Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health are teaming up once again to positively impact health care in the region – creating a partnership that will enhance the supply and retention of registered nurses in North Carolina.
Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health are teaming up once again to positively impact health care in the region – creating a partnership that will enhance the supply and retention of registered nurses in North Carolina.
Through financial support of $15,000 from North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC-AHEC), Methodist University’s Nursing program and Cape Fear Valley Health has started a new project called “Collaborative Clinical Excellence: Transforming Nursing Education with Dedicated Education Units”. The initiative will prepare and train Cape Fear Valley Health nurses, who will be known as clinical instructor partners, to teach various clinical courses to Methodist University Nursing students.
Two Cape Fear Valley Health sites will be home to the program: 1) the Behavioral Health Center for MU’s Psychiatric Mental Health course, and 2) the Cardiac Surgical Step-Down Unit for MU’s Adult Health I and II courses. To date, eight CFVH nurses have been selected to participate in the program – which will provide both training and tools to effectively instruct the courses. Methodist University Nursing students will be paired with clinical instructor partners for weekly clinical experiences. MU faculty will also be onsite for supervision, evaluation, and support.
On Wednesday, Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health held a kick-off celebration as both reflected on the impact the program will have in the entire region.
“This project will not only increase job satisfaction and retention among nursing staff at Cape Fear Valley Health, but it will help integrate the Methodist University Nursing program’s graduates into the workforce while ensuring ongoing mentorship and professional development,” said Dr. Shannon Matthews, MU’s chair and director of Nursing. “So far, early results show promising improvements in clinical vacancy rates and student engagement at MU.”
The project has been in development since the fall of 2023, started a pilot program this semester, and is scheduled to fully launch in the spring of 2025. Both Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health have committed to provide ongoing support to ensure the initiative continues for years to come.
“Cape Fear Valley is thrilled to collaborate with Methodist University in establishing dedicated education units, an innovative model for nursing clinical education,” said Shonda Ray, a patient care manager at Cape Fear Valley Health. “This partnership is designed to provide exceptional clinical experiences for future nurses, which we believe will not only attract top talent to our organization but also elevate the quality of patient care.”
Methodist University has graduated more than 230 Nursing students since 2014 and offers five undergraduate and graduate programs: Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN-to-BSN Completion Program, Nursing Education Certificate, Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership.
This particular partnership is not the only collaboration between Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health. Both are also impacting the future of health care with the intent to establish the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine (SOM), which has a goal of welcoming its first cohort of students in 2026. The SOM is expected to create more than 250 new jobs and graduate more than 100 doctors each year.
Methodist University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and will submit its new program substantive change to SACSCOC before Jan. 1, 2025. The Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine is also currently an applicant program with the Liaison Commission on Medical Education (LCME). MU will not publish admission requirements nor consider any applicants to the program until it receives those approvals.