02/25/16  Portland, Ore.

Grant is part of a national initiative to support 1,000 nurse scholars in all 50 States

Portland, Ore., February 25, 2016 –OHSU School of Nursing today announced that with a new  matching grant of $70,000 from the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, it will fund the scholarship of 7 doctoral nursing students in 2016. As a recipient of the Jonas Center grant, OHSU School of Nursing is part of a national effort to stem the faculty shortage and prepare the next generation of nurses –critical as a clinical nurse shortage is anticipated just as an aging population requires care.

The OHSU School of Nursing Jonas Scholars join more than 1,000 future nurse educators and leaders at 140 universities across all 50 states supported by Jonas Center programs, the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholars Program and Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program (JVHP). These scholarships support nurses pursuing PhDs and DNPs, the terminal degrees in the field. The Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare has chosen Oregon Health and Science University Hartford Center (Grantee) to participate in the Jonas Veterans Scholars program with a $10,000 grant to support one PhD Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar.

Pat Berry, Ph.D., R.N., A.C.H.P.N, F.P.C.N., F.A.A.N., Director of the Hartford Foundation at the OHSU School of Nursing says of this award, "We are grateful for the Jonas Center's continuing commitment to the rapidly growing needs of aging Americans. The academic leadership development activities associated with this award are especially critical for the next generation of nurse educators and researchers."

In addition, The Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare has chosen Oregon Health and Science University (Grantee) to participate in the Jonas Veterans Scholars program with a $60,000 grant to support three PhD Jonas Nurse Leader Scholars, two PhD Jonas Veterans Healthcare Scholars, and one DNP Jonas Veterans Healthcare Scholar with a $10,000 scholarship each.

Peggy Wros, Ph.D. Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Diversity, OHSU School of Nursing says, "Through this opportunity, Jonas scholars not only receive financial support, but are engaged in a national network of future leaders. The OHSU School of Nursing is proud to participate in this program that benefits our doctoral students."

As the nation's leading philanthropic funder of graduate nursing education, the Jonas Center is addressing the critical need for qualified nursing faculty. U.S. nursing schools turned away nearly 70,000 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2014 due in large part to an insufficient number of faculty[i]. Further, nearly two-thirds of registered nurses over age 54 say they are considering retirement[ii].

"In 2008, we set an ambitious goal to support 1,000 Jonas Nurse Scholars. This year, on our Center's 10th anniversary, we celebrate this achievement and amazed by the talent of this cohort of future nurse leaders," said Donald Jonas, who co-founded the Center with Barbara Jonas, his wife. "In the decade to come, we look forward to continuing to work with our partner nursing schools and to the great impact that the Jonas Scholars will have on improving healthcare around the world."

The OHSU School of Nursing Jonas Scholars will begin their graduate careers in the fall and will be supported through 2018 as they focus on such critical health priorities as heart failure, women's health, cancer, aging, palliative care, and psychiatric-mental health. 

Some of our Jonas Scholars include:

Kristen Foskett, FNP-C, OR-SANE, - Jonas scholar recipient (2014-2016), is finishing up her DNP at OHSU with a focus on Trauma Informed Care in Rural Communities. She also works as an FNP at One Community Health in The Dalles. She is also working as an instructor with the Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force and she continues her work as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in Oregon.

Kari Firestone, M.S., R.N., C.N.S.–Jonas Scholar recipient (2014 –2016), Kari Firestone's current focus areas are pediatrics, chronic pain and symptom management. She has worked in variety of settings including acute care, primary care, hospice, public health and most currently working in educating undergraduate nurses.

Ellen Tilden, Ph.D., C.N.M. (past Jonas scholar from 2012-2014) –Dr. Tilden's current work includes examining the risks and benefits of giving birth inside and outside the hospital setting. Her study on birth risks was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tilden's work is supported by a National Institutes of Health-funded BIRCWH K12 award made possible through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health &Human Development and the Office of Research on Women's Health (Award Number K12 HD 043488). Read the article about the coverage.

Susan Bakewell-Sachs, Ph.D., R.N., P.N.P-B.C., F.A.A.N, Dean and Vice President for Nursing Affairs, OHSU School of Nursing expresses, "This Jonas Center investment will provide vital support for our doctoral students. The funding will extend our ability to enable full-time study so that students can experience deeper learning, faculty mentorship and peer support as they prepare for leadership in academic nursing. OHSU highly values this investment and the opportunity to be a partner in ensuring highly qualified nurse faculty and nurses for the future of health and health care."

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About the Oregon Health & Science School of Nursing

The OHSU School of Nursing is dedicated to excellence in nursing education through lifelong learning;compassionate, high-quality care of individuals and communities;and the comprehensive pursuit of knowledge and discovery. Learn more at: www.ohsu.edu/son

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[i] American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014-2015 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing 

[ii] AMN Healthcare, 2015 Survey of Registered Nurses: Viewpoints on Retirement, Education and Emerging Roles