Creative Solutions to Leveraging Business Partners

Trisha Wooten, Grant Administrator

Nursing Education and Placement Program

Nursing Education and Placement Program (NEPP)

• US Department of Labor, Education and Training Administration, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded program

• Grant Award: $ 4,655,799.00

• Effective Dates: March 1, 2010 through February 28, 2013

• Geographic Area: State of Texas

• With business and academic partners; seek to recruit, train, employ and retain unemployed, underemployed, dislocated and low income incumbent workers in the nursing career path. Preference given to Veterans and Veteran’s spouses.

• NEPP provides financial assistance for tuition, books and fees to approved applicants who wish to pursue CNA or LVN, ADN and RN/ADN to BSN at an approved, non-proprietary Texas Board of Nursing educational programs.

• Additional services: guidance counseling, coaching, tutoring, resume writing, interviewing/professionalism skill development, community agency referrals, supportive service funding.

NEPP Mission• To address the critical shortage of nurses and

nurse' aides in Texas by providing educational grant awards and job placement assistance to eligible students.

Nursing Education and Placement Program

NEPP Vision• We are working together to increase the

health, educational and financial viability of our citizens while setting new benchmarks for funding education in nursing careers.

NEPP Goals

• Reduce nursing labor shortages• Increase the income of individual workers and the

financial viability of geographic areas which demonstrate levels of high poverty (greater than 15%)

• Expand access to articulated nursing career ladders• Fund 300 students over the 3 year grant time line:

– Of those 300 students, 199 will graduate, pass their licensure exam and become gainfully employed by an unsubsidized employer for 6 months prior to grant end.

NEPP Data

Partnerships

• 33 Educational Partners• 7 Business Partners– A&G Personnel Provider Services– Chambers County Public Hospital District: Bayside

Hospital– Bellville General Hospital – Hospice Care Team Inc.– University of Texas Medical Branch– MD Anderson Cancer Center – Home Instead Senior Care

Recruiting Partners

An investment in education always pays the highest returns. -Ben Franklin

Role of Partners

• Identify incumbent workers and refer• Provide flexible scheduling to employees while classes

are in session• Full Business Partners provide paid administrative leave:

– LVN and ADN students receive 16 hours paid leave per week– BSN students receive 8 hours paid leave per week

• Designate a “point of contact” for NEPP staff and students

• Participate in quarterly partner meetings• Advertise participation in the program/outreach

Return on Investment for Partners

• Educational funding for incumbent workers• Coaching/guidance for incumbent workers• Investiture in individuals improves employee

performance– Quality, quantity, safety, problem solving, attitude, ethics,

motivation, leadership, communication• Education increases profit, productivity, saves time and

expense• Educating staff increases their satisfaction and retention• Educational programs are great recruitment tools!

Why would businesses want to participate?

• Reduction in expenditures for tuition reimbursement programs

• Point of contact who follows employment and academic success (bi-weekly)

• Employees feel a sense of pride in being selected and in turn exhibit loyalty thus increasing longevity

Business Partner Incumbent Employees Through 12/11

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

UTMB

A&G Personnel

Chambers County

MD Anderson

Busi

ness

Par

tner

Number of Participants

MD AndersonHome InsteadChambers CountyHospiceA&G PersonnelBellvilleUTMB

Just a few of our success stories…..