CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences is welcoming its first class of Win From Within students. These students are all co-workers at Mercy Southeast who receive tuition assistance from Mercy.
Win From Within students work at Mercy Hospital Southeast as patient care associates, nurse technicians or in non-clinical support roles as paid, part-time co-workers while attending the college’s nursing or health sciences program. Students ultimately transition into a clinical health care role in their respective field at Mercy Southeast after graduation.
“The up-front cost of going to school can be a huge factor,” said Katie Finder, Mercy Southeast chief nursing officer. “This program is a win for us and the college. We’re able to fill vacant roles while at the same time boost enrollment at the college and help these co-workers further their health care education. There’s no out-of-pocket cost to them, and we have the peace of mind to know they will stay with us after graduation.”
The program is offered at other Mercy hospitals and schools, but this is the first group through Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences. To mark the occasion, Mercy Southeast recently held a signing dinner for its caregivers taking part in the program, similar to events held when student-athletes sign with colleges.
“Historically, alumni from Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences remain in the area,” said Amy Beussink, associate of applied science program director at the college. “Mercy’s introduction of the Win From Within program is innovative and supports the need for health care workers in the Southeast Missouri area and other Mercy communities. We are excited to introduce Win From Within to our students and to get the word out to the community. This program helps reduce financial barriers for those seeking a health care education and fulfills the mission of the college to respond to the health care educational needs of the region by preparing qualified health care professionals.”
The program is open to any Mercy co-worker interested in pursuing a nursing or health sciences degree, even new hires. Mercy pays up to $10,000 per year for eligible expenses, paid directly to the school for up to three years. Students must be enrolled in a nursing or health sciences program at a qualifying school such as Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences, must work a minimum of 16 hours every two weeks and sign a contract that states they will remain with Mercy after graduation for one year for each year of program participation.
Mercy, one of the 20 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation’s largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including more than 50 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 900 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 4,500 physicians and advanced practitioners and 50,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2023 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.