students begin healthcare careers before they ever graduate high school. High school seniors on a healthcare track can earn CNA and Patient Care Technician licensure, completing clinical rotations at Mesa View Senior Living while simultaneously working part-time within the District. Those students then graduate and are positioned to move directly into the Rural Nursing Education Consortium (RNEC) LVN program, which is offered locally in Canadian. This earn-while-you-learn pathway allows students to remain in their hometown, avoid relocation costs, and build long-term careers without leaving Hemphill County. It also provides the District with a sustainable response to nursing shortages that challenge rural hospitals nationwide. “We’re creating a pipeline where students graduate, work for us, and continue advancing their credentials,” Mauldin says. “That continuity benefits both the individual and the organization.” In addition, the District offers a work practicum program that allows students to shadow across departments—from therapy and EMS to administration—expanding awareness of healthcare careers beyond bedside roles. COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND SHARED RESILIENCE Operating in a rural setting means more than managing distance; it means understanding people. By advancing research, training professionals and providing compassionate patient services, we're working to provide a healthier future with access to quality care for every Texan. 122 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01
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