As Colorado -- and the nation -- faces a nursing shortage , a newly opened college in Aurora is taking a bold step to help fill the gap .

Galen College of Nursing , in partnership with HCA Healthcare -- the parent organization of HCA HealthONE -- has opened a $40 million campus that combines nursing education with the hospital system's Center for Clinical Advancement. The facility offers students immersive, hands-on training in a hospital-like environment.

"This has been years in the making," said Angie Voigt, chief nursing executive for HCA HealthONE. "Aurora is growing, so it made a lot of sense to put a nursing school in the community that needs it the most."

The new campus is already home to nearly 350 students. According to Galen's Aurora dean, Whitney Erickson, students

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