ADULT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION &

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I SCHOOL OF NURSING & DENTAL HYGIENE

 

PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

 

Nursing Educational Program Procedural Criteria (2006)

 

The Nursing Educational Program is a collaborative effort between the University of Hawai‘i, School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene (UHM SONDH) and the Adult Mental Health Division (AMHD), Department of Health, State of Hawai‘i.  This program seeks to improve and support the delivery of psychiatric nursing care for employees of AMHD.

 

The Nursing Liaison is the coordinator between the Nursing faculty UHMSONDH and AMHD and chairs the Student Selection for Advancing in Nursing Education (SSANE) Committee. 

 

PROGRAM GOALS:

1.  To improve the quality of nursing care provided to the seriously and persistently mentally ill consumers in the State of Hawai‘i.

2.  To facilitate the development of an educated nursing work force from within the current employees of AMHD.

 

NURSING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM:

 

1.   The program provides for AMHD staff to continue their formal education within the University of Hawai‘i system.  Depending on funding, the program provides one of the following:

 

a)   Tuition only.

b)   Flex time, which is defined as maintaining full-time employment status with a flexible schedule that is approved by the applicant’s direct supervisor in advance. A flexible schedule is constructed around the 40-hour work-week, but allows for attendance at classes and clinical rotations, with work hours scheduled around these academic commitments.

c)              Tuition and flex time.

 

2.   The expectation is that the educational experience will be of mutual benefit to AMHD and the employee, with the understanding that adequate staffing is needed to provide quality services to our customers (patients)

 

3.   This educational opportunity does not guarantee an RN position, advancement or promotion upon completion of a nursing program or completion of an advanced degree.

 

 

 

INITIAL NOMINATION PROCESS:

 

1.   An employee who is interested in this Educational Program or in entering the nursing profession may seek information and advisement from a member of the SSANE Committee.

 

2.  The RN employee needs to submit documentation of their acceptance into an Associate Degree in Nursing Program or into a BSN or MSN program.

 

3.   The non-RN employee needs to submit documentation of satisfactory completion of 15 university credits, which are pre-requisites for the nursing program to which they intend to apply. This must include 4 credits of a physical or biological science course with accompanying lab.

 

4.   The employee discusses their interest in the SSANE Program with their direct supervisor and obtains his/her written recommendation for participation. This document will be forwarded to the SSANE Committee. The supervisor’s letter must state how long the applicant has been under his/her supervision, that their attendance is satisfactory and that the employee has been given satisfactory PAS’s. Some additional information regarding the employee’s work habits are required, such as, that the employee is reliable, ethical, accepts responsibilities, has demonstrated the ability to set and reach goals etc.  In addition, the supervisor’s letter must specify if recommending for assistance with tuition costs only or if approving flex scheduling as well.   

 

5.              The employee writes a letter of application to the SSANE Committee for the Nursing Educational Program. It states the length of time of employment by the AMHD, clearly states his/her academic and career goals, and states the course names and number of credits they intend to take at the first semester they would be associated with the SSANE Committee. The required documents (letter application to SSANE Committee, signed contract (see attached), letter of recommendation from the supervisor, and evidence of acceptance to a school of nursing within the UH System) are submitted to the Chair of the SSANE Committee by April 15 for Summer and Fall Semester and by November 15 for Spring Semester. 

a)   The SSANE Committee reviews and approves or disapproves the application/nomination.  

b)   The committee Chair notifies the employee of the decision in writing.

 

CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE:

 

  1. Full-time permanent employment with AMHD.
  2. Completion of 1.5 years of satisfactory employment; has passed probationary period. 
  3. Demonstrates initiative by seeking information on higher education.
  4. Written recommendation by supervisor (with required      components) is on file.
  5. Initial letter of application (with required components) is on file. 
  6. Evidence of acceptance into a nursing school is on file, if applicable.
  7. Reads, understands and agrees with the terms of this criteria by completing and submitting the attached Nursing Educational Program Agreement Form to the Nursing Liaison prior to the SSANE nominations committee meeting (By October 31st for Spring Semester, and by March 15th for Summer and/or Fall Semester.

AMHD PAYBACK COMMITMENT:

1.              Payback commitment to the AMHD is:

 

a) 2 years employment after associate degree in nursing is completed.   

b) 3 years employment after baccalaureate in nursing

(BSN) is completed.     

c) 2 years employment after masters in nursing (MSN) is             completed.

 

2.              If a participant in the Nursing Education Program resigns from the AMHD or drops out of their nursing program before the nursing degree is finished,  he/she will not be liable to pay back the tuition fees which were paid to UH by the SSANE Program.

 

However, if a student withdraws from a class after the 100% refund time, the student is liable to refund the full tuition to the committee.

 

3.              If the program participant finishes an Associate Degree, BSN or MSN degree with SSANE financial support and resigns from the AMHD before completing the employment payback commitment, he/she is obligated to reimburse the SSANE Program for tuition fees incurred, in an amount proportional to the remaining employment commitment. 

 

4.              Non-RNs, who receive tuition assistance while completing pre-requisites for nursing school, will not be asked to refund tuition fees, should they terminate employment with the AMHD or discontinue their educational pursuit.      

CONTINUATION in the PROGRAM:

Students must do the following prior to registration each semester:

1.              Review academic plans with direct supervisor and obtain their written approval of continuation in the program and any flex time needed.

2.              Provide evidence of satisfactory completion of enrolled       courses from the semester just past.

3.              Write letter to SSANE Committee requesting continuing support for the next semester, in the form of tuition waiver or reimbursement, and/or flex time being requested.  The letter needs to state the number of credits that will be taken during the upcoming semester, and if possible, the course name and number. 

4.   Submit the above documentation to the Nursing Liaison before April 15 for Summer Session and Fall Semester and before November 15 for the Spring Semester.

 

A formal review by the SSANE Committee will be conducted prior to each semester. Written notification of approval will be sent to the applicant. 

 

 

9/16/05, 5/19/04, 4/22/05, 02/17/06

 

 

 


ADULT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION

&

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SCHOOL OF NURSING

 

                                                 PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

 

 NURSING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

CONTRACT

 

 

I have read and understand the NURSING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PROCEDURAL CRITERIA and accept the conditions set forth.

 

 

_____________________________        ___________________________

Name (please print)                                    Social Security No. (needed for tuition waiver)

 

University of Hawaii application submitted: Yes ____ No ____ Accepted: Yes ____ No ____

 

Number of credits completed ________     Science Course & Lab _____________

 

Tentative Enrollment: Spring ________ Summer ________ Fall ________ Winter ________

                                                    Year                       Year               Year                       Year

 

Signature: _____________________________          Date: _______________________

 

 

Copy of Procedural Criteria received:  Yes _____        Signature: __________________________

 

 

State of _______________     )

                                                )  ss.

County of _____________      )

 

Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this _______ day of

 

_______________, 20____, by ______________________ (name of signer).

 

 

______________________________________

 

Notary Public, State of ___________________

 

My commission expires: __________________

 

CT: SSANE:  2/3/06