Distinctive College of Nursing partnerships fuel healthier communities
In Nebraska and Arizona, the Creighton College of Nursing plays a vital role in preparing nurses and healthcare professionals to meet critical needs where care matters most, from first response to pediatric care to community clinics. Through strong partnerships with healthcare systems and community organizations, the College of Nursing combines rigorous education with hands-on experience, strengthening the workforce, supporting underserved populations and shaping compassionate caregivers ready to serve from day one.
Omaha Fire Department and Creighton Paramedicine
Although the Omaha Fire Department (OFD) is best known for battling fires, around 85% of their calls actually require medical expertise. To keep their crews’ training current and effective, OFD partners with Creighton’s paramedicine program. A recently formalized agreement will extend this partnership for years to come.
The work is both expansive and cutting-edge: Creighton provides paramedic education, helps train new hires and EMTs and provides continuing education for employees. It recently assisted OFD in launching a whole blood training program for paramedics to administer blood products in the field, saving valuable time when it matters most.
Andrew Eckart, MS’24, clinical instructor, says it’s a partnership that works because OFD trusts Creighton’s deep experience and proven expertise. “We are one of the longest-standing accredited programs in the country, consistently achieving among the highest certification pass rates nationally, while continually reviewing and revising our curriculum to align with evolving professional and accreditation standards,” he says. “That’s something that matters to us, and it matters to them.”
Children’s Nebraska and Creighton’s ABSN program
Data from the Nebraska Center for Nursing suggests that there is a shortage of more than 5,400 nurses in Nebraska—and pediatrics is no exception within that larger gap.
To help meet this need, the Ryan Foundation is funding 40 full-tuition scholarships for Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing students at Creighton who commit to working at least two years at Children’s Nebraska after graduation.
The scholarship program officially launched this past fall, and Joely Goodman, PhD, RN, assistant professor of nursing, says it’s already attracting new people to the field. “At our kickoff lunch, there were students who told us that there was no way they could have enrolled in the program without the opportunity of scholarship support,” she says.
It’s also an initiative that’s raising awareness of Creighton’s nursing programs among prospective students: many are first drawn by the availability of generous scholarships but ultimately choose to enroll based on the program’s strong academic reputation—a trend reflected in growing cohort sizes. “Some may not receive the scholarship, but they realize that we still have a lot of amazing things to offer and choose to enroll anyway,” Goodman says.
The Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix and Creighton Nursing
For Christopher Ferschke, MSN, FNP-C, instructor of nursing, spending two days a week at the pediatrics clinic at the Virginia G. Piper Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix is a calling. “In some cases, the time I’m spending with a patient is the only time they’ll touch the healthcare system in a year, maybe more,” he says about his role at the clinic, which focuses on supporting uninsured and underserved patients. “This is your only opportunity to give them everything you can.”
His philosophy of delivering compassionate, thorough care, even within significant constraints, is what he strives to instill in the students he mentors as part of his clinical practice. The collaboration is supported by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.
Creighton nursing students engage in a variety of ways at the clinic, which offers free or low-cost medication, labs, imaging, primary care and a wide range of specialty care to individuals who typically have no other option for healthcare. This engagement includes nursing students participating in the St. Vincent de Paul Buddies program and community health rotations. They join a larger group of Creighton health sciences students who learn from experienced practitioners while providing essential care to the community.
