MSU partners with Mercy on nursing pilot program

Missouri State University entered a nursing pilot program in partnership with Mercy.

Through a project dubbed Earn as You Learn, MSU School of Nursing students will be compensated for clinical hours worked at Mercy Hospital Springfield, according to a news release. Clinical hours also count as degree credit.

“The nursing shortage is currently great,” said Monika Feeney, interim director of the School of Nursing, in the release. “The program allows students the opportunity to earn money while completing clinical time and evaluate if they would like to work at Mercy post-graduation. It also allows the hospital to evaluate if they are interested in hiring the student.”

Chelsea Pliler, clinical student coordinator at Mercy, added the program would decrease orientation time for newly graduated registered nurses.

"The experience they will gain from this program will help them confidently transition from student to RN," Pliler said in the release.

The pilot program is slated to start during the fall semester. Mercy officials say they’ll consider opening the program to other nursing schools, pending results of the pilot.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for registered nursing workers is expected to reach 3.3 million jobs in 2029, a projected 7% increase from the 3 million RNs in 2019.