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Mercy
A male student smiles while hauling laundry as part of his internship at Mercy.

As a teaching hospital, Mercy has long been familiar with what it takes to train new residents and student nurses. They have taken that knowledge and extended that to SSD students - welcoming them to the workforce, providing proper training, and including them as equals.

Mercy Hospital welcomes our Vocational Skills Program (VSP) into its building. These students, often called interns, have completed their high school experience and been identified as benefiting from additional training in a supported environment before they transition to the workforce. There is a classroom in the hospital where interns learn employability skills, such as professionalism and how to communicate effectively. Out of the classroom, interns are able to see a variety of departments at Mercy before deciding which department they will work in and learn the skills associated with those jobs.

While working with Mirah Moore, the Bakery supervisor, interns in the Nutrition-Culinary services department get to let their interests guide them. One former student was interested in completing a task that he could accomplish in one day, so Moore trained him on cookies, which he could make from start to finish - including packaging, dating, and labeling - all in one day. This former intern is now employed at Mercy South. They report regularly that the things he learned at Mercy Hospital set him up for success. Moore notes that it is helpful to hear this type of feedback, saying, “You’re always hoping that when you’re training students, you’re setting them up with lifelong skills.” Hearing from a current employer of a graduate let her know that was happening.

A female student shares a smile while wiping a counter in a communal space at Mercy.

While at Mercy, interns are able to look across the board at opportunities in health care. Once an interis hired, they can start networking and learning about other jobs. There are educational opportunities and benefits that interns can take advantage of to build a career based on their interests and skills. Moore is a cheerleader for VSP interns and believes “they are capable of anything they put their mind to.”

To learn more about the VSP program at Mercy, follow this link to a video Mercy created.