Nursing Scholarships

Fostering Nurse Education and Growth

Support this Initiative

At Virtua Health, nurses are the heart of our health system. They play a vital role, caring for patients through nearly every aspect of their health care journey.

Over the past several years, the nursing profession has experienced significant shortages affecting health care systems nationwide. From a large number of nurses entering retirement, to increased stress and burnout, and nursing school faculty shortages, combined with a global health pandemic, the demand to nurture quality nurses is more important than ever.

Virtua’s ability to continue providing our patients and community with the high quality, compassionate care they deserve relies on the strength of our nursing staff. We also recognize that addressing health, educational, and social inequities for our current and future workforce is foundational and strongly aligned with our mission to build healthy communities. Those who choose the path of nursing are fulfilling a calling to care for others and heal the world around them. It is crucial that we provide a system of support for nurses to reach their educational goals and grow the nursing workforce of the future.

Through philanthropy, our generous donors can fund academic scholarships that will reduce financial barriers for students at Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and nurses at Virtua who are continuing their education. Together, we can do even more to support nursing students, develop our professional nurses, and address the nursing shortage in our community. By supporting just one nurse’s educational goals, you can have a lasting impact on thousands of people whose lives that nurse will go on to touch!

Together, we can support the future of nursing!

  • Nurturing School of Nursing Students

    Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing is dedicated to providing a learner-centered environment that develops competent, compassionate, and knowledgeable professional nurses for entry into practice.

    Thanks to the kindness of many philanthropic partners, Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing students have the opportunity to apply for financial assistance through several academic scholarships. Since 2016, Virtua’s donors have provided more than 75 students with scholarships toward their nursing education.

    • Franklin Andaloro Strive for Excellence Scholarship
    • Linda Dambrowski Pay-it-Forward Scholarship
    • The Doris M. and Edward J. Damm Memorial Scholarship
    • The Randle Nursing Education Scholarship
    • The Eileen Rickershauser Memorial Scholarship
    • The Kathy Shiveler Award for Excellence in Clinical Nursing
    • The Bill and Kathie Stone Scholarship
    • Linda Wray Scholarship

  • Supporting the Educational Goals of Virtua Nurses

    Virtua’s nurses are highly regarded by our community for the high quality, compassionate care and safety they provide.

    We recognize that the demands of the nursing profession are increasingly complex and the stakes in caring for patients are incredibly high. Supporting the educational goals of nurses throughout their careers is essential. At Virtua, we are proud to invest in our nursing staff by offering every employed nurse tuition assistance.

    Through the Nursing Scholarship fund, our generous donors have provided financial support to Virtua nurses since 2016. Since that time, more than 100 Virtua nurses have received scholarships to support their pursuit of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees at excellent academic institutions.

Impact of Philanthropy

We are grateful to our donors whose kindness and generosity helps to support our nurses educational goals.

41

scholarships given to Virtua nurses and Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing students in 2023.

$550000+

in scholarship aid given to support nursing education since 2016.

Notes of Gratitude

“Growing up with a younger sibling with epilepsy inspired me to pursue a career in nursing. The Randle Nursing Education Scholarship not only helped with my tuition, it kept me on track to becoming the first nurse in my family. I am forever grateful to Drs. Troy and Melody Randle for their kindness and to my family and friends for their continuous support throughout my journey.”

– Rachel Williams, RN
Graduate, Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing

Notes of Gratitude

“The contributions of Virtua’s donors make it possible for nurses to reach the full potential of their abilities. By working toward a master’s degree, I hope to achieve a career as a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. Not only has the scholarship alleviated much of the burden associated with pursuing an advanced degree, but also it has further motivated me to commit wholeheartedly to my educational goals.”

– Katie Schaut, BSN
ER Nurse, Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital