Purpose
Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and the Foundation recognize that the shortage
of nurses is not limited to direct patient care professionals. The need
to increase the number of graduate students who will be qualified to become
nurse educators, in order to train the next generation of nurses, is also
an important piece of the puzzle in reversing the nursing shortage.
Overview
The IBC Nurse Scholars Program provides financial assistance to graduate
nursing students who are pursuing an education that will qualify them
to become a nurse educator. The program will underwrite scholarship funding
for schools to qualified students attending an accredited graduate nursing
program in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
The Nurse Scholars Program will give nursing students the opportunity to receive grants and scholarships toward their graduate degree directly from the qualified nursing schools they attend. Over 350 scholarships have been awarded within the last two years, worth an estimated $2 million.
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation administers
and is a contributor to the Independence Blue Cross Nurse Scholars Program.