Global Scholarship Alliance Nurse-Scholars Accepted into Nursing Honor Society
International nurses are recognized for excellence in scholarship and leadership.
San Antonio, Texas (PRWEB) June 9, 2005 -- Global Scholarship Alliance (GSA)
announced today that eight GSA nurse-scholars participating in its cultural
exchange program through the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San
Antonio, Texas have been accepted into the prestigious nursing honor society,
Sigma Theta Tau International.
The Filipino nurse-scholars, who are
working towards a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree at UIW, are also
gaining first-world clinical experience through Methodist Hospital. Sigma Theta
Tau International is the second largest nursing organization in the world with
more than 125,000 active members.
GSA’s program is designed to help
alleviate the global nursing shortage by providing graduate education and
academic training to qualified international nurses through American
universities and hospitals. Following the four year and a half year program, the
nurse-scholars at UIW will be required to return to the Philippines to help lead
and train the next generation of nurses. GSA also offers scholarships to nurses
in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and India.
“We
are very proud of the eight nurse-scholars at UIW and their commitment to their
craft,” said J. William DeVille, chief executive officer at Global Scholarship
Alliance. “We take pride in delivering quality, talented nurse-scholars to our
partner universities and hospitals, and the fact that these individuals were
accepted into the nursing honor society is a positive reflection on them, the
education and training they are receiving and on our program. With this
recognition by the honor society, these nurse-scholars will be even more
qualified to help lead and develop the nursing program and healthcare system in
their home country when they return.”
As noted on Sigma Theta Tau’s Web
site, NursingSociety.org, “membership [into the nursing honor society is by
invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students, who demonstrate
excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional
achievements in nursing.” The GSA selection process also reflects this
commitment to excellence by carefully evaluating educational transcripts,
licensing board scores, work histories and clinical experiences, references, and
background checks to ensure that only first-rate nurses are accepted into the
program.
Prospective nurse-scholars are required to possess a
baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN or an equivalent degree), a registered
nursing license in their home country, and two or more years of hospital
experience. They also must pass the U.S. nursing exam and a language proficiency
exam. The nurse-scholars are then hand-picked by representatives from U.S.
universities and hospitals through face-to-face interviews in the nurses’ home
countries. Those selected must also meet U.S. licensing and immigration
requirements before arriving in America.
“As evidenced by their induction
into Sigma Theta Tau International, these eight nurse scholars have demonstrated
that they are committed to the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, and
clinical excellence,” said Dr. Kathi Light, Dean of the School of Nursing and
Health Professions at UIW. “Our university is committed to working with a
diverse student body in exploring strategies for reducing health disparities in
a global society. The GSA nurse-scholars bring an international perspective that
has been a positive influence in our MSN program. We all benefit from their
presence at our university and in our partner hospital. The GSA scholarship
program is an exciting and ethical way to address the global nursing shortage.”
Participants in GSA’s program receive full MSN scholarships to an
American university and are eligible to work part-time at university-affiliated
hospitals during the period of study, full-time while on school holidays,
vacations and breaks, and for 18 months after completing their degree. Upon
completion of the program, the nurse-scholars must return to their home
countries for at least two years to work as clinical instructors, nurse leaders
or hospital administrators. Including the nurse-scholars at UIW, GSA has 55
current nurse-scholars in eight cities across the United States.
About
Global Scholarship Alliance:
Global Scholarship Alliance partners with
leading U.S. universities and healthcare organizations in an effort to enrich
nursing globally by providing scholarships and professional development for
future nurse leaders and educators, building alliances between leading U.S.
universities and hospitals, and fostering the equitable distribution of nurses
throughout the world. The company facilitates cultural exchange programs and
provides scholarships to foreign nurses who seek professional development
through the combination of a U.S. Masters of Science in Nursing degree and
academic training in a U.S. hospital.
U.S. universities and hospitals
benefit from a long-term solution to declining enrollment and the global nursing
shortage; and through the requirements of the program, educated and U.S.
hospital trained nurse-scholars return to contribute to the education and
training of future nurses in their home countries. The company currently
provides scholarships to nurses from a variety of countries including the
Philippines, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Global Scholarship Alliance
has alliance partnerships in Kansas, Ohio, New York, Minnesota, and Texas. More
information is available at www.GlobalScholarship.net or by contacting Steve Albert at
513-665-4544.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb249383.htm