RALEIGH (August 4, 2021) – Local hospitals. Rehab centers. Assisted-living homes. They all need trained nurses, particularly in North Carolina’s rural areas.

And the state’s community colleges can supply those nurses.

“In 2020 alone, the North Carolina Community College System produced over 47% of the nurses that graduated in the state,” Thomas Stith III, President of the Community College System, says in the accompanying video. 

“As we look toward recovery and moving forward through this pandemic, it will be even more important for the Community College System to provide that opportunity for education for those individuals seeking nursing degrees,” Stith says.

Community colleges can provide licensed practical nurses or nurses with associate degrees who can become registered nurses.

“Our rural areas in particular are in need of nursing candidates once they graduate,” Stith says. “Whether it’s their local hospitals, small clinics or nursing care organizations, we’re seeing our associate nurses in particular finding opportunity in our rural communities.”