NVCI, CSN and Workforce CONNECTIONS partner to launch ARRA funded nursing internship program

First-of-its-Kind Program Creates Nursing Jobs in Southern Nevada, Provides Expert Oncology Training to Strengthen State's Oncology Healthcare Infrastructure

Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) is launching its Plus One Program, a paid nursing internship initiative to equip nursing graduates with advanced training to give them an edge in today's competitive nursing job market. After completing a paid one-year internship at NVCI, participants will become oncology nurses, a highly sought-after specialty. These specialized jobs have the potential to pay increased wages, provide excellent benefits and support articulated career ladders within the field of oncology.

Plus One is provided in partnership with the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and Workforce CONNECTIONS, and is funded by a $3.2M American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. The annual program is launching with nine participants with plans to expand in coming years.

The current nursing market is flooded with experienced RNs who've come out of retirement or delayed retirement as a result of the recent economy. Recently graduated registered nurses are struggling to find jobs today because, after cut-backs, hospitals don't have the resources to train the new nurses. A June 2009 survey of 2,112 spring RN graduates by the National Student Nurses' Association found 44% hadn't yet found jobs.    

"Plus One is the first internship program of its kind. It is a significant step to creating a more robust cancer care infrastructure in Southern Nevada while helping recent nursing graduates receive their oncology certification and increase their chances of landing better paying jobs," said Cheryl Martin, NVCI's chief operating officer and chief nursing executive.

Throughout the Plus One Program, participants will "shadow" primary nurses; over time and with direct supervision, they will begin providing patient care. They also will partake in seminar-style and one-on-one learning experiences to develop expertise in cancer prevention, carcinogenesis, diagnosis, staging of cancer, principles of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, blood and bone marrow transplantation, clinical trials, vascular access devices, symptom management and oncologic emergencies.

The Plus One Program is funded in part by a Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries Grant awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.  The total amount of Federal funds for this project is $3,262,676 and 84 percent of this program is funded with Federal funds. Plus One is a Equal Opportunity Program with auxiliary aids and services available upon request for individuals with disabilities.