Crystal Grosz went from Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School (BAVTS) student to registered nurse thanks to a career pathway developed with St. Luke’s University Health Network.
St. Luke’s launched its high school co-op program in 2021, when entry-level clinical hiring, especially for patient care assistant positions, was becoming more difficult. At the same time, leaders recognized that students in local vocational-technical health care programs were already learning many of the same foundational skills required for patient care assistant roles. The new program quickly evolved into a well-regarded workforce pipeline for local high school students interested in health care careers.
“The co-op program really shaped me into not only the person I am today, but the nurse I am today,” said Grosz, who attended BATVS while attending Northampton Area High School and then went on to work for St. Luke’s while attending St. Luke’s School of Nursing under its free tuition program. “It was a huge opportunity for me not only to get hands-on experience and see the potential of where I wanted to go, but to learn so much about patient care.”
Working first with Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School, St. Luke’s reviewed the curriculum, worked through child labor and federal regulatory requirements, and created paid, age-appropriate co-op positions for high school students. The program began with a small group of students at St. Luke’s Bethlehem Campus and has since expanded across the Network, now hosting about 100 students each year.
Students, generally ages 16 to 18, are competitively screened and must meet St. Luke’s hiring requirements. Once accepted, they complete customized training and orientation before being assigned to clinical units. Students typically work several days a week during their technical-school time, are supported by preceptors and managers, and receive real-time coaching as they gain hands-on experience caring for patients in a professional hospital setting.
“The most important piece is that this has been such an incredible recruitment pipeline for our organization,” said Georgina Winfield, Network Director of Volunteer and Staffing Services at St. Luke’s. “It’s so refreshing to see the students excited to have those real-world and real-life experiences, and they’re willing to do it at 16 and 17 years old. It’s really exciting to see that growth and maturation from day one until they’re graduating.”
The program’s results show the value of that early investment. St. Luke’s set an initial goal of retaining 50 percent of co-op students after high school graduation. The program exceeded that mark in its first year and has continued to provide a steady stream of young employees who are prepared for continued work and education in health care.
For students, the co-op experience can be the first step toward a long-term career as it did for Grosz. After graduating high school in 2022, she was offered a full-time patient care assistant position, enrolled in St. Luke’s School of Nursing, passed the NCLEX, and is now a full-time oncology medical-surgical registered nurse.
As students near graduation, St. Luke’s Talent Acquisition team works directly with them to discuss future plans and connect them with employment opportunities that fit their education schedules. Many students continue into post-high school nursing or health care programs while remaining connected to St. Luke’s.
The program also supports local vocational-technical schools by giving students academic credit and real-world clinical experience during the school day. For St. Luke’s, it strengthens staffing in high-demand areas while introducing young people to the rewards and responsibilities of patient care – one student, one patient and one career opportunity at a time.
