The
Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society's strong desire is to
ensure that each facility is led by an administrator who possesses
not only excellent management skills but who can also serve with both
compassion and spiritual leadership.
In order to find talented people with these qualities, the Society began an
administrative internship program in the early 1970s. Since that time, the
program has continued to expand and has received the highest recommendations
from state licensure boards throughout the United States.
The Good Samaritan internship is normally a 5-6 month experience at an internship
site selected by the Society. The intern is both a student and an employee
of the Society, engaged as an "apprentice" in the Administrator- In-Training
(AIT) program to grow and develop as a professional.
The focuses of the internship experience are both clinical experience in a
nursing home environment and intensive classroom instruction. The intern is
exposed to general long-term care topics; Federal and State regulations; and
specific Good Samaritan philosophies, policies, and procedures.
The internship is completed under the guidance of a licensed and experienced
preceptor, with the Society's Director, Administrators' Services & Education
conducting site visits and providing overall direction for the program. Upon
successful completion of the internship, the intern is assigned to a Good Samaritan
facility as an administrator.
Internship Training:
The intern will complete some 1,000 scheduled hours of on-site activities at
the selected training site. Included will be these components:
- General Administration
- Home- & Community- Based Services
- Business Office/Financial Management
- Health Information Management
- Human Resources/Staff Development
- Corporate Compliance
- Procurement/Inventory
- Project Development
- Strategic and Operational Planning
- Public Policy
- Leadership & Mission Effectiveness
- Resident Services
- Learning Leadership
- Environmental Services
- Resource Development
- Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement
- Risk Management
In each area, the intern will complete required tasks and reading assignments
and will have opportunity for evaluation and feedback. The overall
goal is to provide a broad base of knowledge about the facility's operation,
which will help the intern develop his/her unique style of administration.
Academic Coursework:
Concurrent with the on-site training, the intern will (if necessary) complete
required coursework at one of several colleges or universities to fulfill degree
or state licensure requirements. The cost of required courses will be borne by
the intern.
Workshops:
During the course of the internship, the intern will attend various workshops
at the Society's National Campus. A spiritual workshop will provide an understanding
of the Administrator's role as it relates to being the spiritual leader of the
facility. A Human Resources /Quality workshop will provide a broad overview of
Society's commitment to quality through effective leadership.
A financial workshop will acquaint the intern with the Society's accounting and
financial management systems.
Stipend and Benefits:
Good Samaritan interns are considered an employee of the Society and receives
a stipend. In addition, they receive a complete benefit package including life
insurance, major medical/dental insurance, disability insurance, travel insurance,
pension, and paid time off.
Internship Qualifications:
Persons applying to participate in the Good Samaritan Society's internship program
must meet these prerequisites:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Coursework or experience in health care, business administration,
or gerontology desired
- Strong desire to serve the elderly within a Christian framework
- Ability to and willingness to relocate to any of the Good Samaritan facilities
located in 24 states
- Be an active member of a mainline Christian church
