Summit Technology Academy is teaching the largest nursing class in recent years

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. – The healthcare sector continues to face a labor shortage. Nursing is an industry that needs growth, so Summit Technology Academy students hope to fill the open spots.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing attributes the nursing shortage to the retiring baby boom generation, the increased need for health care due to the aging population, slow growth in nursing enrollment and career burnout.

STA’s nursing class has approximately 100 students this year, which is the largest in four years. The program teaches high school students the basics of nursing, such as medical mathematics and taking vital signs. It also prepares them for the demands of a collegiate nursing program and the overall job.

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“I think it’s really important that our students have the right guide to help them get started in their clinical journey, to help them get started in their career, but also to know that they’re getting into it for the right reasons and that it is a good fit for them,” says Casey Thomason, professional nursing instructor.

STA is part of the Lee’s Summit R7 School District. It has 40 high schools participating in the various professional programs.

Lee’s Summit West High School senior Madalyn Schnebelen aspires to become a nurse. She wants to intern at St. Luke’s, something available through the program. For now, she’s grateful to be in the classroom and using the technology available.

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“The mannequins are so cool. They’re alive, and they’re blinking, and they’re breathing, and when you listen to the heartbeat, you also hear the breathing sounds, and they’re thinking about bowel movements and everything else. It’s like it’s so interactive,” Schneblen said.”

Schneblen and her classmates are the next generation of healthcare professionals. Federal officials at the Health Resources and Services Administration predict a shortage of more than 78,000 full-time nurses by 2025. So while this year’s STA class of 100 isn’t a quick fix, momentum could build to ease pressure on the health care system. .

“I think it’s really encouraging to see how excited they are to get out there, to care for patients, to work in healthcare. It is reassuring to know that we have a new generation of nurses who are coming out with enthusiasm and passion to connect with and care for people,” said Thomason.

STA partners with the University of Central Missouri. Students can earn credits toward their BSN program in college, thanks to local colleges such as UMKC, Rockhurst, Avila, and Research that also support the program.

KSHB 41 reporter Claire Bradshaw covers eastern Jackson County, including Blue Springs and Independence. Share your story idea with Claire.