MidAmerica Nazarene University and HCA Midwest Health – the region's largest healthcare system, entered into a partnership agreement today, making MNU a Preferred Education Partner with HCA Midwest Health, strengthening the long-standing relationship between the two organizations. MNU School of Nursing students have benefited from clinical placements at the health system's hospitals, and this new agreement provides additional placements, greater exposure and collaboration with nurses and HCA leaders, and opportunities to transition into HCA career positions upon graduation.
HCA Midwest is the largest health care provider in the Kansas City area, with seven hospitals, dozens of outpatient centers, clinics, offices, surgery centers and other facilities and services. HCA Midwest is also one of the region's largest employers, with more than 10,000 colleagues. The breadth of these HCA resources makes this partnership extremely valuable to MNU students, faculty and alumni, according to MNU School of Nursing Associate Dean Sarah Miller, EdD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C.
“This is a step beyond our current relationship,” says Miller. “Students will have more exposure to HCA nurse leaders and nurses, allowing them to gain relevant knowledge from nurse leaders inside the boardroom and on the front lines of patient care.”
Miller says the additional clinical placements may offer more students a nearly seamless career transition if they choose to work at an HCA facility after graduation. He adds that HCA will offer “capstone” placements at the end of a student's program, giving them a real sense of working in the unit.
“Both organizations will continue to look for ways to be more collaborative, which will lead to an expansion of the relationship,” says Miller.
“We're facing a nursing shortage across the country, including right here in Kansas City,” said HCA Midwest Health Division Chief Nursing Officer Amber Boes “Partnerships like the one we've established today with MidAmerica Nazarene University are critical to exposing students to the profession earlier. on their educational journey while also receiving mentorship with HCA nursing leaders.”
