Bolarinwa Oladeji at The Grio reports a collaboration with Baptist Health System is bringing Tuskegee students early clinical experience and financial support, preparing them for successful careers in health care. Tuskegee University has made history as the first historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Alabama to offer a Nursing Apprenticeship Program, a move designed to give students hands-on experience and expand access to the Health Care Workforce. The program, launched in partnership with Baptist Health System, allows students to pair one-on-one with experienced Nurse Mentors, providing early clinical training while still in school, according to Montgomery, Alabama’s WSFA 12. The Registered Nursing Apprenticeship Program builds on Alabama’s broader Student Nurse Apprenticeship initiative, which began in March 2022. Unlike traditional nursing tracks, Apprentices start practical training earlier in their academic careers, gaining exposure to specialty departments and earning wages during clinical rotations. This approach not only strengthens students’ clinical readiness but also helps reduce financial barriers that can prevent many from completing Nursing Degrees. Baptist Health System serves as the program’s “last-dollar” scholarship provider, covering remaining tuition and school-related expenses not paid through other aid. “This Apprenticeship represents a different way of thinking about how we prepare Alabama’s Health Care Workforce,” said Meredith Smith, who serves as Director of the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship. Smith notes the program combines structured mentorship, practical experience and financial support, creating a pipeline for well-prepared Nurses entering the State’s Hospitals and Clinics.

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