J.F. Johnson Employee Nursing Education Assistance Program
(To provide assistance with educational expenses incurred by St. John’s Regional Health Center employees serving in roles of Nursing Assistant/Technician/LPN while students at St. John’s College of Nursing of Southwest Baptist University .)
GOALS
- Increased enrollment in St. John’s College of Nursing by personnel employed at the Health Center in roles of Nursing Assistant/Technician/Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
- Long-term retention of new graduate Registered Nurses in the Health Center.
- Ongoing opportunity to fill open Nursing Assistant/Technician/LPN positions in the Health Center.
GUIDELINES FOR EMPLOYEE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
- Student-employees will be eligible for $ 3,000 of educational assistance per semester for four semesters beginning with completion of the first semester (maximum total of $12,000 per student). ). International students with F1 status are not eligible for the educational assistance program.
- Educational assistance payments will be made at the beginning of the second, third and fourth semesters, and again upon graduation. Applications must be received in the office of the Building Coordinator at St. John’s College of Nursing of Southwest Baptist University, following completion of the first, second, third and fourth semester. Due to the Health Centers accounting process, applications should be submitted no later than the 20 th day of the month in order to be processed that month. (i.e., applications submitted on May 10 will be processed in May, applications submitted on May 25, will be processed in June.) Every effort will be made to process educational assistance checks in a timely manner. Students should bear in mind that many factors affect the length of time it takes to process checks including the volume of applications submitted. Eligibility each semester will be based on academic and job performance during the previous semester.
- Student-employees must have been in a paid position as Nursing Assistant/Technician/LPN (see the attached list of approved work areas), for a minimum of 90 days prior to being considered for this benefit. The orientation phase of employment must have been successfully completed. Performance and attendance must meet or exceed expectations listed below in order for the program to be made available during the second, third, and fourth semesters of school and immediately following graduation.
- Student-employees must maintain availability to work in a Nursing Assistant/Technician/ LPN role in the in an approved Health Center department, 16 hours per pay period (every other weekend) or greater while in nursing school. Student-employees accumulate benefits, including paid time off, while completing their nursing degree. Employees who work 1000 hours or more in a year receive credit towards the pension plan. Employees must work 32 hours per pay period to be eligible for health insurance benefits.
- Student-employees must work a minimum of 90% of total scheduled on-duty hours in the Health Center per semester. Tardiness must be limited to 2 or fewer incidents per semester.
- Students who are employees of the Health System outside of the hospital or those who have not yet been employed by the Health Center for 90 days may qualify for $2,000 assistance per semester under the St. John’s College of Nursing of Southwest Baptist University J.F. Johnson Nursing Education Assistance Program.
- A positive letter of recommendation must be received from a counselor, nursing director, co worker, pastor or other source as appropriate, prior to initial acceptance into the Employee Educational Assistance Program. Students should refrain from asking nursing instructors to submit letters of recommendation due to the number of students involved in the program.
- Student-employees must be enrolled in St. John’s College of Nursing program and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better per semester in college courses and a satisfactory rating for clinical performance during the entire course of nursing school in order to receive this benefit.
- Student-employees are limited to one absent day from class and one day from clinical time per semester. Any exceptions will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
- Student-employees are eligible for additional educational funding of up to $800 annually provided by the Health Center to all employees as outlined in Human Resources policy #3.
- Newly graduated registered nurses will agree to practice nursing in the Health Center on a full-time basis for one calendar year for each $ 3,000 of tuition assistance received. If full-time positions are not available at the Health Center at the time of graduation, or an employee prefers part-time employment, $ 3,000 credit towards pay back will be given for each 2080 hours worked. The maximum number of hours that will be credited in any one year is 2080. Those who desire full-time positions will be offered positions, as they become available, if qualifications for the position are met.
HOW TO MAINTAIN BENEFIT OF NURSING SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
WHILE IN SCHOOL:
- Meet performance expectations as Nursing Assistant/Technician/LPN at Health Center.
- Maintain required GPA.
- Meet attendance expectations of both school and work.
- Remain fully enrolled in the school of nursing.
FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM NURSING PROGRAM:
- Meet requirements for employment as a Registered Nurse following graduation.
- Secure/maintain employment as Registered Nurse in the Health Center in a department that provides twenty-four hour per day, seven day per week care as required by the program.
Approved Employment Areas
Work as a nurse assistant or technician will be accepted in the departments listed below:
- Neuro Intermediate
- NTICU
- Rehab
- 2 South
- 2 North
- 2 Northeast
- SICU
- 3 South
- 3 North
- CCU/3ICU
- Nursery
- NICU
- Labor and Delivery
- 4 North
- 4 South
- 4 Northeast
- Transitional Care
- 5 North
- MICU
- 5 South
- PICU
- Burn Unit
- 6 South
- 6 North
- Float Pool
- Marian Center
- PACU
- Emergency Trauma Center
- Mercy Villa
In addition employment in the following positions will also qualify:
- Surgical Technician or Scrub Tech in Surgery
- Obstetrical Technician or Scrub Tech in Labor and Delivery
- Emergency Medical Technician working in Emergency Medical Services or ER
- Paramedic working in Emergency Medical Services or ER
If you have questions regarding these rules and regulations or would like to confirm eligibility of the department you are employed in, please call 885-2564 and ask for Donna.