Scholarships Available to Strengthen Nursing Workforce on the Suncoast

The Suncoast Nursing Action Coalition (SNAC) is offering up to $150,000 in scholarships to encourage more nurses and prospective nursing students to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and ensure safe, high quality nursing care in the Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee and Desoto counties region.

Although decades of research validates the link between BSN-prepared nurses and better patient outcomes, roughly half of all nurses graduating today are becoming licensed RNs through faster, more accessible associate-degree or diploma programs to offset a persistent nursing shortage and escalating employer needs. In the midst of a persistent healthcare staffing shortage, nurses play a pivotal role safeguarding patients across all hospital and healthcare settings – inpatient, outpatient and home health care. Encouraging more nurses to remain or return to school and earn bachelor’s degrees better prepares them for the challenges in today’s complex healthcare environment.

“Investing in nursing education is one of the best things a community can do to ensure the health of our community,” said Jan Mauck, former Chief Nursing Officer at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and co-chair of SNAC, a regional coalition of healthcare, academic and community leaders committed to increasing the number of BSN-prepared and higher-degreed nurses in the region. “Fortunately, we live in a community willing to support this scholarship program and help ensure a highly prepared nursing workforce.”

This year, the Manatee Community Foundation contributed $100,000 to encourage more nurses and nursing students to earn their BSNs in locally accredited nursing programs, with hopes that they offset the region’s nursing shortage by putting down roots and continue working in the community after they graduate.

Since 2016, SNAC has awarded $264,000 in nursing scholarships to 72 local recipients. The scholarships are directed primarily to local nurses and nursing students pursuing BSN degrees. Over the years, SNAC has earmarked eight scholarships to nurses pursuing doctoral degrees because more nursing professors are needed to expand the capacity of local nursing schools.

The deadline to apply for the scholarships is March 1, 2020. To be eligible, applicants must live or work at a medical facility within the SNAC region (Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee, & Desoto), or be a graduate of a high school from one of those counties. Applicants also must:

• Have submitted an application for acceptance to an accredited nursing bachelor’s program. 
• Plan to be a full or part-time student.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Obtain at least one recommendation from an employer or faculty/instructor.

Recipients are chosen by the SNAC Selection Committee; scholarships are approved and administered by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Foundations supporting SNAC include: Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Patterson Foundation, Burruss Foundation, Florida Blue Foundation, Lela D. Jackson Foundation, Janice S. Kelly Memorial Foundation, Rita B. Lamere Memorial Foundation, and Sarah Greer Mayer Fund of the Community Foundation, Manatee Community Foundation, Charlotte Community Foundation, and CareerEdge. 

For information about SNAC, visit snac4fl.org. You can apply for the scholarships online at: https://www.cfsarasota.org/students/scholarship-opportunities