RN Signing Day

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is hosting its inaugural Registered Nurse Apprentice Signing Day to welcome its first cohort of RN apprentices. As the first RN apprenticeship program in west Tennessee endorsed by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, it offers an earn‑while‑you‑learn model that provides paid clinical experience while students complete their education. Apprentices work one‑on‑one with licensed RN mentors to build skills, validate competencies, and prepare for real‑world practice. The program reflects MLH’s commitment to expanding access to nursing and strengthening the region’s workforce. With Tennessee projected to need 8,500 additional RNs by 2035, initiatives like this are vital to ensuring high‑quality care across the Mid‑South. The RN Apprentice program is a collaboration with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Southwest Tennessee Community College, the Tennessee Hospital Association, and the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.