Dobson, NC – May 8, 2024 –The first youth apprentice program for registered nurses in North Carolina has concluded this year with a remarkable achievement. A total of 22 local students have committed to apprenticeships at Northern Regional Hospital in Mount Airy, while an additional 19 have signed to continue their employment with Northern Regional Hospital through the Surry-Yadkin Works program. This significant milestone was celebrated at a signing event on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, held at Surry Community College.
Dr. David Shockley, President of Surry Community College, Surry-Yadkin Works Executive Board member, and Northern Regional Hospital Board member, opened the event by praising the Nursing Program at Surry Community College and the successful partnership with Surry Yadkin-Works and Northern Regional Hospital.
“The Youth Apprenticeship program has developed even more amazingly than we could have dreamed,” said Robin H. Hodgin, Senior Vice President of Patient Services and CNO. “We have been truly blessed with this group of students, a group that our staff has grown to love and appreciate. We enjoyed seeing their smiling faces each day, not to mention their eagerness to learn new skills. We know these students have very bright futures ahead, and we hope those futures return them to Northern Regional Hospital.”
“Having witnessed firsthand the transformative power of support, I firmly believe that nurtured and encouraged students have the courage to surpass even their own expectations. This program not only impacts lives but also shapes futures. With the unwavering backing of our hospital and its leaders, students propel their efforts towards success.” – Allison Bedsaul, Director of Nursing Education at Northern Regional Hospital.
This unique opportunity is a part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program and the state’s ApprenticeshipNC program through the N.C. Community College System Office that combines a paid work-based learning experience with classroom academics, leading to a national certification. These students will earn free tuition for the Associate Degree in Nursing program at a North Carolina community college to become registered nurses.
The students began their paid pre-apprenticeships on January 8 and worked through May 10, 2023, as certified nursing assistants. Youth received high school or college credit for their employment, a stipend each month for travel expenses through Surry Yadkin Works, and an hourly wage from Northern.
“It is so exciting to celebrate that this many youth and adults in our community are committing to work, learn, and grow through this program at Northern Regional Hospital and Surry Community College,” said Crystal Folger-Hawks, Executive Director of Surry-Yadkin Works. “We are very thankful that Surry-Yadkin Works is the avenue that allows local talent to find a good fit at a great company and serve our community. It is a win-win for the business and students, and I am proud to be a part of this endeavor.”
For those interested in the Apprenticeships at Northern Regional Hospital, we invite you to visit choosenorthern.org/careers or email hrhelp@wearenorthern.org for more information.
About Northern Regional Hospital
Northern Regional Hospital is a 133-bed system that has created a growth and community engagement initiative that supports 1,000 employees and residents to pursue advanced education. Northern invests over $350,000 annually in healthcare academic pursuits for employees and students. In 2020, it established a leadership academy, with 40 employees having graduated from the six-month program. Last year, the system opened an additional family medicine clinic and a new 25,000 sf multi-specialty medical office building. In 2024, Northern received the prestigious Pinnacle Award from the NC community college system and was named for the fourth straight year among the Best Places to Work by the Triad Business Journal.
Surry-Yadkin Works
The mission of Surry-Yadkin Works is to support the economic vitality of the region by matching interns with business partners to meet the needs of the community. Elkin City Schools, Mount Airy City Schools, Surry County Schools, and Yadkin County Schools along with Surry Community College will prepare students for work-based learning, assist with industry-recognized credentials, and aid in enrolling in career and technical college courses. In addition, we will provide mutually beneficial links between students and employers with the goal of increasing skilled workers in our community.
