Maryville’s Online Nursing Programs are reaching thousands of rural students to provide access to health care for those who are without access in their communities.
Among the rolling hills and meadows of northern Kentucky is the city of Hardinsburg. The region gets its colorful name from bluegrass, the smooth grass found in lawns, pastures and seemingly along every country road. Nearby, the unspoiled beauty and gentle waves of Rough River Lake provide a variety of outdoor activities like boating, fishing, swimming and camping.
Maryville student Melony Jaggers, MSN, RN, serves as director of quality management for Breckinridge Health which includes Breckinridge Memorial Hospital and a network of small clinics. In her role, Jaggers improves the quality of patient care by identifying needed resources, provides support to practitioners and managers and monitors patients’ progress and satisfaction with services.
But Jaggers, who previously served as an air ambulance flight nurse, said it’s often all hands on deck at the hospital, especially when trauma cases arise. The hospital serves all of Breckinridge County, which has a population of more than 20,000 people, but the facility has only six beds in the emergency department and another 25 beds for acute patient care. Jaggers steps into a patient care role whenever and wherever another set of hands is needed.
“So many rural hospitals are struggling because there are too many patients with too little access,” she said. Between 2010 and
2019, 102 rural hospitals have closed and it is estimated that another 700 will close in the next decade. In the evenings after work, and during the rare day off, Jaggers completes her coursework for a post-master’s nurse practitioner certificate through Maryville Online.
“I chose to go back to school because my county needs more providers,” she said. “We especially need nurse practitioners because the doctors are already too busy; there’s not enough of them to go around. I knew I needed to find a way to help.”
The demand for health care extends beyond the walls of the hospital. Many Breckinridge Health clinic patients have to wait several weeks to get an appointment with their primary care provider. Those patients often show up at the emergency department to see a provider in lieu of waiting.
Additionally, uninsured patients have begun flooding the emergency department seeking relief for common ailments, chronic disease management and other nonurgent health issues. Many of these patients feel they have no other place to go. They range in age, with a large need for pediatric and maternal health services.
“I can’t remember a time that I didn’t want to work in the health care field,” Jaggers said. “It’s tough to go back to school while working full time, but I know it’s going to be good for my community. We are very tight knit, and people know me and trust me. I want to ensure they have access to the best care possible.”