AnMed Creates Program to Address Nursing Shortage

Construction is under way at 610 North St. in Anderson on the AnMed Education and Innovation Center, a modern, purpose-built facility of 30,000 square feet to expand educational opportunities as the nation and the region face a shortage of skilled nurses.

Beside AnMed Medical Center near East Greenville Street, the AnMed Education and Innovation Center will provide collaborative space, administrative space, and clinical classroom space that will enable the expansion of Tri-County Technical College’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program.

The expansion is the latest example of AnMed’s longstanding, ongoing commitment to support for the education and training of the healthcare workforce. The health system partners closely with schools and organizations to provide physician training, bachelor’s degree-level education for nurses, training programs for physical therapists, radiologic technicians, and more. These innovative programs enable the nation’s most promising health care professionals to connect with an inside track to employment at AnMed, where the organizational culture and opportunities for personal development unite people with their calling and community.

Partnership between AnMed and Tri-County Technical College enables students to learn directly from experienced professionals while participating in clinical rotations at a celebrated, independent, local not-for-profit health system.

South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina are each projected to be among states facing the greatest deficit as the nation’s nurse shortage is projected to reach more than 63,000 by 2030, according to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. More than 2,000 nursing job openings have been advertised for employment in South Carolina, alone, in recent months.

Tri-County Technical College, meanwhile, consistently has a waiting list for students to begin its nursing program. Currently, TCTC can accept 60 nursing students a semester or 120 per academic year. The school’s collaboration with AnMed will increase its number of nursing students by 100 within five years, bringing the total number of nursing students across all TCTC learning sites to 220.

“This partnership is about building the future of nursing from within our own community,” said Shaunda Trotter, AnMed’s chief nursing officer. “By connecting students directly with our caregivers and clearing their path into practice, we are creating a stronger, more sustainable workforce. At a time when the demand for skilled nurses continues to grow, this program allows us to expand opportunity, support our students and ultimately deliver even better care for the patients we serve.”

“Health care is evolving rapidly, and preparing tomorrow’s caregivers requires innovative training environments, advanced technology and strong partnerships. To do it exceptionally requires dedication to excellence,” said AnMed CEO William Kenley. “This center will bring those elements together in a way that strengthens clinical education, supports workforce development and creates new opportunities for students and professionals throughout our region. None of it would be possible without the vision and collaboration of many people — including from Tri-County Technical College. We are honored to celebrate this milestone with Tri-County Technical College and with our community.”

AnMed and Tri-County Technical College share a commitment to strengthening the greater Upstate community through education, access, and opportunity. The alignment of their missions enables them to work together to remove barriers to entering the health care profession, support student success, and build a highly skilled workforce that reflects and serves the region. This partnership emphasizes hands-on learning and a shared investment in improving outcomes for patients and families.

“As the demand for nurses continues to grow, it is imperative that we find new and innovative ways to meet this critical workforce need,” said TCTC President Galen DeHay. “No one organization can solve this challenge alone. It takes strong partnerships between healthcare providers and educational institutions who are willing to invest in the future of our region’s workforce.”

The AnMed Education and Innovation Center will cover two stories designed for comprehensive, modern medical education. The entire first floor will be fitted to provide space for Tri-County Technical College’s expanded ADN program, including:

- classrooms,

- a computer lab,

- simulation debriefing and review rooms,

- other support spaces, and

- two comprehensive simulation patient rooms with medical headwalls to provide training across the continuum of care, including medical-surgical care, critical care, labor and delivery, emergency care, perioperative care, and behavioral health.

Two experienced AnMed nurses, Samantha Blackwood and Allison Foster, are serving as the inaugural adjunct clinical instructors of Tri-County Technical College’s expanded nursing program. Blackwood brings nine years of experience in medical-surgical nursing, and Foster brings 30 years of expertise in telemetry nursing.

Students enrolled in clinical classroom instruction at AnMed will have the opportunity for paid part-time employment and mentorship from local real-world healthcare providers with years of experience.

Anyone interested in participating in TCTC’s ADN program may visit tctc.edu/nursing.