RALEIGH, N.C. – The member-funded SECU Foundation has announced its support for a new healthcare pilot in partnership with the Hospice and Home Care Foundation (HHCF) of North Carolina. The Foundation’s $268,196 three-year challenge grant will help address the shortage of registered nurses in home health and hospice settings through the development of a comprehensive and systematic program to onboard recent graduates and newly hired nurses to the field.
Officials from HHCF were presented with a ceremonial check by SECU Foundation Board Chair Bob Brinson during a special event held at SECU’s Raleigh-Salisbury Street office.
“With the severe shortage of nurses in our industry, and particularly in rural areas, we are delighted that SECU Foundation has approved a challenge grant to help fund our newest initiative to address this shortage,” said HHCF Executive Director Judy Penn. “Working together with the nursing schools and home care and hospice agencies, new nurse graduates and nurses new to this setting will be better prepared and onboarding will be quicker, ensuring patients will continue to receive quality care in their homes and communities.”
HHCF was established in 1998 by the Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina to promote the industry, educate consumers, provide workforce development, increase philanthropy efforts, and advance industry standards of care. The HHCF pilot will support these goals by providing substantial education and learning experiences for RN students, including clinical rotation opportunities, one-on-one mentoring with veteran RNs, and a comprehensive and standardized employer-based training model to bring newly graduated nurses on board.
Sixteen pilot sites will be selected to participate in partnership with eight nursing education programs at community colleges and universities and eight home health/hospice agencies.
“This pilot program has the potential to make a great impact in North Carolina – aiding in the recruitment and retention of highly-skilled nurses and addressing the growing need for hospice and home care services in our state,” remarked Brinson. “HHCF has fostered great relationships within the community for 21 years and has many strong supportive partners. SECU Foundation is delighted to offer our support for this initiative and we hope that the challenge grant will help them move forward.”
At right, HHCF Executive Director Judy Penn (left) receives ceremonial check from SECU Foundation Board Chair Bob Brinson.