Though Latinos are present in calls for nurses, there is still a need for these professionals in Philadelphia.

At least 35 or every 70 students that apply for the Technical health Program each year are accepted, and of these, 17 are Hispanics.

These youngsters from Northern Philly receive professional training in the field of Nursing, thanks to a free program offered by the Saint Christopher Children’s Hospital and Olney School.

For 16 years now, the program has been selecting and recruiting students that want to practice a career in the field of health.

“Through this program we give youths the opportunity to be in all the departments of the Hospital”, said Barbara Liccio, director of volunteer services and coordinator of the health program.

This experience helps them reaffirm their vocation and continue their university studies”, she added.

“The lack of nurses in some US hospitals has lead us to bring in professionals from the Philippines, India and Canada, said Susan Macfall, Recruitment Director.

“We must consider the fact that a large number of nurses will reach their age of retirement within 10 years; these spots must be filled.” 

Liccio ensured that a Health Technician has become a model for the whole country, since it is the only one of its kind that pays wages and, after the one year program is concluded, grants students five thousand dollar scholarships.

Additionally, the students can be employed by the hospital during the summer and winter before they enter the university.

“Last year alone, 95 percent of our graduates received scholarships in Schools of Medicine(…).  The success of our program has lead to may visits from other hospitals seeking to implement the program in their institutions”, Liccio added.
During the one year program, the student must complete 16 hours of work a week and each student has one or more mentors.

The majority of the participants are placed in the emergency and patient service areas.  There are also other students that want to work in the administrative and human resources area of the hospital, Liccio explained. 

“Students frequently feel discouraged about applying to any type of program because they do not have a high grade point average”, Liccio stated.  “Our program is based on the student’s desire and commitment and through his/her performance, we see how youths improve their academic level”.

According to Macfall, the increase in Hispanic nurses in the area of Nursing has been seen in the last years during which the Latino community has grown and because the need for bilingual nurses continues to be a priority.

“It is very important for the patient’s family members to understand and know about their relatives health condition”, said Macfall.  “Every hospital benefits from bilingual nurses that can understand the culture of Hispanic families.”

Verónica Genova, one of the students benefitting from the program, bécame part of the nursing staff of the Saint Christopher Children’s Hospital Pediatrics Department, seven months ago.  “I wanted to be a nurse since I was a kid and when I learned about the program in high school, I knew it was the opportunity I needed to make my dreams come true”, said Genova.  “I was shy and was scared to talk to patients and their family members”, she explained.

Genova, whose parents are Puerto Rican, is the eldest of four sisters and the first in her family to earn a university degree.

“The program helped boost my self-confidence in addition to channeling my vocation in the area of Pediatrics”, she said.  “As a Latina and bilingual nurse, I am proud to be able to help my community and to have my family’s support”.
According to Macfall, programs such as this one offered by the hospital to motivate youths to study careers in nursing are always necessary.  “I don’t think we have reached a level of saturating in nursing in the US”, Macfall explained.

“The arrival of new minority groups and the language factor will always leave room for more professionals in the field of medicine that are able to guide and help these communities”.