HAN member SSM Health is partnering with Chamberlain University to launch the Aspiring Nurse Program, designed to strengthen the nursing career pathways and expand access to education. The program provides tuition support, enhances clinical readiness, and creates a direct track to employment across SSM Health’s care sites in Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
As reported by The Journal Record, Kerri Bayer, Regional Chief Nursing Officer for Oklahoma and mid-Missouri, emphasized the program’s dual benefit: supporting current nurses in the SSM Health system while reducing reliance on costly outside labor. The program also opens doors for individuals who may not have previously imagined nursing as a career. By addressing barriers such as finances, transportation, food insecurity, and child care, the Aspiring Nurse Program is reaching new populations and creating opportunities for those who otherwise might not pursue higher education.
This partnership demonstrates how anchor institutions can invest in long-term workforce development strategies that both strengthen their organizations and uplift the communities they serve.