Professional advancement for team members at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown has just been made a little bit easier, thanks to the Chester River Hospital Center Auxiliary.
The Auxiliary has donated $20,000 to the Chester River Health Foundation to create a fund designated for scholarship assistance for employees seeking professional certification in their career fields. Any employee of the Chestertown hospital seeking a first-time certification may apply to the new fund for a scholarship that will help pay for a certification course, books and other resources, and/or the cost of the certification exam.
The general range for certification costs in health care professions is $300 to $1,000.
The new fund’s first scholarship recipient is John Haines, a nursing supervisor in the Emergency Department at UM SMC at Chestertown who is now studying for the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) exam. “I am so grateful for the financial assistance the Auxiliary scholarship fund provides as I advance my professional skills and credentials,” says Haines.
According to Jack Edson, president of the Auxiliary and a member of the Chester River Health Foundation Board, the new fund is a “first” in that it is not limited to nursing support — any staff member in any department who is seeking a first-time certification is welcome to apply for a scholarship award.
“For example, a staff member working in dietary might want to get certified in food safety and sanitation, or a radiology tech might want to earn certification in a specialty area such as sonography or magnetic resonance imaging,” says Edson. “The Auxiliary’s goal is to support all hospital staff in endeavors that will increase their expertise, help them mentor other staff and support outstanding care.”
Photo: UM SMC at Chestertown Emergency Department Nursing Supervisor John Haines, second from left, is pursuing his emergency nursing certification with the help of a scholarship award presented by Chester River Health Foundation President Bill Noll (left) and Chestertown Hospital Center Auxiliary President Jack Edson. At right is CRHF Executive Director and Auxiliary Liaison Maryann Ruehrmund.
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