New Hospital Mergers and Partnerships Create Fresh Opportunities for International Nurses in the U.S.

As the U.S. healthcare landscape continues to evolve, a series of new hospital mergers, partnerships and system expansions are reshaping patient care and opening doors for international nurses seeking U.S. employment. For global RNs, knowing where health systems are growing can be a strategic advantage in planning a move, targeting employers and navigating the U.S. nurse hiring process.

Below is a look at four recent hospital M&A developments and what they could mean for international nurses exploring roles through platforms like NurseContact, a digital marketplace that connects international nurses with U.S. hospitals and healthcare employers.

1. Prime Healthcare Steps Back, but Rhode Island Hospitals Remain in Transition

Two Rhode Island hospitals Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence and Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence are still in the middle of a major transition process.

These facilities, currently owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, have been working through a complex bankruptcy scenario. While the nonprofit Prime Healthcare Foundation was approached by Rhode Island officials about a potential acquisition, it ultimately chose not to pursue the deal.

However, the story doesn’t end there. Earlier this year, a Texas federal bankruptcy judge approved a plan for the hospitals to be sold to The Centurion Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit. The only missing piece has been financing. Centurion has faced delays in securing the bond funding needed to finalize the purchase, but in a recent court filing, the organization reiterated that it remains “steadfastly” committed to the deal.

To move things forward, Bank of America Securities has now joined Barclays as a co-placement agent on the bond financing, with an expected closing date around January 15, 2026.

What this means for international nurses

For international nurses interested in working in the Northeast especially in community and teaching hospital environments Rhode Island could soon see a renewed push to stabilize and rebuild services if the sale is completed. Nonprofit ownership often comes with a stronger emphasis on:

– Community health programs 

– Long-term investment in staff and facilities 

– Opportunities in medical-surgical, behavioral health, and long-term care settings 

While hiring needs may fluctuate during ownership transitions, organizations coming out of bankruptcy or restructuring often face nursing shortages and staffing gaps creating potential opportunities for international nurses using platforms like NurseContact to connect with U.S. employers in need of skilled RNs.

2. Two Oklahoma Hospitals Unite to Form Memorial Health System of Southwest Oklahoma

In Lawton, Oklahoma, two hospitals have officially combined forces to create a new regional health system: Memorial Health System of Southwest Oklahoma. As of December 2, Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Southwestern Medical Center have completed their merger, formalizing a partnership that was first approved in September by the Comanche County Memorial board and county commissioners.

Together, the new system now includes:

– Comanche County Memorial Hospital – 265 licensed beds 

– Southwestern Medical Center – 199 licensed beds 

That’s a total of 464 licensed beds, making this a significant health system anchor for the surrounding region.

Leadership has outlined several priorities for the newly formed system:

– Expanding capacity to manage increasing patient volume 

– Improving access to specialty services 

– Streamlining operations to enhance efficiency 

– Investing in facility upgrades and new medical equipment 

Why this matters to international nurses

Newly merged health systems often invest heavily in recruiting and retaining clinical staff to support expanded services. For international nurses, this can translate into:

– A broader range of nursing specialties (ICU, ER, telemetry, OR, women’s health, etc.) 

– More structured onboarding and training programs 

– A larger human resources and international recruitment infrastructure 

Smaller cities like Lawton can be excellent landing spots for international nurses beginning their U.S. careers: cost of living is generally lower, communities are more tightly knit, and hospitals are often highly motivated to fill persistent nurse vacancies.

Through NurseContact’s digital marketplace, international nurses looking for U.S. jobs can target growing systems like Memorial Health System of Southwest Oklahoma that are likely to have ongoing demand for bedside nurses, specialty nurses, and nurse leaders.

3. Saint Francis Health System to Take Over Bristow Hospital in Oklahoma

Another significant move in Oklahoma involves Tulsa-based Saint Francis Health System and the Bristow Hospital Authority. The Bristow City Council has approved a lease agreement that will shift operations of Carrus Lakeside Hospital in Bristow to Saint Francis.

Under the transition plan:

– Saint Francis will officially take over Carrus Lakeside Hospital in February 2026. 

– The hospital will be renamed Saint Francis Bristow. 

– The primary goal is to ensure continued and stable healthcare access for the Bristow community and surrounding rural areas. 

Implications for international nurses

Rural and semi-rural hospitals across the U.S. often experience the most critical nursing shortages. When a strong regional health system like Saint Francis takes over a smaller facility, it typically brings:

– More consistent staffing models 

– A clearer organizational structure 

– Access to system-wide resources and clinical protocols 

For international nurses, these settings can provide a balanced combination of hands-on experience, direct patient interaction and opportunities for career growth within a larger system. Saint Francis’ eventual integration of the Bristow facility may create openings in emergency care, medical-surgical units and outpatient services—roles commonly in demand and well-suited to internationally trained nurses who meet U.S. licensing and immigration requirements.

Platforms like NurseContact can help match international nurses to employers in these transitioning markets, simplifying the process of discovering and applying to positions across multi-hospital systems.

4. Estes Park Health Joins UCHealth as UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center

In Colorado, Estes Park Health has officially become part of UCHealth, a large and well-known health system headquartered in Aurora. Effective December 1, the facility is now operating as UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center (EVMC).

This partnership includes several important changes and commitments:

– A new board of directors will oversee responsibilities at the nonprofit hospital, including:

  – Patient quality and safety 

  – Medical staff credentialing 

  – Recommendations for EVMC’s budget to the UCHealth board 

– UCHealth has committed to:

  – Investing at least $20 million in routine maintenance and capital projects over the next 10 years 

  – Assuming $10 million of the hospital’s long-term debt 

These investments are designed to modernize the facility, upgrade equipment and strengthen patient services in a community that serves both local residents and a significant number of visitors.

What this means for international nurses

UCHealth is a large, integrated health system with multiple hospitals, clinics and specialty centers. Being part of such a system can make a smaller facility like EVMC more attractive as an employer, offering:

– Access to system-wide training, education and professional development 

– Opportunities to transfer or advance within the larger UCHealth network 

– More standardized processes, including onboarding for new hires 

For international nurses interested in working in Colorado, especially in scenic or tourist-heavy areas near the Rocky Mountains, UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center could eventually become a compelling option particularly as UCHealth expands services and invests in infrastructure and staffing.

How NurseContact Helps International Nurses Navigate a Changing U.S. Hospital Landscape

These four developments in Rhode Island, Oklahoma and Colorado underscore a broader trend in the U.S. healthcare system: consolidation, regional integration, and renewed investment in community hospitals. For international nurses, this presents both challenges and opportunities.

NurseContact, a digital marketplace purpose-built for international nurses and U.S. healthcare employers, aims to make this landscape easier to navigate by:

– Connecting international nurses directly with U.S. hospitals and health systems that are actively hiring. 

– Streamlining the hiring process, including coordination with employers familiar with visa sponsorship, immigration pathways and NCLEX requirements. 

– Offering visibility into developing markets, such as newly merged systems, expanding nonprofits and rural hospitals being absorbed into larger networks. 

As health systems like Memorial Health System of Southwest Oklahoma, Saint Francis Health System and UCHealth grow, their need for experienced and adaptable nurses grows with them. International nurses who understand where these changes are happening and who leverage platforms like NurseContact can position themselves at the center of new opportunities.

Key Takeaways for International Nurses

– Hospital mergers and acquisitions often lead to increased staffing needs, particularly for bedside nurses and specialty units. 

– Nonprofit and regional health systems tend to invest in long-term workforce development, making them attractive employers for international nurses seeking stability. 

– States like Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Colorado are seeing meaningful health system shifts that may translate into future hiring demand. 

– Using a dedicated platform like NurseContact can help international nurses efficiently connect with U.S. employers, navigate the complexities of hiring and focus on building a long-term nursing career in the United States.

As the U.S. healthcare system continues to change, staying informed is essential. For international nurses, understanding where hospitals are merging, expanding or restructuring isn’t just news it’s a roadmap to where the next wave of nursing jobs will be.