students to 275 in the fall of 2019, with the goal of reaching 300 students in the future. The program prepares pre-licensure nurses for a career in the field with an associate's degree.

    PCC also will utilize the grant to provide patient simulators for its new simulation hospital, which will help prepare tomorrow's health care professionals. Not only will the enhanced simulation of a real clinical setting provide invaluable classroom experience, it will also mean students arrive better prepared for their hospital rotations.

    "This is a great example of Pitt Community College's collaboration with area employers to serve eastern North Carolina residents and to strengthen economic and workforce development," said Dr. G. Dennis Massey, president, PCC. "Vidant Medical Center has been a major partner with PCC over the years because of their enlightened leadership, and we will continue to collaborate on nursing and other health fields to serve all area citizens, both in creating jobs and providing high quality services."

    VMC currently employs about 80 percent of PCC's nursing program graduates. With additional seats in the program, Vidant will benefit by having a larger pool of qualified applicants to join its nursing team.

    "We have young people and those embarking on a second career who are passionate about health care and live and work in our communities," Hofler said. "This creates 50 additional opportunities a year for them to realize that dream. We are always looking for ways to improve the region we serve, by doing our part to develop talent and create jobs while providing the very best in patient care."

    Work on the simulation lab at PCC began last year and it will open in the fall.

• Contact: Erica Mizelle
•     erica.mizelle@vidanthealth.com