Baptist Health College Graduates 165 New Health Care

Professionals Into Workforce for 2024

Developing the next generation of caregivers for Arkansas is an important priority at Baptist Health –– and Baptist Health College Little Rock plays one of the most important roles in the state in accomplishing that goal year after year.

In 2024, Baptist Health College Little Rock sent 165 new health care professionals into the workforce to care for the health care needs of Baptist Health patients and Arkansas communities. Typically, about 50 percent of new graduates from BH College Little Rock find jobs within the Baptist Health system each year, and the other half will go on to other important roles elsewhere in health care. Overall, about 90 percent of graduates generally remain in the health care workforce in central Arkansas.

The students who walked across the stage during the commencement ceremony to celebrate their achievement and entrance into their new health care professions included:

• 47 from the School of Nursing (established in 1921)

• 50 from the School of Practical Nursing (established in 1964)

• 14 from the School of Occupational Therapy Assistant (established in 2005)

• 12 from the School of Radiography (established in 1953)

• 11 from the School of Surgical Technology (established in 1999)

• 11 from the School of Patient Care Technician (established in 2022)

• 8 from the School of Medical Laboratory Science (established in 1965)

• 6 from the School of Nuclear Medicine Technology (established in 1979)

• 6 from the School of Sleep Technology (established in 2008)

Thanks to all the outstanding faculty members and the entire team at Baptist Health College Little Rock who continue to provide top instruction and dedication to students, Baptist Health continues to make a giant impact in the state’s health care by annually producing a large portion of the state’s professionals who serve the health needs of Arkansans even beyond the walls of Baptist Health facilities.

Baptist Health College typically serves about 550 students each semester in its nine programs of study.

The number of health care professionals the college graduates each year has been critical to maintaining quality health care in Arkansas going all the way back to 1921 when it graduated its first class of five nurses.

New Clinical Coat Ceremony Marks First Steps for Freshmen Nursing Students

A new tradition was established in 2024 as Baptist Health College Little Rock instated its first Clinical Coat Ceremony for freshmen traditional nursing students.

This new tradition was established to commemorate their beginning steps in the nursing profession. Students were honored at a ceremony in August as they were donned their clinical coats.

BHCLR places immense value on students and their educational experience. The Clinical Coat Ceremony affirms the school’s commitment to producing leaders in health care.

Baptist Health College Little Rock Programs

Granted Eligibility for Arkansas Future Grant

Baptist Health College Little Rock programs in patient care technician, practical nursing, traditional nursing, medical laboratory science, radiography, and surgical technology got great news in 2024 when the programs were granted eligibility for the Arkansas Future Grant.

Receiving eligibility opens the door for students to use this grant to fully pay for their education at Baptist Health College Little Rock.

Receiving eligibility for this grant continues to support Arkansas in ending the shortage of health care workers and helps students pursue life-changing careers without some financial barriers.

The Arkansas Future Grant is the newest state grant with efforts to affordably increase the education and skills of the workforce. The grant applies to students enrolled in science, technology, engineering, math, or regional high-demand areas of study. It covers tuition and fees for qualifying certificate and associate degree programs.

As students start their clinical rotations, this ceremony displays the journey ahead of them in school. Held at the beginning of a student’s nursing career, the program honors the hard work, dedication and sacrifices they will make over the next 18 months.

Students received an embroidered gray scrub coat with the School of Nursing patch to wear while in the clinical portion of their studies.

Baptist Health Foundation provided financial support to ensure BHCLR nursing students could have this opportunity to celebrate their educational journey.

Since the Reach for the Stars scholarship program’s inception twoand-half-years ago, a grand total of 79 Baptist Health employees have now been given life-changing fulltuition scholarships to obtain their RN and BSN degrees –– and more will be added to that number before the 2024 calendar flips to 2025.

The amount of funding received through the Baptist Health Foundation for these 79 Reach for the Stars scholarship recipients is now up to a total of $1.7 million to make the health care career dreams of Baptist Health employees come true!

Additionally, as of late 2024, 20 of these 79 employees have already graduated with their RN degree and are now part of the nursing workforce.

The employees who have been awarded a scholarship includes 43 from BHMC-Little Rock, 14 from BHMC-North Little Rock, 14 from BH-Fort Smith, three from BHMCConway, three from BHRI, one from BHMC-Arkadelphia, and one from the Parkway Health Center.

The scholarship provides these employees with a full ride that covers 100 percent of eligible costs including tuition, educational materials, uniforms, and other applicable expenses.

Additionally, all scholarship recipients qualify to receive full tuition and supplies if they enroll in a BSN program within six months of obtaining their RN degree.

Baptist Health is the only health care organization in Arkansas to partner with the Reach for the Stars program to provide employees with this amazing opportunity to further their careers.