Southwestern, Butler, Cowley Partner with William Newton Hospital to Open Simulation Center for Nursing Students

Southwestern College, Butler Community College, Cowley College, and William Newton Hospital hosted an open house event Thursday in the newly completed Nursing Simulation Center in the Winfield Healthcare Center on the hospital campus.

"We're thrilled to welcome nursing students back to Winfield and our campus. This program is a vital investment in the future of healthcare in south central Kansas, providing essential training and strengthening our workforce," said Brian Barta, William Newton Hospital Chief Executive Officer.

Community members, college and hospital trustees, faculty, and staff from the partnering institutions filled the space applauding the signing of a formal partnership agreement and cheering again as administrators cut the large purple ribbon provided by the Winfield Chamber of Commerce.

“Simulation training in an environment with this level of interactive technology gives our students a decided advantage as they hone their clinical skills and build confidence as healthcare providers,” said Shona Turner, Associate Professor of Nursing, Director of the BSN Nursing Program at Southwestern College.

Event attendees were able to see demonstrations of the realistic high-fidelity patient manikins and pharmaceutical dispensing unit as they toured the space.

“This collaboration is unique in that it involves two community colleges, a private independent college, and a hospital as a private entity, all in partnership with each other to benefit the community.   I am not aware of anything like this in the state.  Cowley College is focused on strengthening the workforce in south central Kansas and we are excited about the opportunities this partnership brings to our students,” said Dr. Michelle Schoon, Cowley College President.

Projections demonstrate that the ongoing nursing shortage will become more pronounced in the coming years. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that by 2035, non-metropolitan areas will experience a need in excess of 75,000 registered nurses (RNs) to meet the projected demand.

“It is no secret that there is a shortage of highly trained and qualified nurses and that need is amplified in rural communities – William Newton needs avenues to recruit a workforce familiar with communities like ours. Similarly, we as community members, need and want excellent nurses to care for us and for our loved ones,” added Dr. Liz Frombgen, Southwestern College President.

Rural Kansas hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals, like William Newton Hospital, and rural-based health clinics will be most impacted by the nursing shortage.  The Kansas Hospital Association Annual Workforce Survey shows that in 2023 a total of 2,352 full-time, equivalent vacancies were reported for RNs – during that same time, Kansas hospitals reported a 16% turnover rate for RNs, which has improved slightly since the national pandemic, but continues to compound the workforce shortage.

“As community-based institutions of higher learning, we can play an important role in attracting and preparing a new generation of nurses to answer that need and we can have a greater impact and our resources will go further if we are committed to working together,” added Frombgen.

Butler Community College Associates Degree in Nursing students began using the Simulation Center space earlier in the week, while Southwestern College’s first cohort of nurses will begin learning in the space in the fall of 2025.

“Butler knows firsthand that higher education is stronger when our colleges work together to achieve things we would be unable to accomplish alone. This unique collaboration that includes two outstanding colleges, Cowley and Southwestern, plus a dynamic regional hospital, is certain to meet the needs of the communities we collectively serve. The level of cooperation has been remarkable, and we could not have asked for better partners to undertake this difference-making initiative,” said Dr. Jackie Vietti, Butler interim president.