PITTSBURGH —
Carlow University is working with local hospitals to combat the shortage of nurses and other healthcare positions by offering scholarships, loan repayment programs, and new training initiatives.
Rhonda Maneval, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Carlow, said there are shortages across the board in the healthcare industry.
“Critical situation right now, locally, regionally and nationally, when it comes to health care providers. And that’s really every level of health care providers, from home health aides to surgical technologists, respiratory therapists, nurses,” Maneval said.
Carlow offers several programs related to nursing, including a practical nurse program that lasts 16 months and costs under $30,000.
“It’s an amazing career for people who want to be in the caring profession,” Maneval said.
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Colleges like Carlow are partnering with healthcare systems to address shortages and save lives. For example, Allegheny Health Network is recruiting certified registered nurse anesthetist students and offering to pay $110,000 of their student loans if they commit to working full-time for three years. AHN is the first health system in Pennsylvania to offer this benefit through the loan repayment program CLASP.
“They work primarily in the operating room with our anesthesiology team, so it’s starting there, but our intention has always been to grow this program,” said Stacy Kittridge, vice president of human resources for AHN and Highmark.
Kendall Stoughton has benefited from a UPMC program and is going to Carlow tuition-free to become a nurse. Motivated by her cousin’s battle with cancer, she knew she wanted to be a nurse.
“It’s called the UPMC Scholars Program. They give $100,000 over four years to students in the BSN program here at Carlow, and then you are obligated to work for them after you graduate,” Stoughton said.
Another student, Ihana Mazezka, who was previously a medic in the Air Force, shifted her career to help address the shortage.
“Physicians, physician assistants, you need radiologists, you need assistance for all those, nurses,” Mazezka said.
For those hesitant to enter the field, Carlow student Shandi Willer offered encouragement: “You’re needed. You’re wanted.”
Carlow is also preparing to open a virtual reality lab to enhance healthcare education and training in Allegheny County.
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