On July 17, leaders from two local entities signed a partnership agreement to address a national crisis in nursing. MidAmerica Nazarene University President David Spittal and AdventHealth South Overland Park President and CEO Dallas Purkeypile shared the benefits of an extended partnership for each institution as dozens of MNU nursing students witnessed the signing.
“Today symbolizes two like-minded, faith-based organizations coming together to work on an issue that must be resolved—bringing men and women into the nursing and healthcare profession,” said Spittal. “This partnership will make more clinical sites available to our nursing students and present them with incredible opportunities, including the possibility of a great career with AdventHealth.”
Spittal added that one of the limitations to the growth of MNU’s nursing programs is access for students to clinical sites in the region. This partnership provides the university’s students with preferred placement at AdventHealth’s campus in South Overland Park and additional sites in the future.
“In the next several years, hospitals like ours across the country will need to replace nearly 900,000 nurses and nursing leaders,” Purkeypile said. “We view academic partnerships as one possible solution to this crisis, and we could not be more pleased to be partnering with MidAmerica Nazarene University.”
MNU is currently the leading provider of nursing graduates to the AdventHealth network in Kansas City. Because their sites will provide preferred placement for MNU students, AdventHealth will also gain a competitive advantage in recruiting these highly coveted candidates upon graduation.
