On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Jefferson Hospital Association has been awarded a grant of $844,812. Much of that grant money will be used to expand the hospital’s nursing school.
Wednesday, hospital spokeswoman Wendy Talbot and Chief Nursing Officer Michelle Powell were guests on the Oldies1013 Morning Show to talk about the grant with Talbot explaining the grant.
Powell then talked about the nursing program.
She went on to say that the number of students in the program will increase.
Powell said that about 50 percent of the students graduating from the school stay in Pine Bluff and Talbot was asked how big that was for Jefferson Regional Hospital.
Ninety-six percent of the students in the last class passed the nursing exam on the first try, Powell said. The average starting wage for registered nurses in $28 an hour.
