Mercy, SBU expand partnership

Mercy Springfield Communities and Southwest Baptist University are expanding their partnership.

The expansion with Mercy is slated to result in SBU adding a bachelor's in nursing, a bachelor's registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing completion course, a master of science in nursing and education, an associate of health science and a bachelor's in health science, in addition to associate degrees in nursing and radiography already offered, according to a news release.

With the move, SBU’s College of Health Professions is being renamed the SBU Mercy College of Health Professions. Officials with both organizations are scheduled to officially sign the partnership expansion at a ceremony this afternoon. The financial terms of the partnership expansion were not disclosed in the release.

"SBU and Mercy have been partners for many years, and it has allowed us to recruit and train health care professionals, especially nurses, who we hope will begin their health care careers here in the Ozarks," said Brittney Hendrickson, the health professions college dean, in the release. "Expanding this partnership to welcome even more students interested in careers in health care is really exciting, and we know it will benefit our community.”

Mercy and SBU have been partnering since 1986. At that time, SBU entered into a joint nursing education agreement with Mercy, through which SBU nursing students have completed their clinical hours at the Springfield hospital.

SBU graduates roughly 100 students from its nursing and radiography programs each year, according to the release.

“Our partnership with SBU has provided an important pathway for students to easily and immediately plug into careers at Mercy, and when we’re facing a nationwide shortage of nurses and doctors, local channels like this become especially crucial,” said Marie Moore, chief nursing officer at Mercy Hospital Springfield, in the release. “By deepening our collaboration and expanding the number of health care programs available to students, we hope we can keep them here in the Springfield area for many years to come."