Continuing Education

At Florida Hospital, we don't just say that we invest in our employee's professional development and growth; we do it. Nurses are eligible for several different continuing education benefits. Programs are available in many areas with contact hours certified when applicable. Take a look:

Educational Assistance

Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing

One of our most unique benefits is our Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing program, which allows Florida Hospital nurses to complete their baccalaureate degree in nursing. We'll waive the tuition costs for nurses who choose to obtain their baccalaureate degree from Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences. (This tuition benefit is worth more than $9,000.00!).

To be eligible, nurses must work a minimum of 1,000 hours per year at Florida Hospital in a clinical setting and be referred by their nurse manager. To receive full tuition, participating nurses must successfully complete their degree within seven years of enrolling in the baccalaureate course, and they must commit to continue working for Florida Hospital for two years after completing their degree.

Tuition Reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement of $1,500.00 per year at certain institutions of higher learning is available to nurses after one year of service or after three months if attending Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences. Reimbursement is issued on a sliding scale based on academic performance. Application forms are available to employees in Human Resources and require approval by department director.

Professional Practice Program

Once you've completed your Residency or Internship, this program presents an opportunity to recognize expanded skills and knowledge in clinical practice. The benefits of participating include professional self-actualization, clinical recognition and financial compensation.

The following nurses are eligible for the Professional Practice Program:

• RNs
• Full or part-time employees(over 32 hours per week)
• Those with one year of recent hospital experience
• Those who provide inpatient bedside care or evaluation in such settings as ED, rapid in & out, pre-admission placement and clinical decision unit
  

To be eligible, you must demonstrate competency by:

• Meeting the job requirements in the areas of clinical, quality and professional practice
• Participating in self and/or peer review
• Maintaining an education record
• Selecting areas of expanded skills or knowledge
  

Areas of expanded skills or knowledge include:

• Excellence in nursing practice as a Clinical Resource or Consultant
• Facilitation of new staff into the clinical environment through the Preceptor Role
• Evaluation of nursing care through Peer Review responsibility
• Investigation and implementation of nursing best practice through Research
• Development of self and peers using Educator concepts
• Unit Coordination and management through Charge Nurse expertise
• Professional enhancement of self and peers through Mentoring