American Senior Communities (ASC) employees are benefitting from nursing programs made available to them through a unique educational opportunity presented by the Health & Hospital Corporation (HHC) and ASC through their long-term care partnership. ASC and HHC together are the largest senior care provider in Indiana and both organizations have a solid reputation for promoting professional growth of their employees and in the long-term care (LTC) nursing profession and this has resulted in the creation of this innovative pathway for employees to become nurses.
Within this unique nursing scholarship program, Opportunities to Nursing Excellence (O2NE), ASC employees can increase their level of professional education. All front-line staff are eligible for this program and can earn diplomas to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and LPNs can earn diplomas to become Registered Nurses (RNs).
ASC and HHC have made it possible for staff members to continue their formal training and credentialing while maintaining their current jobs. Selected participants can attend nursing school with tuition and books fully paid for by the community where they work. Participants are also given a reduced work schedule, allowing them additional time for classes and study without being penalized financially.
Unique to the O2NE program, ASC provides a full-time mentor/counselor for the participants. The counselor, who actively participates in the selection of students and aids them during each step of their nursing school journey, remains in frequent contact with each student. The counselor serves to address questions and concerns, review grades and make suggestions regarding studying, test-taking, and school-work-life balance.
The program aids front-line caregiver staff to achieve new levels of credentialing and ability, ultimately improving the entire senior healthcare system. Some O2NE graduates have moved upward into clinical management positions, evidence that the pathway created by this scholarship program advances career potential for these students. Multiple program graduates have fueled their potential, becoming Directors of Nursing, Regional Clinical Directors, and many additional versatile roles within the healthcare community.
For more information about nursing career tracks with American Senior Communities, visit www.ASCCare.com/careers.
Meet some of our O2NE graduates and how the program has changed their life!
