AIM Magazine 2016 | Page 26

You can choose a career in a growing field while helping people live healthier lives .
Mercy Northwest Arkansas is growing , with plans to expand its hospital in Rogers and add clinics in several cities , including Springdale .
Mercy Northwest Arkansas is a faithbased , nonprofit operated by Mercy Health System , a ministry providing health care in four states .
Eric Pianalto , President of Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas , grew up in Tontitown and graduated from Springdale High School . He earned a bachelor ’ s degree from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from Webster University . He has worked for Mercy since 1994 .
“ It ’ s a great place to work ,” Pianalto said .
Mercy will be a great place to work formany more people soon .
The expansion will add 100 beds to thehospital , Pianalto said , increasing the number to more than 300 . In addition , Mercy will build seven new primary and specialty care clinics .
The hospital and clinic expansions will create the need for 1,000 new health care workers , increasing Mercy ’ s employees in Northwest Arkansas from 2,000 to about 3,000 in the next fiveyears , Pianalto said . The expansion is critically needed .
“ Our hospital and clinics have been serving the community at a very
24 high capacity ,” Pianalto said . “ To ensure we carry out our mission and continue to meet the needs of Northwest Arkansas , we developed a plan to provide additional access to quality care .”
New employees will work at the expanded hospital and new clinics , which will be added to the 35 existing ones in the area , said John Roller , Human Resources Recruitment Manager .
“ It takes an army to take care of a patient ,” he said .
Nursing positions are challenging to fill , Roller said .
“ There is a shortage of nurses in Northwest Arkansas and across the country ,” he added .
Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses , referred to as RNs and LPNs , must pass a licensure exam . The education path is longer for RNs , but they earn more money and have more choices about where to work .
Nurses ’ time in school can range from 18 months for an associate degree to four years for a bachelor ’ s degree . Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville , Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville offer different