Patient Care Tech Apprenticeship Program at Trident Health

Roanna Payne, MSN, RNClinical Professional Educator for Trident Medical Center

Above all Else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life

Why have an apprenticeship program?

Practical and sound method of preparing workers for employment

Provides employment and training under actual job conditions, supervised by skilled professionals

At completion of the program, fast track for ADN nursing program at Trident Tech

Provide mechanism to help increase number of new nurses eventually entering the work force

Trident Health receives a state tax credit

Demand for Healthcare Occupations growing rapidly

PCT Apprenticeship Overview

Program started in 2017

Offered once a year starting in late July/early August

3 cohorts have participated• 2017 had 6 participants

• 4 out of 9 completed (3 are in nursing school)

• 2 moved, 2 failed courses and could not continue and 1 voluntarily withdrew at 18 months

• 3 converted to PRN PCT positions while completing nursing school

• 1 resigned after completing the program

• 2 withdrew during the program

• 2018 had 4 participants who have all completed their 1st year

• 2019 has 4 participants that started in August

Responsibilities

Apprentice Fulfill obligations related to

education

• Successfully pass coursework

• Complete 542 hours of job related education

• Complete Healthstream education

Develop safe work habits

Conduct self in ethic manner

Complete 2000 hours of employment of on the job training

Program Sponsor (Us) Provide effective training in all

aspects of profession

Provide supervision by qualified professional

Exercise precaution and safety for apprentices in workplace

Provide fair and equitable treatment

Include Apprentices in unit by making them welcome

Provide foundation for training

Coach and mentor Apprentices just like any other employee

Process for hiring Apprentices

CNO determines number of apprentices the health system can absorb• Goal is to have a maximum of 10 PCT Apprentices each year

• Positions must be requested by CNO and built by Human Resources

Once positions are approved and built• Organizational Develop receives Youth Apprenticeship

Application

• Screen applications for potential participants

• Set up initial peer interview in March or April

Next Steps

Candidates are selected by Education based on peer interview scores

• Apprentices complete a “formal” job application

• Pre-boarding process completed

• Apprentice is cleared, HR formally offers the position

• Must complete the hiring process for TH

• Attend General Orientation

Cost center for the PCT Apprentices will be determined• Apprentices “live” in one cost center during orientation

• Once assigned a home unit, that unit is the cost center for the remainder of the program

Potential start date is in late July or early August before school starts each year

Next Steps

Education will coordinate orientation process and rotation through Med/Surg areas

• Orientation July/August-December (buddied with another PCT)

• Apprentices will rotate through all med/surg units

• January will work on “home” unit

• Apprentice will select 3 potential units to work on

• Directors/managers will decide if they can take an Apprentice

• Apprentices will be assigned to a “home” unit for the last 18 months of program

• December

• Education will complete the online initial competency for each Apprentice

• Competencies will be completed and uploaded to Dept. of Labor RAPIDS website

• During school year, apprentice can work a maximum of 20 hours/week

After “Orientation” is Completed January

• Education will continue to manage the DOL RAPIDS website

• Apprentice will begin putting schedule in facility scheduler and be counted as team member

• Apprentice will be able to function independently with an assignment

• Continues to require a Resource Person to be assigned every shift

• Resource person can be PCT or Charge Nurse

• On school breaks Apprentices can pick up more hours if they are available

• Must maintain grades in all courses at Trident Tech College

• Must meet all job requirements

• Treated like all other PRN staff working on the unit

• Will be able to float to other units except ICU, ER, Women’s & Children's

Completion of PCT Apprenticeship

Transition from Apprentice to PCT

Transfer from current to any unit in hospital that has opening

Fast track into AND/BSN program

Work Progression at Trident Health PCT Apprenticeship program provides a pipeline for

potential new nurses in facility where they work

PCT Apprentice hired

Transition to PCT role &

nursing school

Transition to professional

nurse via StaRN®

program

Lessons Learned

Make sure CNO and nursing leadership are all onboard and informed

Work with recruiter and HR to make sure positions are approved and posted early in the process

Peer Interviewing does work!

Complete onboarding before Apprentices start school in the fall

PCT Apprentice Hiring Fair

• Have interviews at time when nursing leadership team can participate

• Consider maturity levels and commitment to program while interviewing candidates