FHP Moves to Solve Nursing Shortage With Program to Train Its Own RNs : MEDICAL
In an effort to beat the nursing shortage, FHP, the Fountain Valley health-care company, says it is going to spend $500,000 a year to train its own registered nurses.
On Monday, 25 licensed vocational nurses employed by FHP and Charter Community Hospital in Hawaiian Gardens, which FHP manages, started courses designed to prepare them in 18 months to take the state RN exam. Another nine will join the class in January.
The LVNs are enrolled at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. Under an agreement with the college, FHP is paying for student fees, books and nursing supplies. The company is also paying the salaries of the instructors and wages to the students for the time that they spend in class or studying.
In exchange for a free nursing education, the LVNs agree to continue working for FHP for two years after graduation.
“We want to create a career ladder for LVNs and increase the number of RNs within FHP,” said Brett Ross, FHP’s manager of nurse relations. “We plan to continue this every year.”
Ross said he hopes that the hospital’s investment will create loyalty in its nursing staff. “Now nurses are not loyal. They seem to move from institution to institution, (depending on) whoever pays the most money,” he said.
By filling vacant nursing positions, FHP will be able to reduce its use of nurse registries, which provide temporary nurses for a fee. Currently, Ross said, FHP has about a 10% shortfall of LVNs and RNs.
