The foundation's gift will help, in part, fund start-up costs for a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct website of the IBC Foundation.
A $1 million gift to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, not only will help fund start-up costs for a new Bachelor of Science in nursing program, but it will help close the critical gap in the regional healthcare system.
The four-year gift from the IBC Foundation also is earmarked to help fund construction of the new IBC Foundation Nursing Wing, according to the university.
St. Mary’s is among healthcare educators taking decisive steps in growing and strengthening the U.S. nursing workforce. Initiatives from other schools, for example, include simplifying the transfer of credits between higher education institutions, creating alliances with hospitals or health systems, and building more nursing schools.
The efforts are in response to the profession’s significant challenges, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average of 203,200 openings for registered nurses each year through 2031.
St. Mary’s nursing program will be housed on the third floor of the state-of-the-art, 30,000-square-foot Blank Sheppard Innovation Center, which is under construction with planned completion in 2024, supporting research, innovation, and instruction in the School of Science, Engineering and Technology.
The 10,000-foot IBC Foundation Nursing Wing will include a flexible lab space, a seven-bed clinical skills lab, four simulation suites and faculty offices.
The nursing major is expected to begin enrolling students in fall 2024, pending approval by the Texas Board of Nursing and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), according to the university.
The IBC Foundation gift will help fund:
- Construction of the nursing wing, as well as IT and audio-visual infrastructure
- Medical mannikins and other reality-enhancing technology and equipment
- Additional equipment, furniture, and start-up supplies
"The generosity of the IBC Foundation has enabled St. Mary’s University with the exceptional opportunity to launch a nursing program in a space specifically designed for this specialized study," said Donna M. Badowski, DNP, vice dean and founding director of nursing. "We are all beyond grateful for this life-changing gift."
Graduates of the new nursing program will help to close critical gaps in the regional healthcare system.
Texas will need 50,000 more nurses by 2033, including 10,000 new nurses in Central and South Texas, according to the Texas Department of Health Services.
"Through this generous gift, the IBC Foundation will make possible many life-changing educational moments for St. Mary’s University students," said Thomas M. Mengler, JD, university president.
"Students learning in this new wing will benefit from in-depth training—replicating real-life healthcare scenarios—which they will rely on throughout their nursing careers," he said. "At St. Mary’s, we believe this IBC Foundation gift will literally save lives."
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct website of the IBC Foundation.
Carol Davis is the Nursing Editor at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A $1 million gift to St. Mary's University from the IBC Foundation will help fund start-up costs for a new Bachelor of Science in nursing program.
The gift will help fund Medical mannikins and other reality-enhancing technology and equipment.
St. Mary’s is among healthcare educators taking decisive steps in growing and strengthening the U.S. nursing workforce.