When asked how she zeroed in on a nursing career, Dawn Davis credits two ladders. The first was literal: the ladder that fell on her as an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter, crushing her shoulder. The injury forced her to shift her focus away from firefighting and onto a fledgling career as a clinical technician on Hopkins’ pediatric intensive
care unit.

She spent seven years in that role, assisting nurses with admissions and data entry and transporting young patients to appointments. Increasingly, the staff commented that she’d make a great nurse. But Davis couldn’t see beyond the time-and-money roadblock that stood in the way of nursing school.

Enter ladder number two—this one figurative. Her nurse manager told her about Ladders in Nursing Careers (LINC), a new Hopkins program that would free Davis to work part-time and study full-time, all while keeping her full salary and benefits. The Department of Nursing would spring for tuition, and in return she’d be obligated to work as a nurse at Hopkins for two years once she graduated and passed her licensing exam. (The requirement has since increased to three years.)

Michele Steinhauser, a nurse educator who serves as LINC liaison, says the program’s benefits are twofold. “Our employees can get through nursing school sooner and feel more valued by their units. And nurse managers can fill open positions with current employees who already know the staff and systems.”

Initially limited to Department of Nursing staff, the LINC program was recently extended to all Hospital and Health System employees seeking a career in nursing, and is now funded by Human Resources. Applicants must have graduated from high school or the equivalent, completed nine college credits and be recommended by their manager. Once accepted, students are required to carry at least 12 credits each semester, achieve a “C” or higher in all courses and graduate within four semesters.

Since LINC piloted in late 2002, 42 employees have been accepted, says Steinhauser. All 12 in the pilot group have finished school and are now fulfilling their post-graduation commitment.
Tina Cafeo, nurse manager of the cardiac surgical intensive care unit, has sponsored three of her staff’s clinical technicians. The three now work full-time on the unit as nurses. “It can be a struggle to fill the schedule while the candidates are studying,” she says. “But it’s worth it to make that leap for people who are so motivated to become nurses. It all comes back to you in the end.”

Davis proudly received her B.S.N. from the University of Maryland in December, making her the first to graduate beyond the pilot group. She estimates that LINC saved her $16,000 in tuition and a sizeable chunk of lost income.

In January, Davis passed her boards and is now an official PICU nurse. “Everyone was so supportive, from the physicians to the nurses and clinical techs,” she says. “It has all paid off—now I can follow my own patients, form bonds with their families and have a real impact on their outcome.”

-From Hopkins Nurse, Spring 2005

PHOTO:  A work-study program opened the door for Dawn Davis to become a pediatric intensive care nurse.