Rural Hospital Addresses Staffing Shortages While Giving High Schoolers Hands-On Medical Experience

McPherson Center for Health has turned a creative solution to staffing shortages into a pipeline for developing future healthcare workers, with seven high school interns becoming hospital employees since the program's expansion in 2023. The internship program, which has engaged more than 30 students over the past two years, offers semester-long rotations through every hospital department for seniors who have completed their Certified Nursing Assistant certification.

"There's talent in our small town, but kids tend to have the idea that bigger is better and that they want the excitement of a city," said Jamie Hicks, Director of Education and Patient Experience at McPherson Hospital. "If we put them in our small rural hospital system and teach them about the culture and family and patient-centered care here, we're hoping that draws them back to rural."

The program addresses dual challenges facing rural healthcare: filling critical entry-level positions while encouraging young people to pursue medical careers in their hometown. Students spend 90 minutes daily at the hospital, equivalent to two class periods, rotating through departments including surgery, radiology, respiratory care, and emergency medical services. Beyond observation, interns apply their CNA skills by assisting with patient transfers, taking vital signs, and helping with administrative tasks.

The experience has proven transformative for participants. Kenna Dale entered the program planning to become an emergency room physician assistant but discovered her true calling as an emergency room nurse. "I like how hands-on they are," Dale said. "This internship really helped me out in figuring out my future and solidifying it."

Similarly, Mallorie Cooper found the program redirected her entire career path. "I went into the internship thinking 'I know what I want to do,' and when I got to that rotation I hated it, and I ended up falling in love with a completely different line of work in healthcare," she said.

The program's success has created what Hicks calls a "win-win" situation, with students gaining invaluable firsthand experience while the hospital fills high-need roles for CNAs, phlebotomists, and administrative staff. Every cohort since 2023 has produced at least one hospital employee, with graduates taking both part-time and full-time positions.

For more information about the internship program, contact Jamie Hicks at 620-241-8661 or JamieHicks@mcphersonhospital.org.

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