BTC and CMH Redefine Nurse Training Through Partnership

    Bolivar Technical College (BTC) and Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) are reshaping how new nurses enter the profession. Together, we’ve built a seamless, multi-stage pathway that connects education, apprenticeship, and residency supported by cutting-edge simulation technology and individualized mentorship. 

Bridging Education and Practice 

    The partnership began with a shared goal: to better prepare new nurses for the realities of clinical practice. BTC’s Director of Nursing Education, Erin Mock, and CMH’s Nurse Apprentice Clinical Coordinator, Sarah Colby, have led efforts to align BTC’s preceptor model and nurse apprenticeship program to CMH’s Tiered Rotational Nurse Residency. 

    Through this collaboration, BTC students begin integrating into CMH departments well before nursing school graduation. By pairing with CMH-trained preceptors (experienced nurses who serve as academic extensions of BTC faculty) students receive focused, one-on-one clinical instruction during their LPN or RN program at BTC. This approach ensures continuity, deeper learning, and greater readiness for the workforce.

“Our students who complete these programs aren’t just learning skills, they’re learning the culture,” said Mock. “By the time they graduate, they already know CMH’s systems, standards, and expectations. That confidence translates directly into better care.” 

Simulation Technology as Innovation  

    BTC’s advanced simulation lab has become an essential training environment for both students and new graduate nurses as clinical space at CMH has become limited. Through a grant awarded to CMH, BTC was able to upgrade its simulation capabilities with AI-powered manikins. These tools allow nurses to conduct full patient admissions, navigate socially complex scenarios, and refine communication skills  

    BTC’s simulation team also works directly with CMH educators to design scenario-based learning that mirrors CMH’s real-world settings. Updated BTC simulation suites now also replicate the layout of CMH’s upcoming patient tower, ensuring a smooth transition from lab to bedside. 

From Student to Nurse: A Seamless Transition 

    The collaboration doesn’t stop at graduation. BTC’s facilities now host CMH’s Tiered Rotational Nurse Residency Program, giving new hires hands-on opportunities to strengthen clinical judgment and communication skills under guided simulation.  

    Early results speak for themselves: graduates who completed BTC’s preceptorship and apprenticeship programs are entering the workforce with shorter orientation times and greater confidence. Many require only a fraction of the traditional onboarding period thanks to their extensive real-world preparation before graduation. 

Setting a New Standard for Regional Healthcare 

    What began as a response to staffing challenges in our region has evolved into a model for sustainable nurse development by our leaders in healthcare. By connecting education, employment, and innovation, BTC and CMH are demonstrating what’s possible when academic and healthcare partners work as one. 

This shared investment is producing more than skilled nurses; it’s producing professionals who enter the field ready to lead, adapt, and thrive. 

“It’s no longer education on one side and employment on the other,” said Mock. “It’s one continuous path that starts in the classroom and carries through a nurse’s first year of practice. That’s the future of nursing education.”