Partnership with Avila University Expands Critical Nursing Program Access
August 8, 2024
North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health has announced a new partnership with Avila University to provide expanded access to nursing education for students in the community. Through this partnership, students will have access to essential and flexible programs that empower them with the skills necessary to become nurses. Students who complete these nursing programs will be ready to join local healthcare systems and offer critical care to patients.
“Nurses are a critical part of our healthcare system,” said Sarah Oakley, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, vice president and chief nursing officer at NKCH. “We are excited to partner with Avila University to provide hands-on experience to prepare aspiring nurses for their future healthcare careers. This partnership will help us do our part to lessen the impact of the nursing shortage and ensure our community has access to high-quality healthcare.”
Missouri and Kansas are in the midst of a nursing crisis that has broader implications on the overall health of local communities. These shortages have adverse impacts when healthcare facilities are unable to meet the demand of patients, which can lead to potential errors and affect the patient experience. This partnership will bring more qualified nurses to our local healthcare systems and help enhance overall community health.
“Our partnership with North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health will open doors for aspiring nurses in the community to launch their careers,” said Jim Burkee, Ph.D., president at Avila University. “These essential programs will allow us to work closely with local healthcare systems to ensure prospective nurses are receiving the necessary knowledge to best serve patients.”
Students can begin enrolling in Spring 2025. To learn more about Avila University’s health programs, or to enroll, visit https://nursing.avila.edu/nkch/.
About Avila University
Avila University, located in Kansas City, MO, believes in offering access to education without limits and inviting students to define what that means to them. Founded in 1916 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Avila has been focused on the development of the whole person for more than a century, providing a liberal arts education rooted in values of services, diversity, and excellence in teaching and learning. In 2023, Avila celebrated a historic milestone, welcoming its largest-ever incoming class of freshmen. The rapid growth is the most recent testament to the school’s focus on making degrees accessible through robust scholarship programs and financial aid. Thanks to decades of strategic planning and tireless teamwork by faculty and staff, Avila is now the educational home to students from 26 countries, studying an expanded curriculum that offers more than 60 majors.