UMA, UMF launch nursing partnership to meet growing job demand

Courtesy / University of Maine at Augusta A University of Maine at Augusta nursing student and faculty member are seen here in the UMA simulation lab.

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By Staff

A new partnership between two University of Maine System schools is designed to help fill the growing shortage of nurses.

The University of Maine at Farmington and the University of Maine at Augusta on Thursday announced their formation of the UMF/UMA Nursing Partnership. The collaborative program is sited on the Farmington campus but offers a UMA bachelor of science degree in nursing to help meet the statewide and national demand for the professionals.

According to federal Bureau of Labor Statistics projections cited in a news release, registered nursing is among the top occupations for job growth through 2029.

“This exciting and innovative partnership is a tremendous step forward for health care and education in Franklin County and the surrounding area and is compounded by the current pandemic,” Trampas Hutches, president of the Franklin Community Health Network, said in the release.

“This incubator for nurses will be a welcome addition to the already exceptional educational programs that the University of Maine-Farmington offers to its students, and Franklin Community Health Network looks forward to working with UMF to strengthen education and healthcare for years to come.”

Slated to begin fall 2021, the four-year pre-licensure program will prepare students with skills in clinical practice, communication, critical thinking and writing, research and leadership. The deadline for applications to the program is Jan. 31, 2021.

“We are so proud to be partners with the University of Maine at Augusta in the development of this collaborative program that will not only provide a Farmington cohort of students with the educational preparation to become practicing nurses but also give them the in-depth skills to help them advance within the nursing profession,” Edward Serna, UMF president, said in the release.

A bachelor's of science in nursing is rapidly becoming the preferred educational credential for the profession, the release said. The program will prepare students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses and enter the field as registered nurses.

Students will be enrolled by UMA, but live on the UMF campus during their education. Students will focus on nursing coursework and clinical application in both laboratory and health care settings. Core instruction will be provided by UMA through online and distance learning platforms, and through in-person laboratory learning. Students will engage in clinical learning via simulated experiences and supervised practice in hospitals, long-term care facilities and community health settings.

The partnership expects to initially enroll 16-19 nursing students in the UMA nursing program, with a new cohort every year during the first four years.

“We are excited to collaborate with UMF in meeting the high demand for nursing professionals in Maine,” UMA President Rebecca Wyke said.