Starting this fall, students enrolled in Cornerstone University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will gain hands-on experience through clinical placements at Mary Free Bed’s nationally recognized rehabilitation facilities.
“Students can apply to Mary Free Bed and if they're accepted to be part of this program, they can receive up to $20,000 in tuition remission.”
Dr. Misty Emmons is Cornerstone’s Chief Nursing Administrator and Director of Nursing.
“In exchange, once they graduate from Cornerstone, they're committing to two years of equivalent work at Mary Free Bed.”
The agreement establishes a clear track for graduates to transition into full-time nursing roles after earning their degrees in a field they might not otherwise explore.
“When we think about the rehabilitation space, it's not necessarily a space that students think of right away when they say, ‘This is the type of nurse I want to be.’ It exposes students to this area of nursing care that can be so rewarding.”
Emmons says with Michigan's nursing vacancy rate projected to reach 19% over the next decade, this partnership focuses on retaining local talent in West Michigan.
“When they leave here, when they already have a job here in our community, it keeps those nurses here. We know that we're training high quality nurses, we're retaining them in the community, and really that benefits all of Grand Rapids and the people that come to Grand Rapids to receive their medical care.”
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