Students to get head start on nursing careers through new Barren County program
District and college leaders said the initiative is designed to prepare students for high-demand healthcare careers while strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline.
GLASGOW, Ky. — Barren County Schools and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College are expanding the region’s healthcare workforce pipeline with a new program aimed at helping high school students begin nursing careers earlier.
The district and SKYCTC announced the launch of the “Nurse Ready” pathway at Barren County High School, which will begin in the 2026–27 school year and allow students to begin nursing-related coursework while still in high school.
The announcement comes just weeks after SKYCTC broke ground on its new allied health campus off Veterans Outer Loop, a project officials say is intended to expand healthcare training opportunities and address long-term nursing shortages in the region.
Before SKYCTC, the Glasgow LPN Nursing School opened as a vocational program in 1958 on the same campus still in use today.
Brennan Crain
“This program creates incredible opportunities for our students to get a head start on a meaningful and rewarding career path,” said Barren County High School Principal Letitia Hughes. “We are excited to continue expanding opportunities that connect classroom learning to real-world careers and strengthen the future healthcare workforce in our communities.”
The Nurse Ready pathway will combine biomedical sciences and allied health classes with dual-credit college coursework, giving students the opportunity to earn college credit and gain early exposure to the healthcare field. Students will have pathways leading toward registered nursing and LPN-to-RN options.
Through the expanded partnership between BCHS and SKYCTC, students will graduate with certified nursing assistant certification while also completing prerequisite coursework needed to apply to nursing school before leaving high school.
Officials said the structure will allow students to enter SKYCTC’s registered nursing program a year earlier than many traditional students while also providing a direct admission pathway for those who meet college requirements.
District and college leaders said the initiative is designed to prepare students for high-demand healthcare careers while strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline as healthcare providers continue facing staffing shortages.
“The Nurse Ready pathway helps students build a strong academic foundation while giving them a clearer pathway into the nursing profession and ultimately into serving patients and communities across Kentucky,” said Dr. Angie Harlan, dean of nursing at SKYCTC.
Find a breakdown of the pathway requirements here.
