Grady Health System and Georgia State University’s Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions announced a formal partnership that will expand the nursing education pipeline and strengthen nursing recruitment at Grady. The partnership enables a greater number of qualified students to fulfill their educational and career aspirations and addresses the critical nursing shortage at Grady, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation committed a combined $23.6 million to launch the joint nursing education program.

“We are grateful for the Woodruff Foundation’s remarkable support and thrilled to partner with Georgia State to prepare nurses who will thrive in today’s healthcare workforce,” said John Haupert, president and CEO, Grady Health System. “Grady will draw on our expertise as the state’s top teaching hospital to create a leading-edge clinical training experience for student nurses, helping us better attract dedicated professionals who will serve on the frontline of care for this community.”

Grady will become the primary clinical training site for Georgia State nursing students during the final two years of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program. Student nurses will benefit from exposure to Grady’s highly specialized clinical programs and receive hands-on instruction and mentoring from experienced staff nurses.

Both Georgia State and Grady will develop leading-edge simulation training and classroom space to support learning activities. The university will hire additional faculty, expand physical simulation lab space and establish a scholarship program for students committed to practicing at Grady following graduation. In addition, Georgia State will support nursing externships for undergraduate students.

“This partnership with Grady strongly supports two of the most impactful aspects of our university – student success and college to careers,” said M. Brian Blake, president of Georgia State University. “Nurses are critical to our overall well-being and this partnership ensures the success of Georgia State nursing students and guarantees a place to begin their careers.”

Grady will simultaneously launch a best practice professional development and nurse residency program to support new graduates transitioning to a clinical setting. The program will offer a continuum of skill-building and leadership training so that nurses have clear opportunities for professional progression, whether they are new or seasoned nursing team members.