Goodbye Assembly Line, Hello Nursing

DETROIT, January 9, 2009: The first class of the Henry Ford Health System's nursing recruitment program for displaced auto workers is underway.

In partnership with Oakland University, Henry Ford developed the program to assist those seeking a career change and to address the nursing shortage. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than 1 million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012.

Oakland University offered places for up to 100 displaced auto workers to qualify for a pre-nursing program. Those who completed the prerequisites and who met the grade requirements then started the first nursing class in September at Henry Ford. Fifty-one students are enrolled in the program.

The students participate in all classroom work and clinical training (outpatient and inpatient) at a Henry Ford medical site.

Students move through the year-round program as a group and are scheduled to graduate in August 2010.

Upon graduation, students will have obtained a bachelor's degree in nursing. After completing the registered nurse licensure exam, they could have a job waiting for them at Henry Ford.

Henry Ford is donating classroom, lab and clinical space, and is paying the cost of clinical instructors for two clinical courses.