GWU School of Nursing Partners with CaroMont Health to Help Students Finish Education

Senior Nursing Students Can Receive Mentorship and $7,500 in Tuition Assistance

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—A partnership between CaroMont Health and Gardner-Webb University’s Hunt School of Nursing addresses the nursing shortage while helping students complete requirements for licensure. Through this initiative, CaroMont Health offers senior nursing students $7,500 in tuition assistance and the opportunity to complete their required practicum hours at the hospital. In return, the students agree to work as an RN for CaroMont Health for two years after graduation. This semester, eight GWU students are receiving assistance.  

Hunt School of Nursing Director Dr. Tracy Arnold said the agreement is not only a win for the two institutions but also for the community. “Securing a partnership with CaroMont Health that supports both the educational needs of our students and the workforce needs of Gaston County reinforces the shared commitment both GWU and CaroMont Health have to meeting the needs of our communities,” Arnold affirmed. “This partnership addresses the challenges that both higher education and healthcare organizations have in preparing nurses to enter a complex healthcare environment.”

President and CEO of CaroMont Health Chris Peek is excited to offer the tuition assistance. “The future of the healthcare workforce depends on innovative career pathways and student-centered education programs,” Peek asserted. “We are proud to partner with Gardner-Webb University to support students as they finish their education and begin their nursing career at CaroMont Health.”

Gardner-Webb President Dr. William Downs recognized the merits of the program. “Gardner-Webb’s collaboration with CaroMont is a model of reciprocal investment,” Downs praised. “CaroMont is providing much-needed financial support to GWU nursing students in their final year of professional preparation, and in return our graduates will invest their talents back into the community as members of the CaroMont team. That’s a brilliant formula and one that I hope we can replicate many times over with other community partners.”

Arnold also noted that the benefit to nursing students goes beyond financial. “They are advancing their nursing skills with a preceptor who will become their colleague, in a few short months,” she observed. “This allows us to help our students stay focused on the end goal of becoming a licensed registered nurse.”

Gardner-Webb nursing student Abbey Horne competed her senior practicum at CaroMont Health’s The Birthplace and will work there when she graduates. “I appreciate this opportunity CaroMont has provided for me and am incredibly grateful for the tuition remission,” she acknowledged. “I know this is the best place for me to begin my nursing career and serve our community.”

Ruth Alabi also received tuition assistance from CaroMont and liked being able to choose where she did her practicum. “All of these services and assistance from CaroMonth Health have allowed me to be more focused and less stressed,” she related. “I cannot wait to be part of the care team after passing my board exam.”

CaroMont Health offers the tuition assistance program to all senior nursing students, both in the Associate of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs. For more information, interested students can contact Dr. Janice Hill, director of Caromont’s Nursing Workforce Transition Program.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.