MAKING A DIFFERENCE : One Hospital’s Approach: Match free job training with high demand

At an average hourly salary of about $13, licensed vocational nurses provide reasonably priced acute and skilled nursing care. St. Francis Medical Center trains students and adults as LVNs, who are highly sought in the job market. The training is free. To date, every program graduate licensed by the state has been placed in a job.

BACKGROUND

Eighty percent of California health facilities said in a recent survey that they would hire more licensed vocational nurses if they were available. A joint venture started in 1988 by St. Francis Medical Center, the city and school district of Lynwood and the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation established a 13-month program to train local and minority high school students to become LVNs. With additional funding from Los Angeles’ Private Industry Council and Rebuild LA, the program has expanded to offer training to adults, some displaced by last year’s riots. And later this year the medical center will begin training high school students from the Compton and Los Angeles Unified school districts.

FUNDING AND SERVICE STRUCTURE

Uniforms, books, educational material, equipment and facilities are provided by St. Francis; school districts manage and provide qualified nurse instructors. And the health services education center at the hospital provides a learning laboratory, health services library, study halls, study lounge, and a computer learning center. The 1993 budget for training 45 high school students, including salaries, benefits, instruction, operating and student costs is $385,000.

OPINION

BILLIE HAYNES

Executive Officer of Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners for the State of California

St. Francis has been in partnership with high schools and communities since long before “partnership” was a politically correct term. They have been visionary--providing resources, remediation, classes, staffing to accommodate students long before it was fashionable. The commitment is not new, and it’s this type of effort that will help our economy in this state: We create taxpayers and they have more purchasing power. The program gives dignity, self-esteem and a skill. It gives students a license, a career, a profession.

PROGRAM DESIGN

*Evaluate prospective candidates to determine math and reading competencies.

*Offer remedial English and math tutoring as needed.

*Require medical theory classes and both lab and clinical course work.

*Offer review classes to help candidates prepare for the State Board Examination.

*Provide job placement service.

The Bottom Line

Individual student expenses* provided by the program:

Text books-- $420

Two uniforms-- $144

One pair nurse’s shoes-- $60

One stethoscope-- $18

One watch with sweep second hand-- $48

One nurse’s bandage scissors-- $30

TOTAL: $720

*In addition, adult students receive child-care and transportation support, meals and stipends.

Individual student performance required by program:

Adhere to strict attendance policy

Maintain passing grades

Comply with professional conduct, appearance and hygiene standards

Source: St. Francis Medical Center Annual Operating Proposal and Appendices