CLEVELAND, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, President and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System, has announced the winners of the fourth annual Caritas Nursing Scholarships. The nursing students selected to receive the $2,500 scholarship represent each of the three communities served by the Sisters of Charity Health System -- Canton, Cleveland and South Carolina.
The students are also employees or the immediate family members of employees at one of the Health System's 20 sponsored ministries, including its five hospitals -- Mercy Medical Center in Canton, St. Vincent Charity Hospital and St. John West Shore Hospital in Cleveland, Providence Hospital and Providence Hospital Northeast in South Carolina.
According to Sr. Judith Ann, the Caritas Nursing Scholarship program was created to encourage and sustain students with nursing aspirations, especially in light of the growing shortage of nurses.
"The communities served by the Sisters of Charity Health System are certainly affected by the national nursing shortage. The Caritas Nursing Scholarships were established in 2004 to support individuals who understand the mission and philosophy of Catholic health care and who are interested in pursing a nursing career," said Sr. Judith Ann.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, between 1996 and 2000 the rate of nurses entering the workforce was only 4.1 percent, down from more than 14 percent between 1992 and 1996. Furthermore, the average age of registered nurses has increased substantially as fewer young people choose nursing careers.
The four students selected to receive the scholarship met strict
criteria in the areas of scholastic achievement, community service and
commitment to the nursing profession. The applicant's financial need and
personal compatibility with the mission of the Sisters of Charity Health
System were also considered. Numerous applications were received and
reviewed by
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