SSM Health, OCU announce nursing initiative

win-win endeavor.”

On Feb. 3, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital announced a fiveyear partnership with the OCU Kramer School of Nursing meant to address the local and national nurse shortage.

The program is called Saints and Stars, and will allow selected nursing students to work at SSM Health part-time while working on their degree, combining in-hospital practice with their lessons in class.

“As one of the nation’s leading nursing education programs, we are invested in helping address the nursing shortage,” OCU President Kenneth Evans said.

“Training and supporting the next generation of nurses while at the same time strengthening the workforce at SSM Health is truly a

Alongside their work in SSM Health, the chosen students are granted a $3,500 annual scholarship from SSM Health and a $5,000 annual discount from OCU.

“My mom actually works here so most of my tuition is already taken care of,” said junior Joy Warlick, a participant in the program.

“So, with the combination of that and this scholarship, I will have very little left to pay the school. That’ll be awesome.”

The students in Saints and Stars are all junior nursing majors chosen through an online application and interview, she said.

“The school reached out to me and then I applied, not thinking much of it,” Warlick said.

NURSING continues on Page 3