W O R K F O R M E / S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 32
T
he demand for nurses
in Maine and across
the country has never
been greater, and enrollment
in Maine's nursing programs is
higher than ever, with growing
waitlists, in line with national
trends, which saw a 5.6% enroll-
ment increase in 2020.
While demand for nurses still
outpaces the rate new nurses
are entering the workforce, es-
pecially in Maine, with an aging
population, the state's 13 nursing
programs are rising to the chal-
lenge by increasing program
capacity, adding new faculty,
and getting creative with what
they've got and the partnerships
they've made.
New expansions
The Maine Community College
System just added a new nurs-
ing program at York County
Community College in Wells,
making a total of six programs
in their seven campus system,
along with availability at some
of their satellite locations in
more remote parts of the state,
which not only make it conve-
nient for students who need to
remain in their current loca-
tion to care for family or other
demands, but beneficial to the
hospitals and medical facili-
ties near them, since many of
those students stay in their
current community to work
upon graduation.
H e a lt h C a r e
P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y O F M C C S
P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F U N E
P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F U N E
UP FOR THE
CHALLENGE
Maine's nursing programs rise to meet
steep demands
B Y C A T I E J O Y C E - B U L A Y
Jennifer Morton,
director of UNE's
nursing program
University of New
England's nursing program
offers a range of hands-on
opportunities to learn.
