Vermont hospitals curb nursing shortage by training other hospital employees

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – As staff shortages at Vermont’s hospitals persist, one potential solution being used at hospitals across New England involves training current hospital employees to become nurses.

Director of Professional Development Kelly Campbell says the daily census of patients has gone from 18 to 34 in recent years. They’ve added beds, but she says the hospital is having a hard time keeping up.

“Patients wait longer to access care than they used to. So when they do they’re sicker, or their condition is more acute. There’s a lot of a lot of things that play into into that,” said Campbell.

The hospital had up to 70 nursing vacancies, but that number had now dropped to 36. Chief nursing executive Dawn Kregel notes dozens of those filled positions are traveling nurses who typically get paid more than full-time staff. Through a new employee-to-nurse pipeline program, Kregel hopes to rely less on travelers in the future.

“We’re utilizing a novice to expert program and clinical model to be able to take these folks that we have, who apply who are hired and then to also develop them through a track,” said Kregel.

Jill Cross is one of six students in the new nursing pipeline program at the hospital. Cross worked for over a year as a medical assistant but always had her eyes on nursing. Through this program, she simultaneously takes courses at CCV and continues her MA work at the hospital.

“One of my last positions that I had filled, I was a clinical lead in a doctor’s office and I did all the things a nurse would do. I just unfortunately didn’t have a license. It held me back from doing some things,” said Cross.

She says it’s a good option for her because she gets paid during her work-study hours, and she notes it would be challenging to enroll in nursing school while continuing to support her family.

“I’ve always just felt the most comfortable when I’m helping somebody. And it took me, you know, many years to realize that this is my calling,” said Cross.

It’s a win-win for the hospital, which will have six nursing programs filled by the end of the cohort, transitioning from working as medical assistants, ER Techs, and food service providers. They say it’s also an opportunity to recruit more entry-level positions to encourage growth within the organization.

The Northwestern Vermont Medical Center is one of three hospitals receiving a portion of $9 million in state funding for this program. All the funding must be used by September 2026, with all program participants working as high-level nurses by the same year.

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