Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Strategic Communications
The United States is facing one of the most severe nursing shortages in modern history, with national projections showing more than 200,000 openings for registered nurses every year over the next decade. Communities—especially in the South—are feeling the strain.
A new apprenticeship partnership with the Tuskegee University Department of Nursing is tackling the shortage head-on – and closing the gap between the classroom and the workplace.
This summer, Tuskegee nursing students will step directly into Baptist Health Systems hospitals as part of a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship partnership forged between the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs, and the Tuskegee University Department of Nursing, and certified by the U.S. Department of Labor. This program delivers what the national conversation now demands: real experience, real pay, real readiness.
“Our Renaissance Era continues to build workforce‑aligned pathways that use the powerful resources right in our hands to prepare leaders—faster and better,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO of Tuskegee University. “Alabama and communities across America will benefit as we train the next generation of world-class, compassionate healthcare professionals.”
This apprenticeship is a career pathway for students to:
- Earn academic credit for clinical education
- Gain one‑on‑one training from highly skilled registered nurses
- Step into real hospital environments from day one
- Be compensated as employees of Baptist Health Systems
During the ceremony formalizing the partnership, Assistant Provost Dr. Chastity Bradford addressed the inaugural cohort of apprentices:
“You will set the standard for all who follow. The future of nursing is in your hands, and we cannot wait to see you shine.”
Joining Dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health, Dr. Cornelia Nnedu for the celebration were:
- Tiffany Bass, Chief Nursing Officer, Baptist Health Systems
- Kendarius Floyd, State and Local Affairs Officer, Alabama Office of Minority Affairs
- Henry Davis III, Member, Tuskegee University Board of Trustees
Their presence underscored the shared commitment to strengthening Alabama’s healthcare workforce—starting with homegrown talent, which isn’t new for Tuskegee. Tuskegee nurses are used to being first and being leaders. Tuskegee University’s Department of Nursing was the first baccalaureate nursing program in Alabama and one of the oldest continually operating HBCU nursing programs in the country.
This new apprenticeship adds a historic new chapter to a legacy defined by leadership, innovation, and service. And now, as healthcare systems across America search for solutions to the nursing shortage, Tuskegee University is not waiting. It is leading—creating an ecosystem of education, experience, and employment to launch the next generation of practice‑ready, workplace‑ready, impact‑ready nurses.
© 2026 Tuskegee University
