5 minute read
Granting a new direction
Nursing student Elizabeth Ali ’20 demonstrates on the pregnancy simulator in the nursing simulation lab.
By Claire Curry
Nicholas Sturm ’18 has served on the front lines of countless emergencies— as a volunteer firefighter, a paramedic and a registered nurse. The ability to work under pressure and rescue others facing lifethreatening situations is truly his calling. It’s also what inspired him to pursue a career in the health care field. “One of my aspirations is to become a flight nurse with Life Lion,” he said, referring to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s Critical Care Transport Unit. Joining the hospital’s staff as a registered nurse last fall put him one step closer toward that goal. Before accepting that job offer, he worked at Reading Hospital, a position he was offered right after completing his nursing degree at Alvernia.
“The central goal of these scholarships is to support a diverse student body to move through and graduate from our baccalaureate nursing program and provide professional nursing care in medically underserved communities.”
— Karen Thacker, professor of nursing and dean of professional programs
Sturm credits his education for setting him up for success along with a scholarship that helped make it possible by covering half of his tuition, taking the pressure off at an extremely challenging time.
“My family had a lot of health issues, and I had to help out at home and also work full time through college,” Sturm explains. “The grant was wonderful and came at a time of great need. I was able to cut some hours back [at work] and focus more on school. I am very grateful and blessed to have had that opportunity.”
Sturm is one of 46 nursing students at Alvernia who have received tuition scholarships through the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, an elite award given to a select group of institutions. The $550,000 grant, which the university began receiving in 2016, is renewable for four years. Ultimately, it will provide more than $2 million in scholarship funding to disadvantaged nursing students at Alvernia.
Professor of nursing Robyne Eisenhauer (center) works with Allison Decker ’22 in the nursing simulation lab.
“The central goal of these scholarships is to support a diverse student body to move through and graduate from our baccalaureate nursing program and provide professional nursing care in medically underserved communities,” said Karen Thacker, Ph.D., RN, CNE, professor of nursing at Alvernia and dean of professional programs. “By targeting recruitment of disadvantaged students and elevating academic initiatives and supports to ensure their success, this project will ultimately pave the way for the future of health care and bridge obvious gaps both in minority education and community health.”
“Working with the patients gives you a whole new level of understanding, patience and respect … a new level of love for people.”
— Sarah Tirado ’20
Simply put, the grant enables scholarship recipients to get a quality education so they can, in turn, deliver quality health care to those in the community who need it most. Academic and environmental disadvantages, as well as financial need, are among the criteria that determine a student’s eligibility.
“Nursing education is expensive,” said Deborah Greenawald, associate professor and nursing department chair. “There are costs above and beyond tuition, such as books, uniforms and various equipment, and the curriculum is a full-time job. It is challenging for nursing students to work while they are going to college. I’m very pleased that Alvernia has been able to secure these grants.”
HRSA scholarships were a welcome relief for fraternal twins Sarah and Marie Tirado ’20, whose nursing education meant double the tuition bill. The sisters’ scholarships not only made their nursing studies possible but also allowed them to live on campus.
“Having a college experience was important to us,” said Sarah. “Being able to live on campus helps tremendously because we have a quiet place away from home to focus.” In addition to the many benefits of residential campus life, Sarah and Marie say they have each benefited from other supports and resources offered through the nursing program, including mentoring and tutoring.
“Our instructors are excited to teach us,” Sarah said. “They want to see you succeed.” Marie agrees: “They want us to be well rounded and provide a lot of areas for us to get experience, not just hospitals. We got to see nursing from different perspectives.”
Nursing student Ettieanna Britt ’20 (front) hangs an IV in the nursing simulation lab as sophomores (from left) Sara Wallace ’22, Rebekah Machamer ’22 and Allison Decker ’22 check on the simulated patient.
Not only did the sisters study together, but they also worked together in the same psychiatric hospital as behavioral health technicians. After graduation, they plan to work in the Reading area and possibly continue in psychiatric nursing. “Working with the patients gives you a whole new level of understanding, patience and respect … a new level of love for people,” Sarah said.
Carly Yarosz ’20 decided to pursue a career in nursing a few years after she had already earned an associate degree in international studies at a community college in New York. “I was very interested in nongovernmental organization work and did research on sustainability in marginalized communities,” she explains. “I’ve also always been interested in health care, and my mom is a nurse.” Nursing was a perfect way to combine her interests into a rewarding career.
A commuter student, Yarosz juggled a demanding academic schedule while working as a health care aide at an assisted living facility before she learned about and applied for the HRSA scholarship. “I had a hard time with school-work balance,” she said. “I wasn’t a strong student in high school and need the extra time and tutoring. The scholarship allowed me to concentrate on my studies in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to because I would have been working more.”
Because the scholarship requires that students maintain high academic standards, Yarosz said that it helped her build confidence in her capabilities. “It gave me constant encouragement,” she said. “I felt like I deserved to be here. As long as I had that grant, I knew I was in the right place.”
“The grant was wonderful and came at a time of great need. I was able to cut some hours back [at work] and focus more on school. I am very grateful and blessed to have had that opportunity.”
— Nicholas Sturm ’18
In addition to learning in the classroom, Yarosz has gained skills and experience from several clinical rotations at Reading Hospital, Haven Behavioral Hospital and other local health care institutions. She was also able to participate in a two-week transcultural nursing experience in Ireland, a highlight of her college years that she said would not have been possible without the HRSA scholarship.
Yarosz is looking forward to beginning her career following graduation and has applied to a few residencies. She said that receiving the scholarship was an unexpected honor that opened the door to so many new opportunities. “I’m still in awe. Having the scholarship has taken a huge burden off my shoulders, and I am so grateful for it. Miracles really do happen!”
