HARLINGEN — Some Texas State Technical College Nursing students recently learned about potential careers that await them after they graduate.
Representatives from Harlingen Medical Center discussed the company’s job outlook, culture, employee turnover rate, tuition reimbursement and other key topics.
“Our hospital employs more than 600 people for professions such as electricians, radiology technicians, lab technicians, licensed vocational nurses and registered nurses,” said Wesley Robinson, chief nursing officer for Harlingen Medical Center. “Working here requires professionalism, compassion, patience, resilience and a commitment to safety. We want people who care.”
He said the most significant issue facing health care is a shortage of nurses.
“The answer is to bring more individuals into the nursing profession,” he said. “TSTC does this by graduating nurses who have spent serious time at patients’ bedsides. Our hospital is blessed to have a full-time staff who can invest in new nurses. We have a reputation for excellence, and we are raising the bar to ensure Harlingen Medical Center is the best place to receive care and is a great place to work.”
Ruben Mireles, human resources director for Harlingen Medical Center, talked about the hospital’s low employee turnover rate.
“Recently in January, that rate was at 2.2 percent,” he said. “That means we are doing an excellent job of retaining both types of nurses. We also encourage our employees to further their education. We do offer tuition reimbursement.”
Adrienne Reyes, TSTC’s Nursing program director in Harlingen, said the nursing profession allows individuals to choose any field of medicine in which to work.
“The availability of job vacancies is what makes our partnership with Harlingen Medical Center valuable,” she said. “Our program produces registered nurses to fill the industry need. For this employer spotlight, our students asked about pay rates, specialty units that are hiring, nurse-to-patient ratios, what to expect in orientation, and insurance benefits.”
Jennifer Munoz, who is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree, said she was thrilled to hear about tuition reimbursement.
“I’m excited for the career opportunities that are available beyond an RN,” she said. “My oldest sister was an RN and now is a nurse practitioner. I’ve been a licensed vocational nurse for 18 years. Her drive motivated me to apply for the Nursing program at TSTC.”
Benjamin Aranjon is also pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in the program. He said Harlingen Medical Center’s high employee retention rate appealed to him.
“That means the hospital is doing great things to maintain staff happiness,” he said. “I’ve worked there before, and I enjoyed it. I left because I am furthering my education.”
Aranjon added that his current training makes him a great candidate for employment.
“The amount of critical thinking that our program instructors implement complements what Harlingen Medical Center is seeking,” he said. “I feel that my future is promising.”
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing at its Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses. A Vocational Nursing certificate of completion is offered at the Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses.
For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
