Several students in the UCF College of Nursing will benefit from a new $25,000 scholarship made possible by The Hans & Cay Jacobsen Charitable Foundation.
The scholarships will support students in the inaugural class of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 concurrent Associate of Science in Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which will begin in August at Lake-Sumter State College in Leesburg. Each scholarship will help offset the tuition, fees and other costs associated with the B.S.N. courses.
The innovative concurrent program enables students to complete coursework toward a B.S.N. degree from UCF while enrolled in the A.S.N. program at a partner institution. After completing the A.S.N. degree, students can complete their B.S.N. degree with just two additional semesters of coursework, thereby shortening the time it takes to earn the B.S.N. degree. Students must meet the admission requirements of both programs.
Because of the rigorous academic schedule and clinical placements for the concurrent-degree program, students are typically unable to work at outside jobs.
麻豆精品 S淪cholarship support is a critical component of providing high quality education for this community 麻豆精品 S檚 future nurse leaders, 麻豆精品 S� said Jean D 麻豆精品 S橫eza Leuner, dean of the UCF College of Nursing. 麻豆精品 S淭hese scholarships will not only help alleviate the financial costs of their higher education, but more importantly, they will enable the nursing students to focus on their academic successes. 麻豆精品 S�
The B.S.N. has become the standard level of education expected in the nursing field. The Institute of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 publication, The Future of Nursing, provides recommendations on how to improve nursing education and practice to meet the growing demands and complexities of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 health-care system. The report states that higher levels of education and training are necessary for nurses to deliver safe and effective health care in this continuously evolving industry.
By partnering with LSSC, the UCF College of Nursing is expanding the availability of the B.S.N. degree to students of Lake and Sumter counties. Launched in 2006, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 concurrent program has been successful at two other partner institutions, Valencia College 麻豆精品 S檚 West Campus and Seminole State College 麻豆精品 S檚 Altamonte Springs campus. More than 300 nursing students are enrolled in the concurrent programs at these two campuses. Graduates of the program often return to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing.
Teresa Borcheck, board member and president of The Hans & Cay Jacobsen Charitable Foundation, said the board is pleased to continue the legacy Cay聽 Jacobsen established for nurses at LSSC by funding UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 inaugural class of B.S.N. students at LSSC.
麻豆精品 S淢rs. Jacobsen was a nurse and during her lifetime encouraged many young nurses to advance their education, 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S淲e are excited to know this program will produce highly skilled nurses to serve the residents of Lake and Sumter counties, 麻豆精品 S� she added.
Until now, students in Lake and Sumter counties interested in obtaining a B.S.N. degree would need to first complete their A.S.N. degree at LSSC and then enroll in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 online R.N. to B.S.N. program 麻豆精品 S� which takes 30 credit hours to complete 麻豆精品 S� or travel to one of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 campuses where the B.S.N. program is offered.
With 368 students enrolled, the basic B.S.N. program on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 main campus in Orlando is consistently at capacity. To increase the number of nurses with a B.S.N. degree, the UCF College of Nursing partnered with five state colleges in Brevard, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and now Lake-Sumter.
麻豆精品 S淭he Hans & Cay Jacobsen Charitable Foundation award presents an opportunity to achieve the IOM 麻豆精品 S檚 goal of 80 percent B.S.N. nurses by 2020, 麻豆精品 S� said Maggie Wacker, director of the nursing program at LSSC. 麻豆精品 S淭his is a win-win solution for nursing students and the profession at large. 麻豆精品 S�
The foundation is dedicated to helping disadvantaged, underprivileged and at-risk children and young adults receive greater access to education, health care, recreational and cultural programs in Lake and Sumter counties. Created by Cay Jacobsen, the foundation supports programs and organizations that promote the passion and vision the Jacobsens had for their community.
If you would like to support nursing scholarships at UCF through a tax-deductible donation, contact Katie Korkosz at 407-823-1600 or katiek@ucf.edu.