Program at St. Peter’s provides on-the-job training

Nursing students attending Carroll or Helena College of Technology have the chance to put their education to work even before
they graduate. The opportunity is offered through the Nurse Tech program at St. Peter’s Hospital.

By LAURA TODE, IR Staff Writer

The program has been in place for two years and is open to both junior and senior level nurses. This spring, 18 hopeful nurses
are working at the hospital and getting paid while they learn.

They are taking blood pressure, helping with patient care and learning valuable time management skills.
“A lot of it is just patient exposure, which they really thrive on,” said Julie Rader, lead coordinator of patient care services.
Rader supervises the nurse techs and said the structure of the program offers the hospital a little more insight when hiring quality
nurses.

“We get to see them,” Rader added. “You get to see their work, and if they have pride in their work.”
St. Peter’s Recruiter Carla Sisk said the students don’t receive any preferential treatment in the hiring process except they are
considered an in-house applicant.
“They’re a new grad regardless,” she said.

St. Peter’s Nurse Tech program is open to students in the registered nursing (RN) program at Carroll and the licensed practical
nursing (LPN) program at HCT. The students make around $8.50 an hour, but Sisk said with on-the-job training opportunities,
they can gain more experience and make more. How much the students work is up to them and Rader is flexible when it come to
a nurse tech’s hectic school schedule.
“Some of them work all the time,” Rader said. “A lot of it is based on our need.”

Students can apply in either their junior or senior year, so for HCT students that means they can start their first year.
“We’re fortunate we have both programs right here (in Helena),” Sisk said.
At the beginning of the year St. Peter’s puts on a luncheon at each of the schools for interested students. According to Sisk, most
of the nurse techs apply then.

“The schools have been great in promoting it,” she added.

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