Janet Smith
Catholic Healthcare West's St. Bernardine Medical Center
San Bernardino
Janet Smith started her healthcare career in 1990 as a telemetry monitor technician at St. Bernardine Medical Center. In 2000, she transferred to the Intensive Care Unit as a ward clerk and then as an office coordinator. In 2004 she decided to go back to school to become a registered nurse. She transferred back to her position as ward clerk, working 3 12-hour shifts Friday through Sunday. Well into her third semester, Smith realized that she would need to cut her hours back even more in order to complete her nursing program. "I had been given a flyer about the Stipend Program, so I called the phone number and gave them my information and the ball started rolling. I was able to be compensated for the hours missed per pay period." Before moving into her new higher paying position as a critical care nurse Smith recalls living paycheck to paycheck. "Now I have doubled my income." The fact that CHW and her union worked together to provide Education Fund services like the stipend is impressive, Smith says. "It's a great way to retain employees, improve performance and boost morale. If an employee knows that their employer is willing to invest in their career and help them advance their education, they develop a desire to stay on the job for a long, long time."