

Rogers State University and Saint Francis Health System have a long-standing and growing partnership to improve health care in northeast Oklahoma. Saint Francis has more than 10,000 employees, 1,000 physicians and 700 volunteers, making it the largest private employer in Tulsa County. For years, Saint Francis has utilized its resources for students in RSU’s Bachelor of Science in nursing program to complete the required number of clinical hours in a variety of health care settings. Saint Francis also works with a select cohort of RSU nursing students who complete all clinical experiences at a Saint Francis facility. As a result of this partnership, approximately 30% of RSU nursing program graduates choose to work for Saint Francis on an annual basis. In 2022, Saint Francis became the presenting sponsor of the RSU’s Foundation’s largest annual fundraising event, providing thousands of dollars in scholarships for students. Because the generosity of Saint Francis, many students receive scholarships to help with financial needs allowing them to achieve their goal of becoming a registered nurse. This partnership continues to grow as Saint Francis and RSU explore opportunities to provide more highly skilled nurses and other professionals to meet the growing health care needs of Oklahoma.