In a bold move to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in rural Colorado, Colorado State University Pueblo Division of Extended Studies (CSU Pueblo) has launched a groundbreaking nursing program in Walsenburg. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held just days before the fall semester, marks a significant milestone in the fight against what many call the “medical desert” of rural America.
The program’s inception reads like a stroke of serendipity. Three years ago, Carlton Croft, director of Huerfano County Economic Development, found himself seated with CSU Pueblo officials at a legislative luncheon. His impassioned plea for higher education in Huerfano County sparked a chain of events that culminated in this innovative initiative.
Lola Spradley, chair of the Huerfano County Economic Development, sees the nursing program as a crucial part of their strategy to revitalize the region. “To grow jobs, we have to have workforce development,” Spradley explains. The program is one leg of their “four-legged stool” approach, alongside connectivity, job creation, and housing.
Lola Spradley, chair of the Huerfano County Economic Development and Carlton Croft, director of Huerfano County Economic Development
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Colorado faces a deficit of 526 registered nurses per year, a shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and an aging workforce. Rural areas, in particular, struggle to attract and retain healthcare professionals.
CSU Pueblo’s program, backed by a $1.3 million Opportunity Now grant, aims to address this shortage comprehensively. The initiative not only trains new nurses but also focuses on developing nursing instructors, addressing a often-overlooked aspect of the healthcare education pipeline.
The program’s first cohort includes individuals like Matt Whitley, director of Spanish Peaks Ambulance, and Darcy Saint Peter, an EMT shift supervisor. For them, this local program offers a chance to advance their careers without uprooting their lives. “I can’t work and go to school anywhere else,” Saint Peter notes, highlighting the program’s accessibility for working professionals.
What sets this program apart is its deep integration with the local community. By offering education locally, CSU Pueblo hopes to stem the “brain drain” that often plagues rural areas. The program also addresses the unique challenges of rural healthcare, where nurses often face a wider variety of medical situations than their urban counterparts.
The impact extends beyond general healthcare. Dentry DeWolf, the county’s Veterans Service Officer, sees the program as a boon for the region’s aging veteran population, reducing the need for long travels to receive care.
Community members wait for the ribbon cutting ceremony at Fifth and Russell Streets in Walsenburg, CO
As the first students prepare to start their journey, there’s a palpable sense of forward momentum in Walsenburg. In a renovated elementary school just blocks from Main Street, a new chapter in rural healthcare is being written. For this small town and countless others like it across rural America, these aspiring nurses represent more than just healthcare providers – they are the embodiment of a community determined to thrive.
Community members enjoy breakfast inside the New Walsenburg Nursing Campus
The CSU Pueblo nursing program in Walsenburg stands shows how communities can collaborate and through innovative thinking, address rural healthcare challenges. As these students embark on their educational journey, they carry with them the future of a region looking towards a healthier, more vibrant future.
