Travel Nurse Leads Nurse Apprentice Program for Foreign-Trained Nurses in SD
Image: Huron Regional Medical Center
In a move aimed at addressing the state’s growing nursing staffing issues, Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) has launched South Dakota’s first registered nursing apprenticeship program, specifically designed for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) nurses. The initiative, led by travel nurse Norma Torres Ortiz, offers a vital pathway for immigrants, refugees, and U.S. citizens with foreign nursing backgrounds to earn their RN licenses without leaving the workforce.
Norma Torres Ortiz, 47, knows the challenges of navigating a nursing career in a second language. Originally from Puerto Rico, Torres Ortiz moved to South Dakota in 2018 after being displaced by Hurricane Maria. With English as her second language, she spent two years studying for the national nurse licensure exam (NCLEX), passing in June 2019.
“Every single time I write ‘RN’ by my name, I stop and feel so grateful,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d ever pass.”
Her experience inspired her to help other ESL nurses in the Huron area. Many of these individuals, despite having nursing backgrounds, work in meatpacking plants or cleaning jobs because they lack the language skills and support needed to pass the NCLEX.
South Dakota faces some of the most significant nursing staffing challenges in the country, with projections showing a critical gap by 2030. At HRMC alone, there are currently 11 nursing vacancies. Larger health systems like Avera Health and Sanford Health are recruiting internationally to fill these gaps, but smaller facilities like HRMC lack the resources for large-scale international hiring.
Instead, HRMC’s apprenticeship program provides a local solution, tapping into the skilled but underutilized labor force within its community. This initiative includes medical language courses for English language learners, licensing exam prep classes, and on-the-job training alongside veteran nurses.
Cost and Community Impact
The program, which launched its first cohort of five students in May 2024, costs roughly $25,000 to $50,000 per apprentice, depending on the length of their training period. HRMC aims to cover these costs through hospital funds and state grants, ensuring participants can focus on their studies without financial strain.
Beadle County, where Huron is located, has one of the most diverse populations in the state, with 15% Hispanic or Latino and 12% Asian residents. This diversity reflects waves of immigration from Latin America and Southeast Asia over the past two decades.
“We’re trying to make our workforce reflect our community population,” said Brooke Sydow, program manager at HRMC. “That’s a big piece of it — helping the community feel more connected and at home.”
With over 170 international nurses set to join Avera Health in the coming years and Sanford Health employing more than 700 internationally trained nurses, HRMC’s apprenticeship approach offers a complementary, community-focused strategy. It not only helps fill critical staffing needs but also strengthens ties within a diverse community.
Torres Ortiz hopes the program can expand to include more participants, particularly from Puerto Rico, where nursing jobs are scarce.
“When you post a nursing job in Puerto Rico, you could get 20 applications in an hour,” she said. “Here in Huron, you wait months to find and hire someone.”
