Just a few years ago, Yolanda Berumen's, dream of becoming a nurse was nothing more than an unfulfilled fantasy from her teenage years. Widowed at a young age, Berumen was left with three children to care for. She was stuck in a low-paying job and, in addition to providing for her family, she faced costly medical expenses due to a painful blood disorder.

Berumen realized that the only way out was to further her education. Thanks to White Memorial Medical Center (WMMC)—where she now works—she was able to fulfill her childhood dream and provide a better life for her kids.

In 2003, the East Los Angeles hospital partnered with the TELACU Education Foundation, Rio Hondo College and UniHealth Foundation to provide scholarships and other significant support to Latino nursing students and then offer them the opportunity to work at WMMC after graduation.

“The money and support I received from this program definitely made my life easier,” said Berumen. “It allowed me to pay for school expenses, gas and food for my children while I was pursing my nursing degree.”

All across Adventist Health nurses like Berumen are benefiting from the emphasis the system places on finding top-notch clinicians and giving them tools they need to deliver excellent patient care and succeed in their careers.

Teaming Up for Clinicals

Across its four-state system, numerous Adventist Health hospitals partner with colleges and universities for clinical rotations. Not only do these collaborations benefit students by providing real-world learning experiences, they enable hospitals to scout for new talent.

South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach, Calif., currently has clinical affiliation agreements with five local nursing programs, which consistently place students at the hospital for clinicals. Paradise Valley Hospital (PVH) in National City, Calif., not only partners with San Diego State University for clinicals, the hospital helps pay the salaries of several clinical instructors at the school.

“Partnering with nursing schools for clinical rotations is a win-win situation,” said Trent Broadus, director of clinical education at PVH. “It gives the students exposure to the hospital setting and orients them to the culture of our facility. Our ultimate goal is that they will want to work for us after graduation.”

PVH also has a thriving nurse extern program, which allows nursing students to be hired as employees. Under the supervision of an experienced clinician, the students are able to work up to the level of their training and get paid while they gain valuable job experience. The program not only helps students pass their boards more easily, it has been a wonderful recruitment tool for the hospital.

New Grad Programs

According to Wynelle Huff, RN, Ph.D., vice president of delivery of care for Adventist Health, each of the system's 20 hospitals offers some type of new graduate orientation/training for new nurses.

"New nurses in our hospitals are given the opportunity to enhance and hone their skills through our new grad programs, and they are still compensated while they are undergoing on-the-job education and training," said Huff.

At Sonora Regional Medical Center (SRMC), the hospital’s new grad program is offered on a bi-annual basis. The program—which is similar to others throughout Adventist Health—runs for approximately three months and consists of six to eight days of classroom education and 10 to 12 weeks of supervised care giving under the guidance of an experienced preceptor or nurse mentor.

"Schools of nursing do a great job teaching clinical theory," stated Christine Waelty, RN, education coordinator at SRMC. "However, new nurses have had limited time in clinicals, often only caring for one or two patients on a partial shift. Having a new grad program for beginning RNs reduces ‘reality shock’ and orients them to multi-patient assignments under the guidance of an experienced clinician."

Likewise, Anna Mary Yoder, RN, staff development manager at Feather River Hospital in Paradise, Calif., orients a host of new nursing graduates through the hospital’s new grad program each year.

"By ensuring that new nurses have a strong foundation without all the stress of learning on their own, there is a better chance that they will stay in the field," she said. "In addition to preventing burnout, the program reduces job anxiety, enhances skills and orients them to our facility."

Continuing Education

In addition to on-the-job training offered at Adventist Health hospitals, many facilities partner with schools of nursing to enhance career opportunities for nurses and give them the chance to pursue educational advancements.

Pacific Union College’s LVN to RN program, a partnership with Hanford Community Medical Center (HCMC) and Ukiah Valley Medical Center, is just one example of this. The 18-month program, which to date has graduated 153 students, offers on-site classes at both hospitals designed specifically for working adults.

“The LVN to RN program allows our nurses to pursue professional growth while meeting other job and life obligations,” stated Carol Hasselbrack, vice president of patient care services at HCMC. “For many, it’s the only opportunity to increase their nursing education.”

Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Southern California recently graduated six students from its on-site BSN program. A collaboration with California State University, Los Angeles, the hospital recently offered convenient, on-site classes to nurses who wanted to purse a four-year degree.

At Redbud Community Hospital (RCH) in Clearlake, Calif., a LVN program is available for area residents who wish to pursue a career in nursing. The joint venture between the hospital, a local skilled nursing facility (SNF) and Yuba College, allows students to take classes online and do their clinical rotations at the hospital and the SNF.

“This program is a wonderful way to attract prospective nurses who already live in the area,” stated Carrie Luyster, RN, vice president of patient care services and interim CEO at RCH. “With the closest nursing schools over an hour away, this partnership allows local residents the opportunity to pursue a clinical career without leaving home.”

In addition, many Adventist Health facilities offer free continuing education credits and other professional growth opportunities to nurses, including tuition reimbursement programs. Adventist Health also helps fund Seventh-day Adventist nursing programs and many hospitals offer scholarships to nursing students.

"We are always exploring creative ways to collaborate with educational entities in order to produce the best possible outcomes for the schools, our facilities and our nurses,” stated Huff.