Earn As You Learn: Training Tomorrow’s Nurses Today​

As a young girl, Raeleah Milian planned for a career in law as an attorney. But when she became a mom at 17 to a baby boy with a serious health issue, she spent a lot of time at St. Joseph’s Women’s and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospitals. Despite the challenges, Raeleah felt comforted and reassured by the compassion of the doctors and the nurses who cared for her son.

“I was very young, and people sometimes make judgments, but I never once felt that at St. Joe’s. I was treated so respectfully, and my concerns and questions were taken so seriously. It really made an impression on me,” she shares.

When her second son was born prematurely and had to spend time in St. Joseph’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Raeleah again experiences the hospitals exceptional care.

“The nurses were especially wonderful. It was the first time I remember thinking nursing might be something I wanted to do.”

Over twenty years later and now a mom of three, Raeleah is a Daisy Award recipient and highly regarded nurse at St. Joseph’s. She also manages a program helping others pursue nursing, just like she did. Funded by St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation, the program offers scholarships of up to $10,500 through a partnership with Hillsborough Community College (HCC). Participants move through the two-year program as a cohort, with Raeleah teaching and overseeing the curriculum. Clinicals are conducted at St. Joe’s locations, immersing students in its values and culture.

“St. Joe’s is always looking for ways to invest in their team members and help them further their career. I was already working as a Unit Based Educator when they approached me about this program, and I was thrilled to help launch it,” explains Raeleah.

For students like Sarah Womack, the program has been a game changer. A member of the very first graduating class this spring, Sarah started out as a Patient Care Tech.  She wanted to continue her education, but the expense of college was just a little out of reach.

The new program enabled her to afford the next step in her career. While she greatly appreciated having her textbooks and classes funded so she could focus on school, she soon realized the benefits of being part of this program proved to be much more than financial. First, having someone like Raeleah guiding every part of the experience to ensure the “St. Joe’s way” meant a lot to her.  Meeting other St. Joe’s team members who would also become future nurses was a significant bonus. But the support she received when she found out she was expecting at the beginning of her second semester really blew her away.

“I was a bit worried about school and finances. I wasn’t sure how I would manage it all. I gave birth to the most precious baby girl on August 9th. School was starting again August 19th, and I did not want to give up my spot in the BayCare cohort. Because I had the best teacher, the best classmates, and the best support system, I didn’t have to. The benefits of being part of the St. Joseph’s cohort are what truly helped me endure and succeed.  I was able to feel secure in my financial status, support my newborn, and continue to focus on my studies.”

Karolina Stengard began working for BayCare immediately after graduating from high school. She knew then that she wanted a career in medicine, but, as it is for many, the cost of pursuing a degree presented a challenge.

“Applying for nursing school and being selected to join the St. Joseph’s cohort has given me such a life-changing opportunity. Having my tuition covered lifted a huge financial stress, allowed me to dedicate more time to my passion for learning, and allowed me to grow into the best nurse I can become.”

Karoline is thrilled about her recent graduation and the beginning of her nursing journey at St. Joe’s. She feels fortunate to work at a place where they value her contributions and support her success and growth.

“Their belief in my potential and their investment in my education have given me the support and confidence I needed to pursue this path wholeheartedly.”

Helping talented and dedicated team members like Sarah and Karoline is what the program is all about. BayCare always strives to hire the best and the brightest. Enabling them to continue to shine by offering financial support is not simply an investment in the team; it’s an investment in the care St. Joseph’s Hospitals provide to its patients.

As the country experiences a nursing shortage, the program is also helping to ensure St. Joseph’s is ready to meet the growing needs of its community. The goal is for every graduate who passes their nursing boards to join St. Joseph’s as a nurse, which makes Raeleah both happy and proud.

“They all started as a St. Joseph’s team member. We know who they are and what they are capable of, so we are thrilled to welcome them back as nurses.”

The feedback from the first graduating class has been fantastic, and Raeleah is currently accepting applications for the next cohort of students. With a planned enrollment of twenty-four future nurses, she is excited about continuing to advance the program.

“I know what it’s like to be a young mom, struggling to pay for school while juggling like and everything else. We have many wonderful team members who want to further develop their careers as part of the St. Joe’s family but just need to be given a chance and a little help. This program does that, and I know people appreciate it.”

Although it has just graduated its first class, Raeleah sees significant growth and potential for the program. She hopes to see more evening and weekend classes offered, have enrollment be annual instead of every two years, and even expand the program to be available at other campuses.

But for now, Raeleah is enjoying the program’s success and the pride she feels in both the first graduating class and the new applicants who are ready to further their careers at St. Joseph’s.

She also feels grateful, both for the opportunity she has been given and the goodwill of all those who support St. Joseph’s mission.

“It all starts with the St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation, and by that, I mean the supporters who give so generously to make programs like this possible. I truly believe nurses are the heart of healthcare. Not only do we have the best nurses here at St. Joe’s, but now we are personally involved in training our next generation of outstanding nurses, too!”