In a collaborative partnership between Black Hills State University, South Dakota State University, Monument Health and West River Area Health Education Center, the new West River Health Science Center will be the premier center for education and employment resources in healthcare across western South Dakota to support students as they pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Monument Health president and CEO Paulette Davidson said, “This nursing program at Black Hills State University in Rapid City is an expansion of the already successful nursing programs.”

Davidson continued, “This is to meet a need: to fulfill the need of nurses West River. We have a shortage today. We are short about 2,000 nurses in South Dakota, with half of that across West River.”

The West River Health Science Center is to become part of this solution by increasing the number of healthcare workers across the region and easing the shortage and demand for qualified nursing personnel.

“We’re very excited about this partnership to be able to work together to deliver these much-needed degrees in the western part of South Dakota,” said Black Hills State University president Steve Elliott.

South Dakota State University president Barry H. Dunn echoed the excitement over the collaboration between the universities and Monument Health.

“It’s a strong partnership,” said Dunn. “We have a very strong nursing program, and certainly the programs that [BHSU] will offer here will strengthen our nursing program and we will both deliver nurses to the area.”

Students that complete their education will receive an associate’s degree from Black Hills State and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from South Dakota State University, enabling students to complete their entire education in nursing in Rapid City. Part of that goal is to encourage graduates to stay in the area to fulfill the shortage of registered nurses.

Dunn said the program will be up and going in the new building by next fall, but the pipeline for nurses has already begun. He called the pipeline the most critical step. South Dakota State University has already interacted with eighth-graders, informing them how critical and important healthcare jobs are to the region to get them interested in this program once they graduate high school.

Davidson stressed the need for more nurses.

“If we had four jumbo 747s land in Rapid City full of nurses, we’d hire them all,” said Davidson. “Rapid City is growing. It’s one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, so we need to make sure we can take care of our growing population’s healthcare needs, and this is part of the solution.”

The West River Health Science Center will be located adjacent to Black Hills State University in Rapid City, located off Interstate 90, at 4300 Cheyenne Blvd. For more information on the Black Hills State University campus in Rapid city, visit bhsu.edu/About.