Zero-Interest Loan Helped MacKenzie Pivot to a Radiography Career
MacKenzie
NJ Pay it Forward participant
NJ Pay it Forward participant
![A person wearing blue medical scrubs and white shoes stands indoors near a staircase and wooden door, with hands in pockets.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Katie-750x1000.jpg")
For Katie, the MA Career Ladder Program Opened the Door to Nursing
Workforce & Education Investments, Workforce & Economic Mobility
Katie has worked at Vinfen, a community health services provider, for more than a decade, starting as an outreach worker and later joining the One Care team, where she collaborated with nurses daily. “I’ve always wanted to do nursing, so when this opportunity came, I wanted to seek it out,” Katie said.
Through the MA Career Ladder Program, Katie enrolled in a 10-month Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program at North Shore Community College. The program allowed her to reduce her work hours while continuing to earn a paycheck, making it possible to pursue her dream without leaving Vinfen. “If I wasn’t able to reduce my hours, I wouldn’t have done this program. I would have had to leave the company,” Katie explained.
Before she applied to school and throughout her studies, Katie received support from program partner JVS and Vinfen. JVS provided tutoring to help Katie prepare for the entrance exam and coaching, and Vinfen offered flexibility required for labs, clinical rotations, and classes. “They’ve been really good since the beginning—anything I wanted to do to succeed, they accommodated,” Katie said.
Once Katie graduates and becomes an LPN, the impact on her career will be significant: “All the LPNs at my work make like $38 an hour. I make only $26, so it would be a good $12 increase,” she said.
How Employers Benefit
Programs like MA Career Ladder don’t just help employees—they strengthen organizations. By supporting Katie’s training, Vinfen retains a dedicated team member while filling critical nursing roles internally. “My supervisors were on board before I even asked—they wanted me to do this. That support made all the difference,” Katie said. For employers, this model can help reduce turnover and build loyalty.
Looking ahead, Katie plans to start an RN program as soon as she’s eligible. For now, she’s grateful for the chance to advance without sacrificing financial stability. “This program makes it possible to move up without leaving the company. That’s huge.”
Katie was compensated for her time spent talking to Social Finance.