Southwest General Health Center Supports Local Nursing Program Amid National Shortage

Southwest General and Polaris Career Center Partnership Will Offer Practical Nursing Program 

Middleburg Heights, OH (Tuesday, June 11, 2024) -- In response to the critical nationwide shortage of nurses, Southwest General Health Center has joined forces with Polaris Career Center to introduce an Adult Education Practical Nursing program starting in August 2024. 

As the community's hospital, Southwest General is dedicated to addressing nurse recruitment and staffing challenges head on. This strategic partnership aims to cultivate a new generation of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) equipped to meet the growing demands of the healthcare sector. 

Polaris Practical Nursing students will complete 166 hours of clinical rotations exclusively at Southwest General, where they will receive instruction and mentorship from experienced Southwest General nurses. After graduating and passing the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, nurses have the opportunity to apply for positions at Southwest General and provide care within their own community. With services ranging from cardiology to maternity to cancer care--to name just a few--Southwest General nurses have the opportunity to advance in many areas of interest as they earn certifications or go on to complete an RN, BSN or MSN program. 

"This partnership not only will provide Polaris Practical Nursing students with invaluable clinical experience at Southwest General but also will play a crucial role in filling the gaps in our healthcare workforce," said Marti Bauschka, MBA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, vice president, Patient Care Services, and chief nursing officer, Southwest General. "As the community's hospital, we're committed to supporting the next generation of nursing excellence and ensuring we meet the healthcare needs of those we serve." 

In addition to providing cutting-edge educational resources, the program also offers one of the most affordable tuition rates in the region. Need-based scholarship funds are available, including a scholarship offered by Southwest General. There is currently no program waitlist, and enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. 

Southwest General and Polaris have a longstanding partnership to support students in a wide range of fields; in addition to this clinical collaboration, students in non-clinical fields such as HVAC and coding have the opportunity to complete job shadowing at Southwest General. 

For more information on the Adult Education Practical Nursing program, visit polaris.edu. For more information on Southwest General and its commitment to Cleveland's southwest communities, visit thatsmyhospital.com. 

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About Southwest General 
Southwest General is a private, not-for-profit, 368-bed acute care facility in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Founded in 1920, Southwest General is home to nationally recognized physicians with full access to state-of-the-art technology. Southwest General has a deep commitment to providing personalized care and building a healthy future for the patients, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit swgeneral.com or find Southwest General on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.