TruMont Launches Apprenticeship Program in Arkansas

Saline Memorial Hospital has launched a first-of-its-kind program in Arkansas to address the ongoing nursing shortage by helping new nurses transition into the workforce more effectively. Partnering with the nursing apprenticeship program TruMont, the hospital offers a yearlong apprenticeship for recent nursing graduates and RNs with less than two years of experience. The program focuses on hands-on training, confidence building, and leadership development across various departments, such as ICU, ER, and med-surg. Unlike traditional three-to-six-month residencies, this program aligns with Department of Labor guidelines, allowing nurses to gain nearly a full year of experience at their own pace.

Each participant is assigned a preceptor, like experienced nurse Amy Harris, to provide one-on-one guidance and support in skill development, time management, and routine establishment. Afterward, they transition to working with a mentor for continued professional growth. Chief Nursing Officer Katie Lea emphasized the program’s importance in compensating for lost clinical training due to COVID-19 restrictions, which limited hands-on experience for many nursing students. With the rising popularity of travel nursing and a need for workforce stability, the hospital is also training current staff to be preceptors and mentors. So far, seven nurses have enrolled, with room for a total of 25, and applications are open on the hospital’s website.