Cecilia Igwe-Kalu '23, a student in the Family Nurse Practitioner program, and Susan Stone '22, a student in the DNP Executive Leadership program, have received Nurses Educational Funds (NEF) Scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year. NEF scholarships aim to create opportunities for graduate nursing students and promote students' academic accomplishments.
Why did you apply for the NEF scholarship?
Igwe-Kalu: I applied to the scholarship in hopes of assistance in getting through a rigorous program at Simmons. My ultimate goal is to be a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and this assistance will help me reach my goals.
Stone: I heard about the Nurses Educational Funds (NEF) scholarship from a mentor when deciding whether to pursue my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). He shared that the NEF mission is to promote nursing leadership by providing merit-based nursing scholarships to make graduate-level nursing education possible. This scholarship helped to defray the cost of my DNP make it possible for me to attend while still supporting my children's education.
Why did you choose Simmons?
Igwe-Kalu: I applied to Simmons due to its offering of asynchronous and synchronous class sessions, allowing me flexibility to take classes while also accessing the material at my own pace. Also, the passing rate on the NP board exam is high, so I knew I'd be well prepared if I attended this school!
Stone: Simmons has an excellent reputation for nursing, and offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in executive leadership, which is the field I am interested in and is not widely offered. Lastly, the Longwood Hospital cohort enables the progression through the program with a group of nursing leaders from the Longwood Hospitals, allowing networking with local peers experiencing the same climate in nursing.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
Igwe-Kalu: I'm caring for pediatric oncology patients, and seeing the joy in their faces despite their diagnoses is a constant reminder of why I do what I do. I love it!
Stone: I love nursing! As nurses, we are privileged to be entrusted with the care of patients during their most vulnerable times. There are continuous learning opportunities: nursing is a great mix of science, technology, and analytic thinking, balanced with the art of developing therapeutic relationships, teaching, and advocacy.
As a nursing leader, I am an advocate for the frontline staff who have a direct impact on patient safety and experience. I enjoy supporting and developing nurses on the unit, helping them to find ways to challenge themselves and stay engaged. It is very rewarding to see staff engaged in continuous quality improvement efforts on the unit that not only improve patient experience but nursing experience, as well.
The next application period for NEF Scholarships opens October 1, 2022 and will close on February 1, 2023. To apply for a scholarship please go to: www.n-e-f.org.