Ascension St. Vincent in Indiana part of St. Louis-based Ascension has appointed Don King as its next CEO, with a start date of January 1. In his new role, King will oversee a major healthcare footprint: more than 15,000 employees, 19 hospitals, and 300+ care sites, according to Ascension.
For healthcare leaders, news like this isn’t just an executive update it often hints at strategic priorities that can shape the region’s workforce needs. For hospitals and health systems navigating persistent staffing shortages, leadership transitions frequently coincide with renewed focus on access expansion, service line growth, and stronger operational performance all of which depend on one critical factor: having enough nurses at the bedside.
At VisaMadeEZ, our immigration law firm helps healthcare organizations hire and retain international nurses through proven, compliant visa strategies. If your system is planning growth or stabilizing staffing across Indiana, this announcement is a timely reminder: international nurse recruitment can be a reliable long-term lever when it’s done correctly.
A CEO with Turnaround and Access Expansion Experience
Ascension noted that King most recently served as CEO of Ascension Florida beginning in 2022, and credited him with leading a financial turnaround while expanding access to ambulatory and high-acuity services.
That combination financial discipline plus access expansion matters. When health systems scale ambulatory care, invest in high-acuity services, or expand specialty programs, the first constraint is almost always clinical labor, especially nursing.
Ascension also credited King with:
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Strengthening community partnerships
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Expanding the Dispensary of Hope to provide free and reduced-cost medications
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Securing state funding for a Telehealth Maternity Program supporting expectant mothers facing socioeconomic barriers
Programs like these typically increase patient touchpoints and continuity demands—again intensifying the need for stable, long-term nurse staffing.
Ascension also announced that John Deardorff, a regional operating officer, has been named interim ministry market CEO for Florida.
Why This Matters to Hospitals Hiring International Nurses
Healthcare hiring doesn’t happen in a vacuum. When a large system realigns leadership, several downstream changes often follow:
1) Growth plans meet staffing reality
New CEOs often inherit a mandate to improve access, reduce delays, and stabilize service lines. Achieving that with a limited domestic supply of nurses is difficult. That’s why more healthcare employers are prioritizing internationally educated nurses and building sustainable pipelines.
2) Workforce stability becomes a strategic KPI
Temporary labor can plug gaps but it rarely builds the consistency needed for quality outcomes and patient experience. International nurses on immigrant pathways can offer long-term retention, especially when the process is supported correctly and ethically.
3) Immigration compliance becomes non-negotiable
As more organizations pursue nurse visa sponsorship, the biggest risks come from avoidable issues:
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Inconsistent job descriptions
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Wage and worksite mismatches
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Delays in credentialing/NCLEX/visa screen
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Poor documentation across multi-site placements
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Reactive (instead of planned) immigration timelines
This is where a healthcare-focused immigration law firm makes the difference.
The Most Common Visa Pathways for International Nurses
If your Indiana facility is exploring international nurse staffing, here are the routes employers most often use:
EB-3 Green Card (Schedule A) for Registered Nurses
For many employers, this is the workhorse option. It’s a permanent residence pathway that can support long-term workforce planning. Nurses are generally processed under Schedule A, which is designed to streamline certain healthcare roles.
Best for: hospitals and health systems building a durable pipeline of RNs.
Other pathways (case-dependent)
Some employers explore alternatives based on role and credentials. Options vary widely depending on specialty, job requirements, and candidate profile.
Bottom line: Most RN hiring pipelines for international candidates center on EB-3 planning, with careful coordination around licensing, screening, and start-date forecasting.
(This is general information, not legal advice your strategy should be tailored to your facility and candidates.)
How VisaMadeEZ Helps Healthcare Organizations Sponsor Nurses Smoothly
VisaMadeEZ is an immigration law firm focused on healthcare hiring, and we build processes that work in real hospital conditions multiple locations, shifting start dates, onboarding constraints, and compliance requirements.
What we deliver
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International nurse visa strategy aligned to your staffing plan (not a generic checklist)
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Employer-ready workflows for credentialing, licensing, and immigration sequencing
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Documentation systems that reduce RFEs and prevent downstream delays
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Clear guardrails for multi-site placements and changing unit needs
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Ongoing support so you don’t lose candidates mid-process
Who we support
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Hospitals and health systems
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Long-term care and post-acute networks
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Multi-site healthcare employers
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Staffing partners that operate ethically and compliantly
If your organization serves Indiana communities or you’re expanding across multiple stateshaving a repeatable plan for nurse immigration can turn hiring volatility into a stable pipeline.
Indiana Healthcare Employers: Build Your International Nurse Pipeline Now
Ascension St. Vincent’s CEO transition is happening in a healthcare environment where demand isn’t slowing down. Whether your organization is pursuing access expansion, improving coverage ratios, launching new programs, or simply trying to reduce overtime and vacancy rates, the reality is the same:
Staffing is strategy.
International nurse recruitment is no longer a “last resort.” When planned correctly, it becomes one of the most dependable ways to build a long-term workforce especially for organizations with multiple care sites and sustained hiring needs.
About VisaMadeEZ
VisaMadeEZ is an immigration law firm that specializes in helping healthcare organizations hire international nurses, sponsor work-authorized talent, and build compliant long-term staffing pipelines.
If you’re evaluating international nurse sponsorship, nurse green cards, or a scalable plan for staffing across multiple facilities, VisaMadeEZ can help you move from interest to execution fast, structured, and compliant.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration strategies depend on specific facts and should be reviewed with qualified counsel.
