It’s no secret that the country needs more nurses today. In our growing region, we’ll need even more healthcare workers in the coming years and decades. Here’s what we are doing about it. At Novant Health, we are making strides to secure the educated workforce our communities need to ensure we all have the opportunity to live our healthiest lives.

I am beyond proud of the vision and commitment Novant Health has shown in building up two programs, in particular, to support this effort: Bridges to Healthcare and the Upward Mobility Educational Assistance Fund. These initiatives exemplify our commitment to addressing critical healthcare needs while promoting health equity and career advancement within our organization.

Bridges to Healthcare: Expanding Opportunities

The Bridges to Healthcare program aims to close skills gaps in healthcare by introducing high school students in under-represented communities to clinical and nonclinical career options. This program creates opportunities, nurtures talent, and bridges the healthcare equity gap.

We are thrilled to bring this Novant Health program to New Hanover County in 2024. We will begin with an intensive summer immersion that leads to certification as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Based on the results of the summer pilot, we anticipate expanding Bridges to Healthcare in New Hanover County to a year-round program. This comprehensive approach will offer 11th and 12th grade students broader exposure to a range of healthcare career options, helping to build a diverse and skilled workforce for the future.

We are grateful for the $100,000 in private, family foundation, and corporate support secured by the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation to assist with the summer launch in the Novant Health Coastal region. Special thanks to Marand Builders and Live Oak Bank for their generous support. By investing in our community’s youth, we are investing in the future of healthcare in our region.

Upward Mobility Educational Assistance Fund: Empowering Nursing Careers

North Carolina needs an additional 12,500 nurses by 2033. At Novant Health, we employ thousands of team members who have the empathy, drive, and dedication it takes to further their careers. The Novant Health Upward Mobility Educational Assistance Fund gives these motivated team members a boost so they can become a bigger part of the healthcare solution in the years and decades to come. While training nurses for the healthcare workforce, this program also promotes health equity and career advancement for our team members. The program includes:
- Two years of tuition and fees
- Flexible work schedules
- Mentorship and career coaching
- Financial literacy classes

A Commitment to Our Community

At Novant Health, we invest in our community and our team members. Both the Bridges to Healthcare program and the Upward Mobility Educational Assistance Fund exemplify our dedication to building a diverse, skilled, and resilient workforce. On top of these programs, Novant Health has also committed $10 million to train additional healthcare workers in southeastern North Carolina, with $5 million dedicated to scholarships for area students enrolled in healthcare programs.

We are empowering community members to pursue careers that are rewarding, both financially and professionally, and we are helping fill the future need for healthcare professionals.

If you want to support these programs, please visit SupportNovantHealth.org.