USC College of Nursing

Partnering to Grow the Nursing Student Population

Registered nurses are crucial to health care, but they are in short supply—especially in South Carolina. Among the reasons are an aging population, expansive roles for nurses, and high turnover elevated by the pandemic.

Lexington Medical Center partnered with the University of South Carolina (USC) to creatively address the issue. The hospital opened a state-of-the-art nursing simulation center and teaching facility on its campus in 2024 to provide clinical training for USC’s third- and fourth-year nursing bachelor’s students and master’s program students. Cutting-edge technology and flexible spaces offer USC’s growing nursing student population an elevated educational experience and better prepares them to transition into practice.

On average, the university awards 900 nursing degrees per year systemwide. Within five years, the new facility at Lexington Medical Center will help train and graduate 400 nurses per year in the Midlands—an 80% increase annually.

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Growing the Number of Skilled, Compassionate Nurses

The innovative partnership between Lexington Medical Center and the University of South Carolina increased classroom space, clinical instructors and rotation sites.