At Galen College of Nursing, our mission is clear: to expand access to high-quality nursing education while preparing compassionate, confident, and practice-ready nurses. Ultimately, one of the most powerful ways we achieve this goal is through our strategic connection to HCA Healthcare.

Galen is proud to be part of the HCA Healthcare family—a collaborative network comprising approximately 2,500 sites of care across the United States and the United Kingdom. Together, we are dedicated to strengthening the nursing workforce and addressing the evolving challenges facing healthcare today.

For current and future Galen students, this connection is more than a partnership on paper. It is a direct link to one of the nation’s most respected healthcare systems and the standards that define high-quality nursing practice.

HCA Healthcare is widely recognized for its commitment to clinical excellence, a fact reaffirmed this week by Healthgrades. The latest data highlights HCA Healthcare’s standing as a premier learning health system:

“We are honored to be recognized, but even more proud of the work behind it,” said Dr. Randy Fagin, senior vice president and chief quality officer of HCA Healthcare. “Learning from every patient and continuously strengthening the systems that help our caregivers deliver safe care, every day, is our commitment to earning and keeping the trust patients place in us.”

For Galen students, quality and safety are not abstract concepts—they are daily priorities. Training within a network recognized for excellence reinforces best practices and a culture of continuous improvement.

Audria Denker, DNP, RN, FAADN, ANEF, Chief Clinical, Integration and Experience Officer at Galen College of Nursing, notes the profound impact of these environments:

“Recognition by Healthgrades for excellence and patient safety reinforces something that matters deeply to our students: training in environments where quality, safety and accountability are not just priorities, but daily expectations,” said Dr. Denker. “For Galen students, clinical learning happens in real health care settings. When those settings are nationally recognized for delivering safe, high-quality patient care, students gain experience in systems that model the very standards they are preparing to uphold as nurses. That means our students are not only learning the science and art of nursing — they are learning it in organizations that are leading the industry in patient outcomes and safety. This experience helps shape confident, practice-ready nurses our communities need.”

As one of the largest employers of nurses in the country, HCA Healthcare operates as a learning health system. By using insights from tens of millions of patient encounters, the organization continuously improves care and implements proven safety practices enterprise-wide.

This commitment aligns seamlessly with Galen’s mission, providing a curriculum shaped by one of the most robust clinical environments in the nation.

“Our affiliation with HCA Healthcare creates a powerful bridge between nursing education and professional practice,” said Dr. Denker. “Through this partnership, Galen College of Nursing students gain access to one of the nation’s most comprehensive healthcare networks, providing exceptional clinical learning opportunities, mentorship from experienced nurses, and a clear pathway into the workforce after graduation. This connection allows students to learn within the same environments where many will ultimately launch their careers. It strengthens the transition from student to professional nurse and helps ensure that graduates are prepared to thrive in complex healthcare systems from day one.”

The benefits of being part of the HCA Healthcare family continue long after graduation day, offering alumni clear pathways for growth and professional development.

“For alumni, the value of our affiliation with HCA Healthcare continues well beyond their first job,” said Mary Guthrie, director of alumni engagement at Galen College of Nursing. “From my experience at Galen, HCA Healthcare truly identifies career potential early — often while students are still in school — and can offer our students and alumni clearly defined pathways that they may not experience in other professional endeavors. Rather than navigating their careers alone, Galen graduates enter an organization that recognizes their education, understands their preparation, and intentionally supports their growth over time.”

Together, Galen and HCA Healthcare are not just responding to today’s nursing challenges—we are helping shape the future of the profession.

Check out Galen’s programs and get started today.