Every hour of every day, nurses provide care Michiganders can count on. As staffing shortages continue to impact various sectors of healthcare, Michigan hospitals are focused on creative solutions to strengthen and support this dedicated workforce.
One of the ways this is being done is by opening doors — and removing barriers — for those interested in the field. A strong example of this is a new partnership between Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital that creates a new pathway for GVSU nursing students to go from classroom to bedside.
The partnership, announced in March, expands access to clinical experience at Mary Free Bed and combines hands-on training with financial support.
“This is an innovative program that places GVSU students at its heart,” said Linda Lewandowski, dean, GVSU Kirkhof College of Nursing. “Mary Free Bed is a recognized leader in rehabilitative care and will offer our students a clinical experience in which they can continue engaging in interdisciplinary care.”
Through this partnership, eligible students in the GVSU Kirkhof College of Nursing can receive up to $5,000 per semester for four semesters, helping make their education more affordable. In return, participants commit to working at Mary Free Bed for at least two years after graduating and passing their licensure exam.
Students will also gain exposure to the full scope of rehabilitation care through more than 120 medical and sports programs available at Mary Free Bed, working alongside therapists and rehabilitation physicians in a collaborative care environment.
Partnerships like this help ensure more patients will benefit from the compassionate care nurses offer during life’s most pivotal moments. This National Nurses Week and beyond, the MHA thanks Michigan nurses — past, present and future — who continue to show up around the clock, in every region of the state.
Those with questions or content ideas for the Hospitals Help series may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.