Professional Education and Development

Education assistance

Hershey Medical Center offers a variety of tuition programs intended to enhance the recruitment, retention and advancement of those employees interested in attaining a nursing degree, as well as advancing their nursing career. Employees interested in becoming nurses may benefit from the tuition reimbursement program. The nursing educational assistance program (SEIU, Article 34) and educational privileges at Penn State can assist current nurses with advancing their nursing careers.

Tuition reimbursement program

All full-time non-bargained employees of Hershey Medical Center have the option of attending a college or university of their choice (other than Penn State) and working toward a degree or certificate program, which is mutually beneficial to both the employee and Hershey Medical Center. The employee is reimbursed 85 percent of his or her tuition up to $5,250 per calendar year. Employees must submit grades and proof of payment at the end of each course for reimbursement. Many of our current Hershey Medical Center employees who are interested in pursuing a nursing degree use this program to complete their pre-requisite courses. The policy explaining this can be found under Human Resources, Policy HR58. Teamster employees are eligible to receive up to $2,100 for undergraduate courses and up to $2,500 for graduate classes.

Nursing tuition program

Administered through the Department of Nursing, this program allows both part-time and full-time nurses working toward an advanced nursing degree to be reimbursed 100 percent of tuition only. Grants and scholarships are not eligible for reimbursement. Full-time nurses qualify for up to $5,250 reimbursement in a calendar year, and part-time employees qualify for up to $1,500. Employees must submit grades and proof of payment at the end of the course for reimbursement. Information regarding this program is located in the SEIU Handbook, page 71, article 34, Educational Assistance, or refer to policy HR66.

Educational privileges

Educational privileges allow all full-time Hershey Medical Center employees to attend any Penn State campus and receive a 75 percent tuition discount. Classes are offered locally and current BSNs utilize this program to pursue master's level programs. The policy explaining this can be found under Human Resources, Policy HR35.

Programs may be subject to certain levels of taxation.

The tuition application process has been reorganized to allow easy access to all education benefits and opportunities with a single contact in Human Resources to guide you. For additional information or questions regarding any of these programs, contact Human Resources, at717-531-3831.

Nurse anesthetist education expense program

This program provides newly graduated nurse anesthetists reimbursement for costs associated with their program of study. Hershey Medical Center will provide up to $40,000 toward expenses. To receive the maximum benefit, nurse anesthetists must maintain full-time employment with Hershey Medical Center as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) for a period of 36 consecutive months.

To be eligible for this reimbursement, you must be a full-time, benefit-eligible (0.9 - 1.0 FTE) nurse anesthetist who fulfills a defined employment commitment at Hershey Medical Center. Eligible participants must have:

• Graduated from a nurse anesthesia program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
• Been hired by Hershey Medical Center into their first nurse anesthetist position since graduating their program of study
• A current Pennsylvania RN license to practice their profession
• Certification by the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)

To learn more about our Nurse Anesthetist Education Expense Program, please contact our nurse recruitment team atnurserecruitment@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Inspired Nursing program

"Inspired Nursing" is a program for any high school student, college student or other individual not currently in a health care-related program of study who is interested in exploring a professional career in nursing, age 16 years and older. "Inspired Nursing" highlights the diversity of roles and opportunities that exist in nursing. The event begins with a brief, required training presentation regarding protecting patient privacy and confidentiality. Then an introduction about Penn State Health is included and will be followed by presentations by nurses practicing in a variety of roles and clinical areas.

Due to the current impact of COVID-19, the remaining 2021 session will be offered virtually through a Zoom presentation. Registration for the program is required. The program will begin promptly at 8 a.m. and conclude at 10 a.m. Further evaluation of in-person programming will be determined for 2022. Please continue to check back to the website.

Program registration Session:

Program Date:October 11, 2021
Registration Opens: Approximately 60 days prior to program date
Registration Closes:October 4, 2021 (or when full)
Notice of Acceptance:October 4, 2021

In order to register for a program, complete the following steps in order:

1. Complete electronic registration for the desired session below
2. Print, complete, and submit required paperwork

Electronic Registration

• Participant Registration – October 11, 2021
  • Click here to register
• Participant Registration – February 21, 2022
  • Registration link will be activated approximately 60 days prior to program date
• Participant Registration – August 12, 2022
  • Registration link will be activated approximately 60 days prior to program date
• Participant Registration – October 10, 2022
  • Registration link will be activated approximately 60 days prior to program date

(Note: Registration is not confirmed until the electronic registration is completeANDthe “Code of Conduct/Waiver/Confidentiality Agreement” is received.)

• Inspired Nursing Program Registration Paperwork(Required paperwork)

一旦Eventbrite注册已完成d, please send the Inspired Nursing Program Registration Paperwork documents any of the following ways(Your Inspired Nursing program registration will not be considered complete until electronic registration is completeandthese documents are received):

1. Faxto717-531-8861; or
2. Scanthe documents and email towkrenz@pennstatehealth.psu.edu; or
3. Mailto:
   Bill Krenz – Inspired Nursing Program
   Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
   Department of Nursing
   500 University Drive, PO Box 850
   Mailcode H102
   Hershey, PA 17033-0850

Frequently asked questions

When is my registration complete?
Registration is not completed until all forms (including the Participant Registration Form, via the electronic website link above, and the Inspired Nursing Program Registration Paperwork documents have been submitted. You will be contacted at least one week prior to the event to inform you of your acceptance.

Contact Information

If you have questions, please feel free to email Lauren Libhart atllibhart@pennstathealth.psu.eduor call717-531-0003, x286485.

Nursing Continuing Education

For more information about continuing education events for nurses, please visit:https://ce.med.psu.edu/programs/nurses/