From the Entry Level to Licensed Practical Nurse: Four Case Studies of Career Ladders in Health Care

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.