In 2010, the Institute of Medicine issued a challenge to increase the number of registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) to 80 percent by the year 2020. St. Jude nurses didn’t just meet that challenge—they exceeded it way ahead of schedule. As of today, 86 percent of our nurses have achieved their BSN and many are in the process—thanks largely to donor support.
Since our beginnings, community members with a heart for nursing have funded scholarships, participation in certification programs and conferences, training opportunities, and construction of our cutting-edge Simulation Lab. As a result, our patients and families benefit from highly skilled and specialized nurses capable of supporting the increasingly complex health needs of today’s population.
Recent Joy Jones Scholarship recipient Rita Thompson, MSN, RN, CNOR, RN-BC is grateful for the opportunities made possible by donor support.
“Healthcare is a career that demands lifelong learning, but one challenge in pursuing continued education is cost,” says Rita, a surgical services nurse and clinical educator. “It is such a privilege to be offered the chance to become experts in our areas to provide the very best care for our patients.”
