May 29, 2007
CONTACT: Ken Ma
Office of Public Affairs
(954) 262-5354 Office
(954) 830-4177 Cell
kennma@nova.edu
Gale Woolley
NSU Nursing Program Director
W: 954-262-1973
woolley@nsu.nova.edu
Baptist Health South Florida offers Nova Southeastern University
80 Nursing Scholarships
Miami - FL. - Baptist Health South Florida and Nova Southeastern University (NSU) joined forces this month to reduce the region’s nursing shortage.
“This strong partnership will provide a steady pipeline of nurses for South Florida, especially Miami-Dade County,” said Diane C. Whitehead, R.N., M.S.N., Ed.D, NSU’s Associate Dean of Nursing.
Baptist Health is offering NSU 80 nursing scholarships for entry-level students who are pursing a Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree at NSU’s nursing school. The offer aims to educate and increase the number of nurses to help meet South Florida’s nursing shortage and provide nurses for the future.
The scholarships will be awarded to students who have at least 30 college credits, and are accepted at NSU’s nursing program. They will be given to new nursing students each year. Recipients will be able to complete their BSN degree in 27 months. After graduation, they will be required to work at one of Baptist Health South Florida’s hospitals for the next three years as part of their obligation.
“The bachelor’s degree is the new standard in nursing and Nova Southeastern University provides the latest cutting-edge knowledge as part of its curriculum,” said Kathryn Fisk, Baptist Health’s vice president of employee services and human resources. “We are delighted to have NSU working with us to offer a bachelor’s degree program for our aspiring nurses.”
Fisk said the quality of NSU’s program is reflected in the 100 percent pass rate of its students on the August 2006 national licensure exam (NCLEX-RN), which the entire NSU nursing class passed on their first attempt.
“We are grateful to Baptist Health for giving deserving students the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree, and then to work at Baptist Health South Florida, renowned as both a provider of quality health care to the community and as an excellent employer,” Whitehead said.
NSU will offer classes at South Miami Hospital, which is convenient for south Miami-Dade County residents and the Baptist Health hospital network. South Miami Hospital was named a “Magnet Hospital” for Excellence in Nursing through 2008 by the American Nurses Association.
Whitehead said that NSU’s nursing program is accredited by both the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The program, which was launched in 2003, has expanded its offerings to include the campus-based RN to BSN program, the online BSN and the new online MSN.
Interested students are asked to apply to NSU online at
www.nova.edu/nursing or call Gale Woolley, Ed.D., A.R.N.P., program director, at 954-262-1973. Those who are accepted to NSU’s nursing program, are eligible to apply for the Baptist Health scholarships. The inaugural class will begin August 27, 2007, with a second class starting in January 2008.
About Nova Southeastern University: Nova Southeastern University is the largest independent institution of higher education in the Southeast, and it is the 6th largest independent institution nationally. NSU awards associate's, bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, doctoral, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. The university is comprised of undergraduate, graduate and professional schools of osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, optometry, allied health and nursing, medical sciences, dental medicine, law, marine biology and oceanography, business and entrepreneurship, computer and information sciences, humanities, conflict resolution, family therapy, interdisciplinary studies, education, psychology and counseling, and family programs.
About Baptist Health South Florida: It is the largest not-for-profit health care organization in the region. Affiliates of the Baptist Health include Baptist Hospital of Miami, Baptist Children's Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, Doctors Hospital and Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute. Baptist Health also offers a variety of health care services, such as outpatient diagnostic and treatment facilities and home health care.
