Burlington, Vt.  – Two transformative nursing programs launched in partnership with Norwich University and Vermont State University, and supported by federal and state grant funding, celebrated the graduation of 31 students between August and the end of December. Ten of the students earned Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Nursing, and 21 received Master’s of Science degrees in Nursing. The programs are part of an ongoing larger effort to address Vermont’s nursing workforce shortage.

The graduations are the result of two years of collaboration between University of Vermont Health and the universities, which received more than $1.5 million in grant funding from the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) and the federal government to support students’ tuition, books and more.

“These graduates are much-needed and highly-qualified nurses whose dedication and expertise will help reduce some of the pressure being felt across our region due to the ongoing shortage of both bedside nurses and nurse educators,” said Jerry Baake, director of Workforce Development for UVM Health. “These talented individuals already have a positive impact on our patients and communities. We are proud to continue supporting their professional goals and development.”

Interested in advancing a career in nursing or another health care role? Visit our Center for Workforce Development for more information and to find an option that might be right for you.

Baake thanked federal and Vermont state officials for their support of the programs and students. The new graduates have all committed to work locally for at least two years.

“Making professional growth and development more financially feasible for non-traditional learners is incredibly impactful,” he said. “The success of these programs is a direct result of the passion and dedication our people bring to everything they do, and the support we received from the Vermont Agency of Health Services.”

Accelerated BSN Pathway Program

When Cicely MacKenzieBaker decided to switch careers after six years as a certified teacher, health care quickly emerged as her top choice, with one major challenge: she couldn’t afford to quit her job and become a full-time student again.

It wasn’t until MacKenzieBaker heard about the Accelerated BSN Pathway Program (ABSN) launched in 2024 through the partnership between UVM Health and Norwich University that she saw a realistic path forward for herself. After securing a job as a licensed nursing assistant (LNA) at Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing at UVM Health – Central Vermont Medical Center, MacKenzieBaker applied and was accepted into the ABSN program.

The program, which allows employees across the health system to continue earning wages and benefits while studying to earn their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, provides essential financial stability to students who might otherwise have to reduce work hours or leave their jobs entirely to pursue further education. As part of the program, graduates commit to a two-year, full-time direct care nursing role within UVM Health.

MacKenzieBaker is one of 10 graduates from University of Vermont Medical Center and CVMC who completed the novel program, which offers a comprehensive online and in-person curriculum and includes paid study hours along with grant-supported funding for tuition, fees and textbooks. Grant funding was provided through the Vermont Agency of Human Services.

“I was only able to take this step in my career because of the pathway program,” MacKenzieBaker said. “It was challenging, but I felt like I had the tools and the bandwidth to do it. I really enjoy building relationships, getting to know people and understanding their needs and how I can help them.”

MSN Nursing Education Pathway Program

Throughout her nearly two decades as a registered nurse in UVM Medical Center’s Cardiology department, Bridget Corriveau, RN, MSN, has always loved learning – and teaching. Juggling her career in health care and the demands of raising a young family meant putting her professional development on the backburner for some time – until Corriveau heard about a first-of-its-kind approach to expanding nurse education.

The MSN Nursing Education Pathway, launched in 2024 by UVM Health in partnership with Vermont State University and Norwich University, expands nurse education capacity in Vermont – a longstanding challenge that has been difficult to address, in part, because colleges of nursing require clinical instructors to have a master’s degree.

The program is supported by grant funding from Vermont AHS and the federal government that covers tuition, fees and books – making the pursuit of a Master’s of Science in Nursing more financially accessible. After students complete the course, they commit to teaching with a Vermont college of nursing through a dual service agreement between the universities and UVM Health.

Under the agreement, UVM Health ensures the nursing instructors – who often make less teaching than they would while working in a clinical setting – aren’t financially impacted by the time they spend teaching. Graduates continue to earn their full-time wages and benefits based on their clinical role, while working in the classroom part-time.

Twenty-one students from UVM Medical Center, CVMC and UVM Health - Home Health and Hospice graduated from the program between November and the end of December.

For Corriveau, who sits on the board of Vermont Cardiac Network and other para-hospital organizations and has for years taught a variety of hospital-based courses such as Basic and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, the opportunity to continue her own professional growth and development has made a huge impact.

“My plan is to be here forever, because I really enjoy where I work,” said Corriveau. “This was incredibly significant and positive for me and others. It was incredibly challenging and a lot of work. Being able to have support – financially as well as workload – and knowing that there was that backing from my leadership team was huge.”

University of Vermont Health
40 IDX Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403

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About University of Vermont Health

University of Vermont Health is a rural academic health system with more than 100 years of service to small towns and cities across Vermont and northern New York. We are deeply committed to reimagining rural health in ways that will benefit our communities for generations to come and keep exceptional care close to home. Our system includes an academic medical center, two community hospitals, three critical access hospitals, a children’s hospital, a cancer center, a multispecialty medical group, 154 outpatient sites and care beyond the hospital through home health, hospice care, four skilled nursing facilities and other support services. Our care is informed by an essential partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Together, as a health system serving a rural area, we are tackling health care’s biggest challenges — supporting the communities we serve and investing in our employees by addressing housing affordability, quality childcare and professional development needs. To learn more, visit us at www.uvmhealth.org.