Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced new grant awards for health care employers that will help boost the industry’s workforce across Iowa, particularly in high-demand jobs. WesleyLife was honored yesterday to learn the organization is receiving a $249,960 grant to establish the WesleyLife Registered Nurse (RN) Apprenticeship Program.
The program will provide financial support for aspiring RNs while ensuring the enhancement of the quality services and care for which the 78-year-old organization is known. It will help prevent workforce shortages throughout WesleyLife communities, improve retention, and enhance career mobility by offering structured, on-the-job training with financial assistance for education and wages.
The initiative expands WesleyLife's existing CNA and LPN apprenticeship programs, creating a full career path for clinical team members in both rural and metro locations.
"By expanding support for individuals pursuing RN licensure, we’re able to reach those who may be navigating financial or social circumstances that have historically limited access to education," WesleyLife's director of organizational learning, Krista Van Hooser-Perin, left, said. "We believe every person deserves the opportunity to live a life of purpose and meaning regardless of social, economic, or physical circumstances - and this initiative helps bring that belief to life.
"And we’re not only opening doors for new nurses; we’re equipping our current nursing team with advanced skills in areas like wound care, dementia care, and preceptorship. That means our newly credentialed RNs will be surrounded by mentors and clinical experts from day one, which helps them thrive and strengthens care across our communities."
Addressing shortages
In a news release, Reynolds said the grants address worker shortages Iowa’s health care industry has navigated in recent years.
"Drawing on the earn-and-learn model for health career registered apprenticeships that has already trained 80 job-ready CNAs and EMTs and has 394 current active apprentices, our state is continuing to meet this challenge head-on," the governor said. "The new Healthcare Credentialing Grant will support career pathways that will build on the healthcare workforce where it’s needed most.”
Awardees include employers who plan to implement programs for multiple high-demand pathways, including helping employees obtain Registered Nursing (RN) training and licensure while working. Awarded projects are estimated to train or upskill 399 participants across the state.
Meaningful use
Van Hooser-Perin said WesleyLife appreciates this new resource and will make meaningful use of it.
"We’re grateful to the State of Iowa for recognizing the critical staffing challenges facing healthcare and investing in solutions that truly work," she said. "These types of programs offer an effective and efficient way to grow our clinical pipeline, and this grant will allow us to build a sustainable pathway for individuals to advance in their careers while supporting the well-being of those we serve.
"It allows us to invest in our team members in a way that’s both deeply meaningful and critically needed. We’re building an infrastructure of support that extends from CNA to RN and beyond - growing talent from within, increasing retention, and delivering stronger outcomes for the people we serve."
To learn more about positions with WesleyLife, please visit our careers site.
Topics: Awards and Recognitions
