COLUMBIA, South Carolina—BAYADA Home Health Care, an independent, nonprofit home health care provider, has granted ECPI University $355,000 to help combat the nursing shortage in South Carolina.
Nursing students at ECPI University’s Columbus campus who work 20 hours per week at BAYADA are eligible to receive up to $10,000 in scholarship funds toward their pursuit of licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN) certifications through BAYADA’s Advance to LPN Scholarship Program.
While engaging in nursing coursework at ECPI University, students can expect to gain paid, hands-on homecare experience in personal care and companionship at BAYADA, offering household support for seniors and adults who require assistance.
“This partnership is about building a stronger community,” said Shawn Keith, Director of BAYADA’s Columbia office. “We’re fostering job creation and career growth while helping alleviate the local nursing shortage. Ultimately, we’re working to ensure that more people can receive the care they need in the place they most want to be—home.”
The state is hurtling toward the fourth largest shortage of registered nurses in the US, with over 19% of positions unfilled by 2037, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. Since 2011, ECPI University has helped strengthen the Columbia region’s nursing workforce through education that combines classroom learning, clinical training and personalized support.
The campus offers a 15-month practical nursing diploma and an 18-month associate degree in nursing, preparing students to sit for the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN licensure exams.
ECPI University has launched the careers of hundreds of nurses in South Carolina, many of whom serve patients in hospitals, clinics and home health settings across the region.
“We’re honored to collaborate with BAYADA to expand access to nursing education,” said Matthew Stein, campus president at ECPI Columbia. “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing skilled, career-ready nurses—and it speaks to the difference ECPI graduates are making across the greater Columbia community.”
The scholarship funds from BAYADA were sourced entirely from COVID-19 public stimulus dollars for caregivers and clinicians.