Graduate students in the College of Nursing's "Community and Public Health Nursing" course partnered with the South Central Iowa Workforce Development Board to assess regional healthcare worker needs and to help local high school students learn about and potentially pursue careers in the healthcare field.

Student teams focused on seven counties in the region:  Lucas, Wayne, Monroe, Appanoose, Keokuk, Poweshiek, and Tama. They engaged with key stakeholders, including school officials, and health care administrators, to assess the current situation and future needs. 

The students created a spreadsheet of all health providers and educational institutions in each county, and they created county-specific gap analysis reports to identify where career pathways can be enhanced to better serve the needs of high school students and the broader community. Each report proposes actionable recommendations to optimize healthcare career pathways, including potential collaborations that could foster a strong sense of community and shared purpose. 

The class also created a website, Discover Your Path to Nursing in Iowa, for high school- and college-aged individuals who live in the region and are interested in pursuing training and education in nursing. You can also access the website by clicking the screenshot below.