AORN foundation shares results of scholarship recipient survey

AORN Journal, March, 2005 by Terri Goodman, Sharon Chappy, Leslie Durgin

Another participant commented,

   ... nursing is still a woman's world.
   Men and women who are vocal in
   nursing don't move up. Nursing still
   has many sacred cows, and some people
   in higher positions do not like
   change. Nursing needs more positive
   leaders; people who will speak up to
   administrators without any fear of
   losing their jobs. AORN needs this
   too ...

Education can be an effective approach to addressing concerns raised by practices that are not evidence-based (ie, sacred cows) and the need for positive leaders in nursing.

The AORN Foundation scholarship program facilitates growth and change through education and leadership. Nurses need to make a difference and embrace change as health care evolves. Most basic and advanced degree programs incorporate change theory and courses in leadership. One example of the need for change is the perception that nursing is a woman's profession. Companies such as Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, in their campaign to promote nursing, have tried to eliminate the perception that nursing is a woman's profession. Although nurses still are predominately female, the number of men in nursing has been increasing steadily. (6) The value of nurses must be promoted to both men and women.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Survey participants were asked what difference the scholarship made in their education. Respondents emphasized the value of financial assistance in achieving their goals. One respondent said, "The scholarships meant the difference in determining whether to continue my education after the first semester." Another said,

   The scholarship was helpful to me in
   so many ways. It helped me financially
   by allowing me to purchase
   many needed items for school and to
   pay some bills, which allowed me to
   concentrate on education. It also
   helped me by giving me a vote of confidence
   and accountability to do my
   best.

Another respondent said,

   As a single mom and working two
   jobs since I started school, this scholarship
   helped me be able to cut back
   some hours at my second job and to
   be with my son and have extra time
   to study.

All of the respondents provided positive comments and indicated that the AORN scholarship eased their financial burden, helped decrease the hours they had to work, allowed them more time to devote to academic concerns, increased their interest in perioperative nursing and AORN, or gave them the motivation and confidence to succeed.

Respondents were asked to share their perceptions of the scholarship program. The Scholarship Committee used these comments to assess the application process. Several respondents were disappointed that the scholarship funds are not awarded immediately. Funds are dispensed after course completion and only if the recipient maintains a 3.0 grade point average. Several recipients were excited to learn that companies from which their facilities purchase OR supplies are contributors to nursing education.

One respondent indicated that as a "nonconventional" student, she did not qualify for scholarships offered by her school. This often is the case for students who are pursuing an advanced degree and who have limited opportunities to apply for other types of financial aid. Scholarships for advanced degrees are very limited. The AORN scholarship program does not have such stipulations--it requires only that the applicant have an interest in perioperative nursing and in being a member of AORN.