PITTSFIELD, Maine — Knox resident Lily May Joy has always dreamed of being a nurse.
"I wanted to be able to help people," May Joy said.
With the closest student nursing programs an hour's drive away in Bangor, though, that dream at times seemed out of reach.
"Driving to Bangor, that's OK if it's a good day, but when you think about winter times you know that can be challenging," May Joy said.
However, with expansions to Northern Light Health and Eastern Maine Community College's satellite nursing program, she and other nursing students are getting hands-on training right at their communities' local hospitals. For May Joy, that's Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield.
"We're able to bring that knowledge and that quality education that Eastern Maine Community College has and also be able to deliver the education and simulation experiences here local," Northern Light Health Clinical Educator Kristin Cullbreth said.
Cullbreth said the program has not only been a great opportunity for nursing students living in rural areas, but also for Sebasticook Valley and the other hospitals they study at.
"We're able to grow the number of nurses that we have while keeping that same level of care and quality of education in rural communities," Cullbreth said.
According to officials with Northern Light Health, a more than $800,000 federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant gifted over the next three years is helping them provide Sebasticook Valley and other rural hospitals with simulation equipment like training mannequins.
Additions that vice president for professional clinical development at Northern Light Health Lindsay Holmstrom said will give nursing students more confidence in high-pressure scenarios and learn from mistakes in a controlled classroom environment.
"There are things that may not happen often in the rural communities so being able to simulate those at these hospitals is very important to keeping our communities safe," Holmstrom said.
And when nurses are given opportunities like these in their communities, EMCC Nursing Program Director Heather Rushmore said they're more likely to stay.
"When they graduate, they're already rooted in that community, they're not leaving and going elsewhere. They're staying and working right there which is increasing the workforce for that hospital," Rushmore said.
For May Joy, the ability to study close to home has not only brought her closer to fellow nurses but also to her community.
"It's really nice to be able to give back to your community, people that you know like your neighbors or your friends, and be able to help them," May Joy said.
If you or someone you know is interested in the satellite program, Northern Light Health says registration for next year's classes opens Sept. 1. You can visit Northern Light's website or email the admissions office at EMCC to apply.