the torch Spring 2016, Issue 1 | Page 11

FEATURE Making dreams come true through nursing scholarships Th e A d va n c i n g N u r s i n g Excellence (ANE) scholarship program provides salary stipends for current Baylor Scott & White Health – North Texas employees who want to fulfill dreams of becoming baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses or further their nursing skills through advanced degrees. This program provides an answer for the challenge these hardworking, ambitious individuals face: they can’t afford to quit working full-time to pu r s u e a d d it ion a l e duc at ion opportunities. “This scholarship program allows Baylor to continue to invest in one of the most important assets we have, our nurses,” said Remy Tolentino, MSN, R.N., NEA-BC, vice president of Baylor’s Nursing Workforce and Leadership Development. Since the program’s inception in 2009, 51 employee scholars have completed their degrees. In order to receive an “Excelling in Nursing Services” designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a large percentage of highly-educated registered nurses on full-time staff is required. Studies show that increasing the number of bachelor-degreed nurses by just 10 percent can improve patient outcomes and decrease mortality rates. In 2013, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas received recertification of its Magnet Award for “Excellence in Nursing Services” from the ANCC. Baylor Dallas joins a small group of fewer than 2 percent Dear Mr. Clark, Thanks to you, my dream came true! I want you to know that without your help I could not make it. Without your generosity, I could not study for nursing school and work full time with a family to take care of. This scholarship allowed me to work part time and still receive my full time salary and full benefits! I am very happy in my career and personal life. I became a nurse in May 2014 and since then I work in the surgery department at Baylor Grapevine. This past August, after 6 years, I finally had the opportunity to go visit my family in Brazil and for that too, I give thanks to you.  You are part of my daily prayers and there are no words to describe how much I am blessed you gave me the opportunity to succeed in life and provide my family a better future. Your support to this scholarship program changes lives! I am a proof of this support! Respectfully, Ana Wilson of hospitals nationwide to achieve the re-designation. Baylor Scott & White Health – North Texas is home to six Magnet®designated hospitals, the highest level of recognition a hospital can receive for nursing. For patients, this means their care is provided by nursing staff that truly exemplifies excellence in nursing. In January 2016, Baylor Scott & White Health nurse leaders, former ANE scholars, and donors and supporters of the program honored recently graduated ANE scholars for their hard work, dedication and achievements and celebrated 10 newly selected ANE scholars for 2016. In turn, the scholars were able to share their personal appreciation for those who made achievement of their nursing degrees possible. One ANE scholar graduate put it best in a letter she recently sent her donor, pictured above. Due to generous donor support, the number of scholarships to nursing scholars through this program has grown each year. For more information on how you can support an ANE scholar, contact Cynthia Krause at 214.820.7928 or Cynthia.Krause@ BSWHealth.org. 11