The Indiana University School of Nursing at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) has awarded 2011-12 scholarships to five Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students. The scholarships are made possible through generous support from the Custer Foundation and the Nugent Foundation, both of Columbus.

According to the National Institute of Medicine, patient outcomes improve when they receive care from a registered nurse (RN) who has a bachelor’s degree. Currently, about 47 percent of RNs in Indiana have four-year degrees. As the Indiana University School of Nursing works to help increase that percentage, scholarships will be increasingly important.

“The vast majority of IUPUC nursing students remain in southeastern Indiana after graduation. We thank these foundations for their support, which will make a direct impact on the quality of nursing care in communities throughout this region,” reported Dr. Beth A. Sharer, division head of the Indiana University School of Nursing at IUPUC.

The scholarship recipients were selected based on their grade point average (GPA) and written responses to an essay question requiring them discuss how earning a BSN degree will impact the quality of nursing care they provide.

Each recipient will receive $1,000 toward their 2011-12 tuition. The students, who will also be recognized at the annual IUPUC Scholarship Luncheon next spring, are:

• Melanie Burgess (Brownstown, IN) RN to BSN mobility option
• Evin Ehrreich (Seymour, IN) BSN program
• Joana Samuely (Columbus, IN) BSN program
• Hope Shepherd (Franklin, IN) BSN program
• Virginia Stewart (Seymour, IN) RN to BSN mobility option

The Indiana University School of Nursing’s RN to BSN mobility option is designed for registered nurses (RNs) who hold an associate degree or nursing diploma and are working toward a bachelor’s degree. The BSN program is designed for students entering the nursing profession for the first time.

For more information about nursing education at IUPUC, please visit www.iupuc.edu, call 812.348.7250, or e-mail nursing@iupuc.edu.