Ramona Franklin gives nurse Marina Cadenhead a pointer during a training class in PowerPoint, a program she is learning in the People in Progress learning center at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Marina Cadenhead, RN, BSN, CNN, teaches classes on renal failure and other subjects to the nurses in the dialysis services department at St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta. When she decided to transfer her teaching materials from slides to a PowerPoint presentation, she didn't have to go far to learn the necessary computer skills.

She's been studying the process online in her spare time at work at the People in Progress Educational Center at the hospital. "I wanted to review the process before signing up for the course they offer," Cadenhead said.

St. Joseph's opened the People in Progress Educational Center in a trailer in 1991. It received the Governor's Gold Award for outstanding educational services to employees a year later.

"The initial purpose was to help our entry-level personnel crosstrain for other jobs and increase their skill and education levels so that they could move into higher positions," said Joyce Dittmer, MSN, RNBC, director of educational services.

With continuous brainstorming by the staff of two, the support of hospital administrators and response to employee suggestions, the center has grown to offer much more.

"Some of our employees have never touched a computer, so we offer basic computer courses," Dittmer said. "We also offer individual tutoring and testing for employees to earn their GED." One housekeeper learned how to read. A scheduler has taken core courses in math and science in order to enter a health care technology program. The program addresses individual needs.

Claudia Duran, an English for Speakers of Other Languages student, gets help from Manuel Echevarria, a multicultural specialist, with a vocabulary test, at the People in Progress learning center. The center can be used by employees and family members.

"We teach Spanish to staff who want to learn it and English as a second language to our employees who come from other countries," Dittmer said. "They may speak some English, but need help with vocabulary and pronunciation in order to talk to patients more effectively. We're helping them to help us offer better service."

The School at Work program allows employees to learn additional skills or earn certifications that will give them more career opportunities to move to higher levels and salaries - and they are paid while they are learning. Employees can take typing, medical terminology, telemetry or advanced cardiac life support, for example. They can get help with enrolling for benefits online, filling out insurance forms and complete their annual employee update class that covers new regulations.

Licensed practical nurses can study for the NCLEX exam, which is needed to become a registered nurse; and nurses can earn continuing education credits or prepare for certifications using the Pearl's Review database. GMAT and GRE tutorials also are available.

Nurses who are new or returning to critical care can take the 60-hour course, Essentials of Critical Care Orientation, online during work hours or get paid for completing the modules at home.

"The feedback has been great since we bought this course," Dittmer said. "The consistency in the delivery and testing mechanism is a huge benefit to our nurses, and they like being able to review at their own pace."

"The center is a big help in providing services, almost any time you need them, and the staff is so easy to work with," Cadenhead said. "Nurses work different hours each week, so I really appreciate their flexibility."

"We get to form wonderful relationships with all levels of hospital staffing," Dittmer said. "And we're pretty proud of what we've got here."