Investing in our nurses: HCA Healthcare picks up Galen College of Nursing

HCA Healthcare continues investing in nurses, obtains majority ownership in nursing school

In a continuation of our focus on nurses and nursing education, we are pleased to announce HCA Healthcare has become the majority owner of Galen College of Nursing, one of the largest educators of nurses in the nation.

The innovative strategic partnership brings together two of the top nursing organizations in the country in order to increase access to nursing education and provide career development opportunities in nursing to improve patient care.

Investing in nurses

“Nurses are the lifeblood of our organization, and we’ve been intentional about investing in nursing so they can be successful and provide the best possible patient care,” said Sam Hazen, HCA Healthcare’s chief executive officer. “Galen has an excellent reputation in nursing education, and we look forward to working with them to advance their mission and expand their programs to more of our markets.”

With 94,000 registered nurses, HCA Healthcare is one of the largest employers of nurses in the country. Here, nurses hold positions from bedside caregivers in a variety of healthcare settings to leadership positions throughout our organization.

It is anticipated that Galen’s nursing degree programs will offer additional career development opportunities for HCA Healthcare nurses. It also will provide opportunities for Galen to establish nursing programs at HCA Healthcare affiliates across the country, providing more clinical education and career opportunities for Galen students.

Galen enrolls students in nursing programs in Louisville, Ky. – its main campus – and four other locations (San Antonio, Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, and Hazard, Kentucky) and online.

‘Committed to being the career destination for nurses’

“We believe this partnership with Galen is another signal that HCA Healthcare is committed to being the premier career destination for nurses while helping to address the nation’s increasing nursing workforce needs,” said HCA Healthcare’s senior vice president and chief nurse executive Jane Englebright. “Galen has created something extraordinary, and we want to provide support and resources to help them enhance their nursing programs to strengthen the nursing profession and patient care.”

HCA Healthcare’s work in nursing education is not new as the organization currently has two nursing schools, Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, Mo., and Mercy School of Nursing in Miami, Fla., as well as five advanced nursing simulation training centers.

Nurses develop confidence and competence at HCA Healthcare’s Simulation Learning Centers (SLCs)

This new partnership is a continuation of HCA Healthcare’s focus on nurses and nursing excellence, which has resulted in a positive impact on clinical outcomes, patient experience, efficiency of care, and nurse engagement. For example:

• In 2018, HCA Healthcare added more than 6,200 registered nurses and continued to invest in new technologies to support nursing by improving communication between patients and nurses and across care teams.
• HCA Healthcare also completed the deployment of its advanced one-of-a-kind documentation system that returned 30 minutes of time to nurses in each 12-hour shift and generated data expected to help drive improvement in clinical outcomes.
• In addition, last year HCA Healthcare began investing up to $300 million in more benefits, in large part by adding or expanding career development programs for nurses. Those programs include tuition reimbursement for most full- and part-time colleagues, student loan debt assistance, expanded certification offerings, and plans for a scholarship program for children of HCA Healthcare colleagues.

“Every interaction with HCA Healthcare has reinforced that we share common ideals and cultural expectations of excellence,” said Mark Vogt, chief executive officer of Galen College of Nursing. “We are extremely excited about building on the synergies between nursing practice and nursing education, and the possibilities this unlocks for years to come.”

“It is an incredible milestone for Galen and we have confidence that this union will not only strengthen our ability to carry out our mission, but to expand our vision,” added Vogt, who will continue to lead the nursing school.

The extraordinary mission of Galen College of Nursing—change the life of one to care for the lives of many—is a true complement to the mission of HCA Healthcare, and we look forward to partnering to provide healthier tomorrows to our patients and colleagues.

Join us in welcoming Galen to our HCA Healthcare family.

For more information about career opportunities in nursing at HCA Healthcare, visit here.