A $1.5 million grant from Adams County should help  Brighton's Platte Valley Medical Center find and retain nurses, hospital officials said.

County officials presented a grant to the hospital for a nurse training program July 11  outside the Brighton hospital.

According to a written statement from the hospital, half of new graduate nurses leave within their first year of practice, largely because of a lack of confidence when providing care for patients right out of nursing school.

In response, Platt Valley created an external program that lets new nurses spend their last semester of school at PVMC. The statement said the program helps nurses "become more confident and independent in their skills learned in class."

"This grant will provide on-the-job training for nurses ink their final year of school," said PVMC President Jaime Campbell. "It's an investment in the workforce and for the health of the communities we serve."

"We appreciate the grant," said Sean Wyant, president of the PVMC foundation. "It lets us continue this program."

AdCo Commissioner Lynn Baca said the grant was among 70 that the county handed out. The total worth was more than $100 million.

"We know what value we place in Adams County," Baca said. "The last three years have been difficult for healthcare workers. We are particularly grateful for your innovation. It helps Adams County and Brighton, and it helps with workforce issues."

The hospital said through this program, nurses have the chance to train in the emergency department, intensive care and on the medical and surgery floors. Clinical teams and mentors provide support.

"This is a unique opportunity for nursing school students to gain hands-on training and mentorship, receive wages and jump-start their careers while they finish schooling," the hospital's statement said.