The need for nurses is increasing in Pennsylvania and nationally, and Carlow University has created an innovative program to address the shortage directly. Data from the Hospital and Health System Association shows Pennsylvania is expected to still have a shortage of 20,000 nurses in hospitals by 2026.
Parallel to the need for LPNs and registered nurses (RNs) in general, the need for healthcare workers of diverse racial backgrounds is critical for an equitable healthcare system. According to a 2020 survey by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and The Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, nurses from ethnically diverse groups represent only 19.4% of the RN workforce.
Black nurses are critical for improving Black communities' health care. Compared to their white counterparts, Black nurses are more likely to practice in underserved areas that include a significant percentage of Black families and are more likely to accept patients covered by Medicaid. Furthermore, culturally competent care provided by Black nurses is linked to Black Americans’ improved quality of care and positive health outcomes.
Eden Hall Foundation collaborated with Carlow University to power the creation of the Practical Nursing Certificate Program (PNCP) pilot project. The grant covers salaries for an embedded, wrap-around supports advisor and program director, scholarships and support to students and other program costs related to students and administration.
The PCNP is an accelerated program completed in two years over three semesters and requires 44 credits instead of 60 for an RN. Those who complete the LPN program can optionally earn an RN by adding two additional semesters.
“One of the program’s objectives is to place graduates in well-paying, high-demand jobs as soon as possible,” said Sylvia Fields, President of Eden Hall Foundation. “This program provides a threefold benefit to the region: the students receive an exemplary education; more LPNs and RNs will fill the healthcare worker shortage, and the region will receive better health outcomes.”
Locally, schools offering LPN programs report 100% job placement of new graduates. The Pittsburgh metropolitan region is the state's second-largest employer of LPNs, accounting for 5,700 employed LPNs.
Carlow thoughtfully designed the PNCP to meet various needs: first, to provide living wages for individuals and families in Pittsburgh while encouraging them to continue their studies to achieve a registered nurse license (RN) or Bachelor’s in Public Health (BPH); second, to create a pipeline of minority LPNs and RNs in the region and finally, to help reduce the dire shortfall of needed LPNs in regional medical facilities.
The first PNCP cohort began classes in fall 2023, and they have been working diligently to complete their LPN credential in December 2024. Those who desire an RN are continuing courses in the spring and summer of 2025.
“When the Sisters of Mercy came to the United States, they did so with a mission to address the most pressing needs of the time—a legacy we proudly continue today,” said Dr. Kathy W. Humphrey, president of Carlow University. “This program was created to meet a critical need: the growing demand for LPNs, particularly in hospitals. Our mission is to remain an institution that responds proactively and effectively to the workforce needs of both our community and the nation.”
The PNCP directly addresses the shortage of nurses from diverse backgrounds at both the LPN and RN levels and positively impacts the health outcomes for culturally diverse communities throughout the region. The program purposefully enrolls and graduates students of various diverse backgrounds, creating a pathway for career progression as students complete the PNCP and seamlessly transition to Carlow’s undergraduate BSN Program, increasing the number of underrepresented minority registered nurses.
Carlow is heavily invested in ensuring a top-notch academic experience with a tailored, holistic approach to student success. They provide wrap-around services and support that other universities, colleges and/or technical colleges may not offer.
Pittsburgh Scholar House (PSH), a strategic partner, makes referrals to the PNCP program. PSH is a nonprofit that offers educational, motivational and family-centered support for single parents seeking a college education. The participants have a designated faculty advisor to ensure they keep up with their studies and provide additional services to help them. A unique part of the PSH program is the goal of offering housing to all participants. Carlow and PSH have developed shared housing requirements and funding options. For PSH students living on Carlow’s campus, their children are eligible to attend Carlow’s early learning program and campus school.
“The PNCP program at Carlow University helps students overcome some of the barriers—such as tuition costs and lack of access to childcare or housing—that may prevent high-achieving learners from getting their degree,” Fields said. “Eden Hall Foundation is so proud to power a program that improves education and healthcare outcomes—two areas essential to a healthy, vibrant Pittsburgh.”
On Friday, December 13, 2024, the inaugural class of students received their LPN certifications. A celebratory feeling danced through an auditorium filled with life. Emotional and joyful families and friends of all ages brought flowers and balloons to show their pride in the students’ hard work.
“Today, we celebrate not only your incredible achievement but also your power,” Dr. Humphrey told the group of beaming, teary-eyed students. “We are also addressing something far more significant: the need to create pathways that can transform lives.”
Speeches from several inspiring students, Fields, Dr. Humphrey and Dr. Rhonda Maneval, interim provost and dean of the College of Health and Wellness and School of Nursing, set the tone for the future of these graduates: This class is special. The students of this inaugural class are pioneers not only in the college but in the lives of their families and patients. They are pioneers in blazing a pathway for more people to become nurses.
Fields addressed the students with pride.
“You have faced and overcome numerous challenges in your education; you faced it with resilience and determination,” she said. “You have learned the science of nursing, but you have also learned how to care for patients with empathy and respect. Your hard work and perseverance will make a meaningful impact in the lives of the people whom you will serve.”