Fueled
by government funding and increased employer investment in “grow your
own” strategies to address the severe shortage of nurses, a handful of
innovative Licensed Practical Nurse training programs has arisen to
serve low-income adults working in entry-level health care. Several
features account for the success of these programs. Most important,
they incorporate education and training into well-defined steps of
employer-sponsored career ladder opportunities that offer financial
support, classes at or near the worksite, and clear rewards in pay and
promotion for successful completion of each step. The case studies were
prepared in conjunction with The Right Jobs: Identifying Career
Advancement Opportunities for Low-Skilled Workers, a guide for
workforce development practitioners.
