Nursing partnership expands BSN clinical training, tuition support and workforce pathways in rehabilitative care
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – (February 19, 2026) – Cornerstone University and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital are establishing a new partnership to expand clinical experience, tuition assistance and professional pathways for students in the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The collaboration will begin in fall 2026.
The partnership builds on Cornerstone’s Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education-accredited program and supports the university’s mission to provide Christ-centered professional preparation in health care. It also contributes to strengthening West Michigan’s talent pipeline at a time when hospitals across the state face significant staffing challenges.
According to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, roughly 8 percent of the state’s nursing workforce remained unfilled in 2025. Predictions from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services indicate that the shortage could increase to nearly 19 percent over the next decade. By creating structured education-to-employment pathways in Grand Rapids, the collaboration helps retain emerging nursing talent in a region recognized as a growing medical hub.
Through the agreement, participating Cornerstone University nursing students will be able to apply for tuition assistance offered by Mary Free Bed, gain additional clinical placements in its nationally recognized rehabilitation hospital and pursue full-time nursing roles after completing the BSN program and passing the NCLEX-RN, consistent with the terms of the partnership.
“We are pleased to welcome Mary Free Bed as a partner in Cornerstone University’s nursing program,” said Dr. Misty Emmons, chief nursing administrator and director of nursing. “Mary Free Bed’s approach to rehabilitative care provides our BSN students with a distinctive clinical setting where academic learning is applied through complex, team-based practice and wholehearted patient care.”
Mary Free Bed is widely recognized for its leadership in rehabilitation and its patient-centered model across inpatient, outpatient and specialized services. As a mission-driven health care organization, it offers a clinical environment where students engage in interdisciplinary care focused on recovery, dignity and quality of life.
“We’re excited to support Cornerstone nursing students as they develop into the next generation of compassionate caregivers,” said Maria Opoku‑Agyeman, Mary Free Bed chief nursing officer and vice president of inpatient services. “Together, we’re strengthening the nursing workforce and helping more people find hope and freedom through rehabilitation.”
Cornerstone’s BSN program combines comprehensive academics with simulation and supervised clinical experiences. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, leadership, communication and clinical decision-making within a Christ-centered framework. The university’s 2024 and 2025 nursing cohorts achieved a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate.
“Preparing nurses of strong character and professional excellence is central to Cornerstone University’s academic mission,” said Dr. Kevin S. Hall, vice president for academics and spiritual formation. “As workforce needs continue to grow, our partnership with Mary Free Bed allows us to educate nurses with the preparation and support needed to serve patients and communities where high-performing clinical care expertise matters most.”
Cornerstone University and Mary Free Bed are jointly investing in the preparation of nurses equipped to serve patients, strengthen health care teams and meet the evolving needs of West Michigan.
About Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University is an accredited Christian university with a passion for influence through the transforming power of the gospel. As an interdenominational institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cornerstone offers 65+ undergraduate and graduate traditional and online degree programs, including the nation’s first smartphone-streaming degree programs in business. Learn more at cornerstone.edu.
About the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation is a not-for-profit, internationally accredited, and nationally recognized leader in rehabilitation. What started with a single bed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1891 has grown to a rehabilitation system with over 2,500 staff at over 60 locations in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia. Last year, Mary Free Bed restored hope and freedom through rehabilitation for more than 110,000 children and adults. With more than 110 specialized medical and sports rehabilitation programs and an exclusive focus on rehabilitation, our specialized teams help patients achieve extraordinary clinical results. U.S. News & World Reports and Newsweek rate Mary Free Bed as a national Best Rehabilitation Hospital for 2025-26. www.maryfreebed.com
