The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and School of Nursing have announced the expansion of their UR Nursing Scholars Program in response to the growing nursing shortage in the region.
The program, which offers a tuition-free nursing education in exchange for a three-year commitment to work at Strong or Highland hospitals, will now accept 120 students per year, a significant increase from the previous capacity of 33 scholars. This expansion aims to meet the overwhelming demand for the program since its announcement in January and to attract new nurses to serve the Rochester community.
The inaugural cohort of UR Nursing Scholars has already attracted students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, with nearly 40 percent representing underrepresented groups in nursing. The students will undergo a one-year accelerated nursing curriculum, including extensive clinical training at URMC and immersive learning activities at the School of Nursing’s state-of-the-art learning center.
The School of Nursing has seen a significant increase in applications to the program and is currently accepting applications for the next cohort of UR Nursing Scholars. The expansion of the program is expected to have a lasting impact on the nursing shortage while transforming the lives of the students and the Rochester community as a whole.
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