It was great news to hear this week that Butler County Community College was given “positive signals” regarding the state approving an application for half of the money needed for a new building for the school’s nursing program and other construction.

During a board of trustees meeting, the school’s vice president of administration and finance discussed the likelihood of the school obtaining half of the $18 million required for the project.

The first phase of construction at the school will include the demolition of its maintenance building and the construction of a new one as well as the creation of a connector road from Old Plank Road.

The $10 million second phase will include the construction of a new building for its nursing program — which would be a big win for the region.

The total amount in donations toward the building is $4 million. Concordia Lutheran Ministries has given $1 million and Grove City College donated $500,000 toward the project to address the shortage of nurses in the area and, as part of an agreement, Grove City students will be able to take classes at BC3.

A study last year by public health and human service organization The Highmark Foundation found that fewer students were choosing nursing as a career due to changing roles in the profession that have led to dissatisfaction.

As a result, the current supply of nurses has been unable to meet demands. Nursing enrollment isn’t growing fast enough, vacant positions are not being filled and staff is not being retained.

Those who take up the profession have complained of inadequate training, mandatory overtime and feeling overworked and stressed out.

Also, many nursing programs across the nation continue to face pressure to be more publicly accountable, while lacking the resources to address shortages, the study found.

A nursing shortage would be a cause for concern even when times are good — but during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic it can be especially dangerous.

We hope that BC3 president Nick Neupauer’s signal that the school could get the funding by year’s end is correct.

The pandemic has led to severe hardship for many Americans — including many across the state and in Butler County — and a nursing shortage is a problem that needs to be solved.

We believe the new home for BC3’s nursing program will be an asset, and that it creates further interest toward the profession in the region.

— NCD