Berlin, Md.
– Atlantic General Hospital recently awarded nurses Mary Mullins and Kelly
Lund the James G. and Nancy W. Barrett Associate RN to BSN Scholarship.
This scholarship was recently added to the Barrett scholarship program
to support the hospital’s efforts to increase the number of bachelor’s
degree-prepared nurses on staff.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended that 80 percent of direct
care nurses have a Bachelor of Science (BSN) or higher level degree by
the year 2020. With this in mind, the Atlantic General Hospital Professional
Nurse Council established a goal to increase the number advance degree
prepared nurses by 2% every year until 2020 when the 80 percent benchmark
is reached.
Recent studies suggest higher levels of nurse education are linked to better
patient outcomes. According to a study published in the Medical Care Journal
(October 2014), a 10% increase in the BSN workforce reduced the odds of
patient mortality by 10.9 percent.
However, there are challenges to building a more educated workforce, including
access to advanced nursing education programs in the region and the cost
of higher learning.
A hospital survey conducted at Atlantic General Hospital found that 36
percent of AGH nurses identified financial barriers as the reason for
not pursuing a higher degree. The
Associate RN-BSN Scholarship addresses the financial barrier by offering full tuition assistance and purchase of books to qualifying nursing associates
who are pursuing an advanced degree in nursing.
Atlantic General Hospital registered nurses Mary Mullins and Kelly Lund
both were awarded the RN to BSN scholarship to obtain their bachelor’s degrees.
Mullins, an RN with Atlantic General Hospital for almost two years and
previous recipient of the RN scholarship shares, “The RN experience
was invaluable…I want to continue my education and look ahead toward
my future goal of becoming a nurse manager at Atlantic General Hospital.”
Lund has been an RN with Atlantic General Hospital in the Intensive Care
Unit for over a year. She adds, “My passion for nursing and drive
toward higher education has led me to pursue an advanced degree.”
Both desired to further their education to advance in their nursing careers,
but also to stay current with best practices and provide the best possible
care to their patients.
Atlantic General Hospital is committed to its nurses and their professional
development.
“The James G. and Nancy W. Barrett Scholarship program is a great
benefit not only to our associates, but the community as a whole. The
number of scholarships awarded is dependent on how well the fund is supported.
It is an investment in the caregivers of our community, and we will be
continuously working toward developing the fund to support our nurses
in their pursuit of higher education,” said Colleen Wareing, vice
president patient care services at Atlantic General Hospital
To learn more about the James G. and Nancy W. Barrett Scholarship programs
at Atlantic General Hospital please visithttp://www.atlanticgeneral.org/scholarships.
About Atlantic General Hospital
Atlantic General Hospital has been providing quality health care to the
residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset (Md.) and Sussex (Del.) Counties
since May 1993. Built by the commitment and generosity of a dedicated
community, the hospital’s state-of-the-art facility in Berlin, Md.
combines old-fashioned personal attention with the latest in technology
and services. Atlantic General Health System, its network of more than
25 primary care provider and specialist offices, care for residents and
visitors throughout the region. For more information about Atlantic General
Hospital, visit
www.atlanticgeneral.org.
About the Institute of Medicine ( IOM)
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an independent, nonprofit organization
that works outside of government to provide unbiased and authoritative
advice to decision makers and the public. Established in 1970, the IOM
is the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, which was chartered
under President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Nearly 150 years later, the National
Academy of Sciences has expanded into what is collectively known as the
National Academies, which comprises the
National Academy of Sciences, the
National Academy of Engineering, the National Research Council, and the IOM.
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