Unlikely to happen in my opinion — just based on what’s written in that press release.
Nah. It’s not so much forcing as it is that Meridian is serving as the vehicle by which State introduces new programs.
It's like USM on the coast, but without the coast. USM is about to start a PA program down there too. The IHL forces this stuff on schools. Meridian is a horrific place for these programs. There are barely decent rental properties and there's no dorm option. Put that stuff at Starkville.
Dorms for career-changing people that the program’s designed for?
Nursing is absolutely for freshmen. PA school is a straight 8 hr a day class. They can't work. They can't pay bills without running up student loans. That's a terrible way for education to go. But this is MS where funding education and doing what's right isn't important. It's about back door politics.
Nursing may be for freshmen but this program being offered is graduate level.
And that's my point. A graduate nursing program is so limited. What's the point really? Once you've gotten your RN cert it's pointless beyond NP. NP is so related to PA it's kinda pointless. Offer a full nursing program in Starkville, we're using UMC and The W for regular nursing program relationships. It's BS!
You’re right. It is limited.
Yes. Oschner taking over Rush is helping fuel this as well.
No. There are third world countries with more potable water and better water infrastructure than Jackson. (I'll let the reader determine if asterisks are required)
This program and the other im talking about have been in the works long before that. But yes, the ochsner and the ummc connection to andersons both help
MUW has had a graduate level nursing program for years. And has been widely considered and voted the #1 nursing program in the state as well.Goes along with already existing physician assistant program.
MSU-Meridian proposal for accelerated master’s degree nursing program gains IHL approval
Mississippi State University gained initial approval for starting its proposed Master of Science in Nursing degree program, the first graduate entry-level licensure program in the state, during today’s [Feb. 16] meeting of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.www.msstate.edu
Which is also why 1 in 4 positions are open. My wife is in the medical field(CRNA) and has been offered several positions in Meridian, which would put us closer to our parents so the kids could spend more time with grandparents, but we choose to stay in Madison and her work in Jackson bc I hate the thought of her being called in to work at midnight in Meridian. I understand Jackson is not safe either but Meridian feels like a 3rd world country to me. And you have no idea how bad I want to get back to the country but with schools in Madison we just can't make that move yet.
Yea, how to handle Meridian is a tough call. It's good for the state to have some higher ed options in that area, and we obviously already have some sunk investments, but man does it feel like throwing good money after bad to invest in Meridian. Hopefully they can pretty much implement this program with existing facilities and it won't require any big physical investments.
As the article stated, the program is being funded by The Riley Foundation which exists to promote and enhance Meridian and Lauderdale County. Also being supported by the local hospitals, which Starkville (unfortunately) cannot do.
Man, that level of safety concern seems a little over the top, unless you're out slinging dope. Meridian ain't that bad. Of course, compared to Madison, I'm sure it seems that way. And you're right, I wouldn't leave Madison schools.
Did not pay attention to that. If $6M covers any fixed investment needed, then that makes it easy.
I would think VERY closely about that. I've got 4 nurses in my family of 5. Various ages from 25 yrs old to 55 years old and they're all unhappy. One just completely changed career fields - happier and making more money. The efforts of the legislature this year to attract and keep nurses is futile. Retaining nurses isn't about creating more more faculty and enrollment and helping with tuition. Retention of nurses is about competitive pay. I see what the nurses in my family do and i see what they get paid. It's ridiculous. RN salaries have not kept up with other career fields. To work as an RN for 35 years and top out at about $36/hour is ridiculous. Talk to an ER nurse sometime and ask specifically what they deal with (most ER admissions aren't emergency - they're frequent flyers). And the days of having orderlies clean up after a patient *hits themselves don't exist much anymore because an orderly can make more at the Wendy's drive through. Now, it all falls on the nurse to do that along with regular nursing duties that require a significant skill set. It was once a pretty good job but nurses simply don't have the support they used to have because those wages haven't kept up.
This is a great point. My sense is that of the nursing programs in the state, there is a lot of emigration. By way of example, USM's program is probably supplying Mobile's and NOLA's workforce.
Sure do. That's where the Targets are located*******
We really should start offering forgiveable loans for state funded professional programs, or at least state funded healthcare programs. Basically charge everybody "out of state tuition", but give loans to people for the out of state portion and wipe like 10% principal and any associated interest on that principal every year they work in Mississippi.
Seems to me it's fairly easy to become a nurse, so that's likely why the pay is lower. But they can still make good money and work all the hours they want. I'm not seeing the problem.
There's no way those nurses are leaving for Mobile and NOLA if there were jobs around their home areas. I question whether or not we truly have a shortage.
Interesting take.
It's not a problem. It's just a tradeoff to consider if you want to go into nursing. Similar type of tradeoff if you want to be a teacher. It only becomes a problem if you aren't getting enough qualified workers.
Oh I know the numbers on paper. I just question it based on my own experience and human behavior, which is far from factual.
