CRONA
Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement
Area Representatives and Membership Meetings
November 3 and 5, 2009

Paid Educational Hours

CRONA members enjoy paid education hours as one of the benefits negotiated with the hospitals.
Unfortunately, many of us don’t use those education hours to the fullest extent possible. By not doing so we forego thousands of dollars in additional wages every year. Each of us must earn 30 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years simply to maintain our California nursing license. To earn those hours we have to put in the time either in home study, at conferences, or studying for a degree/ certification of one kind or another. Why not get paid to do it?

Eligibility

The number of educational hours available to a full time (40 hour/week) CRONA nurse is 40 per year. That number is adjusted according to commitment for part time nurses. At SHC Relief “C” and “D” are eligible to use educational time on a pro rated hourly basis (as opposed to commitment). At LPCH: Relief “A” and “B” are eligible for 8 hours of educational time per year. Relief “C” is eligible for 16 hours of educational time per year.

Procedure for Obtaining Educational Hours

1. All home study courses need to be pre approved at SHC and LPCH.
2. At SHC courses other than home study need to be approved 30 days in advance.
3. At LPCH courses other than home study can be approved before or after completion, but why take the chance? CRONA suggests that you get pre approval.
4. Discuss with your manager whether the education hours can be taken as part of your commitment or if they will be taken over your scheduled commitment.
5. Have your manager place the pay code “EDU” on your timecard (grey bar), and enter the number
   of hours spent taking the course up to 8 in a day.
6. Check your pay stub to be sure you were paid for the educational hours.

Other Considerations

1. Education hours are not subject to overtime premiums or shift differentials and cannot be denied or shifted to other pay periods based on a claim that it will “put you over 40 hours for the week and into overtime”
2. At SHC any educational hours denied in one year may be rolled over into the next year. At LPCH up to 16 hours can be rolled over into the next year. Email your manager to document that hours were denied and will be rolled over.
3. Education classes required by the hospital will only be charged as education hours if the nurse wants CEUs. Otherwise they will come out of your units’ account.
4. If you get approval for a program that takes less than your full shift you may take the remaining hours as PTO or “A” time (at LPCH) or as PTO ,”A” or educational time (at SHC).
5. Start taking your educational hours now! Do not wait until July or August!

For further information please email crona@crona.org.

Paul Cole R.N., Nurse Advocate
On behalf of the CRONA Executive Board