Lipscomb, St. Thomas partner to bring more Hispanic nurses to Middle Tennessee
Janel Shoun |
Both organizations cite the critical nature of the nursing shortage in America as impetus for the partnership. According to The Tennessee Center for Nursing, the demand for nurses in Tennessee is expected to exceed supply by more than 9,500 over the coming years. The nursing shortage is particularly acute in the Hispanic/Latino population and the lack of financial resources poses a significant barrier to entering nursing programs for these students. While Tennessee is experiencing significant growth in the Hispanic/Latino community, only 23 of nearly 65,000 nurses in Tennessee were Hispanic according to the most recently published data.
“Hispanics account for approximately 14.2 percent of the total U.S. population yet Hispanic nurses represent only 1.8 percent of the U.S. RNs,” said Geri Reeves, Lipscomb Nursing Program Director. “There is indeed a need for nurses to deliver culturally competent nursing care. Improvements in health care outcomes among underrepresented patients depend on it. Lipscomb is very pleased to partner with Saint Thomas Health Services in helping to address this need in our nation’s health care system.”
The Saint Thomas Health Services Nursing Advantage Scholarships address two contributing reasons for the national nursing shortage – the lack of adequate facilities and faculty in existing nursing schools and financial barriers for interested minority students. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that more than 41,500 qualified baccalaureate program applicants were turned away in 2005 because of issues related to facilities, budget and faculty shortage. As part of the scholarship program each student will be assigned a preceptor to serve as a resource and role model in areas of clinical practice.
“When we have Hispanic nurses taking care of our Hispanic population, we are culturally and linguistically sensitive to the needs of the patients we serve, inevitably leading to higher quality care,” said Nancy Anness, RN, and Executive Director of the Saint Thomas Family Health Clinics which, in two locations, treat more than 25,000 patients each year, mostly Hispanic.
“We have such a shortage of Hispanic nurses; we really need these scholarships to care for our community. Since Spanish is the predominant foreign language spoken in this area, these nurses are needed to serve those in our midst.”
“We are joining with Lipscomb University to provide more opportunities for deserving students to fulfill their calling to a career in nursing,” said Jim Houser, President and CEO of Saint Thomas Health Services. “Our mission is to provide spiritually centered, holistic care that sustains and improves the health of our community and, by working with Lipscomb to educate new nurses, we are achieving our mission in a very meaningful way.”
“Saint Thomas Health Services is to be commended for its response to health care challenges faced by the Hispanic and Latino populations, especially for their establishment of clinics to serve these patients,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry. “Lipscomb views this as an opportunity to make a difference. By partnering with area-wide resources and partners, the university can have an impact on the quality of life for this underserved population and add value to our community.”
Lipscomb’s nursing program offers a unique opportunity for Hispanic students: a curriculum that blends five semesters of outstanding faith-based academics with three semesters of clinical educational experiences at Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing. Scholarship recipients will complete at least one additional clinical rotation at Saint Thomas Health Services hospitals and will pledge to work at Saint Thomas for two years upon graduation.
Eligible applicants planning to begin college in fall 2008 must apply for the scholarship by March 1, 2008. Applicants must have applied to attend Lipscomb University, have a 3.00 GPA and a minimum ACT score of 21 or a minimum SAT score of 1,000.
For more information on the Saint Thomas Health Services Nursing Advantage Scholarships, contact Lipscomb University admissions office at 615.966.1776 or Robbin Kimball, STHS Nurse Recruiter, at 615.222.4678.
Saint Thomas Health Services is a faith-based ministry with 7,200 associates serving Middle Tennessee. Saint Thomas Health Services consists of four hospitals: Baptist and Saint Thomas Hospitals in Nashville, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville. Saint Thomas Health Services is a part of Ascension Health, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States.
Lipscomb University delivers a complete liberal arts education characterized by an integration of Christian faith and practice with academic excellence, preparing each student spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically for life and eternity.
Students at Lipscomb University can earn a bachelor’s degree in 90 fields of study, a master’s degree in 22 fields of study and a doctoral degree in pharmacy as of fall 2008.