thenursingschool
Nursing Grants to Solve Shortage in South Carolina
June 25th, 2008 by admin
Columbia, SC – A top-rank organization in this part of the country is giving scholarship grants to some 30 students to solve the shortage of nursing recently experience across the state. This dilemma is encountered as in the past years there were large numbers of professional nurses who retired from the service including the reported failure of the state to campaign for more enrollees in colleges and universities where nursing professions are offered. The BlueCross BlueShield Foundation of South Carolina will be granting $1.5 million to be used for the establishment of nursing scholarships through the South Carolina Nurses Foundation. The scholarship grants will be awarded to some 30 students who are envisioned to become registered nurses in the future to serve the people across the state, it was learned. South Carolina is very serious in solving the nursing shortage program by creating new breed of professional nurses through this scholarship grants. Colleges and universities in this country are now encouraged to hold higher degrees in nursing with a minimum of at least associate degree programs, baccalaureate and doctorate degree programs. Harvey Galloway, executive director of the foundation said he hopes the new scholarship program will entice more applicants in the future to pursue graduate degree in nursing. He said the nurses as members of the health care professionals are very important part of maintaining the health of the people. Thus, encouraging students to take up nursing is also very vital so that the shortage problem currently experienced will not happen again in the future.
South Carolina Nurses Foundation will administer the granting of scholarships to qualified applicants. The said non-profit foundation has existed since 1974. Unlike the student loan programs, this grant will not be paid back by the students after graduation. The first 30 batch of nursing scholars are envisioned to become members of the teaching force in colleges and universities to continue the program of strengthening the nursing profession in this part of the country, so as not to repeat the same shortage in nurses. They shall be prepared for the faculty role so that they will become successful leaders in the coming years by imparting their knowledge to others.