ASPIRE Employee Program

Central sterile techs sterilize, assemble and distribute medical and surgical equipment for hospitals. MHN hospitals conduct free on-the-job training with a 20 week apprenticeship. At the end of this training, central sterile techs may take a certification exam, paid for by the hospital, and become a certified sterile tech.

As part of our inpatient, outpatient or physician office nursing teams, LPNs perform nursing duties for our patients.

• Collins Career Technical Center (CCTC) - Employees within the MHN system may obtain a fully paid for LPN degree through CCTC in Ohio within 12 months, in exchange for a three-year work commitment to an MHN hospital.
• Ashland Technical and Community College (ACTC) – MHN partners with ACTC to pay the cost of an 11-month LPN degree in exchange for a three-year work commitment to an MHN hospital.

• Shawnee State University - MHN partners with Shawnee State University to pay the cost of a two-year associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology with the student agreeing to complete either a three- or five-year MHN work commitment depending upon the amount of tuition assistance provided.
• Marshall University - MHN partners with Marshall University to pay the cost of the last two years of a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Science with the student agreeing to complete either a three- or five-year MHN work commitment depending upon the amount of tuition assistance provided.
• Medical Laboratory Technician/ Medical Technologist and Histology Technician – Currently, MHN is working on a partnership for a joint training program for in-house training of lab tech positions.

Medical Assistants work primarily in physician offices and clinics. They prepare patients for visits with providers, take vital signs, administer immunizations, and perform basic clinical and clerical duties. Mountwest Community and Technical College (MCTC) offers a certificate MA program (3 semesters) and an associate MA degree program (4 semesters). MHN partners with MCTC to pay the cost of either program with the student agreeing to complete an MHN work commitment depending upon the amount of tuition assistance provided.

MHN PCSs and PCAs are part of our nursing teams and are responsible for direct patient care, such as taking vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living, skin care, mobility and other patient support. PCSs at St. Mary’s, also perform certain EKGs and blood draws.

In partnership with MCTC, employees may enroll in an on-campus 8-week (PCS) or 6-week (PCA) training course which is paid for by the employees’ hospital, in exchange for a one-year work commitment to an MHN hospital.

There are many ways for an individual to become a Registered Nurse through MHN’s free tuition assistance program. Once the student completes their college prerequisite courses (these vary depending upon the RN track the person takes), they may obtain their RN degree through the following:

• St. Mary’s School of Nursing (SMSON) – Through its tuition assistance program, MHN will cover the entire cost of this two-year associate nursing program for qualifying students at the SMSON campus. While attending, SMSON students may work paid nurse externships at any of the MHN hospitals. Upon graduating, SMSON students are hired by one of the hospitals and required to complete either a three- or five-year work commitment depending upon the amount of tuition assistance earned.
• Marshall University School of Nursing (MUSON) – MHN partners with MUSON to cover up to $5,000 per semester of select students’ last two years of their bachelor’s degree in nursing. Upon graduation, RNs must make a five-year work commitment with MHN.
• Ashland Technical and Community College (ACTC) – MHN partners with ACTC to pay the cost of a two-year associate degree in nursing with the student agreeing to complete either a three- or five-year work commitment depending on the amount of tuition assistance earned.
• Ohio University Southern (OU Southern)- MHN partners with OU Southern to pay the cost of a two-year associate degree in nursing with the student agreeing to complete either a three- or five-year work commitment depending upon the amount of tuition assistance earned.
• Collins Career Technical Center (CCTC) LPN to RN Bridge Program – MHN will pay for LPNs, with at least one year of LPN work experience, to complete the 13-month LPN to RN Bridge Program. Upon completion of the program, RNs have a three- or five-year work commitment with MHN depending upon the amount of tuition assistance earned.

• St. Mary’s School of Medical Imaging (SOMI) – SOMI offers many options for bachelor’s degrees in various radiology fields including ultrasound, CT, mammography, MRI, Cath Lab and interventional radiology. Through its tuition assistance program, MHN will cover the cost of the last two years of this bachelor’s degree radiology program for qualifying students at the SOMI campus. SOMI students may work as paid radiology interns, while going through the program, at any of the MHN hospitals. Upon graduating, students are hired into one of the hospitals and are required to complete either a three- or five-year work commitment, depending upon the amount of tuition assistance earned.
• Collins Career Technical Center - MHN partners with Collins Career Technical Center to pay the cost of a two-year associate degree in radiology with the student agreeing to complete either a three- or five-year work commitment depending upon the amount of tuition assistance earned.

Surgical Techs are part of our surgery teams, assisting nurses, surgeons and anesthesiologists. MHN will pay for employees to complete a two-year surgical tech degree through MCTC in exchange for a five-year work commitment to an MHN hospital. Classes are held on the Cabell Huntington Hospital campus.