Nightingale Awards and Scholarships Promote and Support Careers in Nursing
Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania is a statewide, non-profit organization that promotes and supports careers in nursing by presenting annual nursing awards and granting scholarships to students pursuing degrees in nursing at all levels.
Our History
In 1989, Jayne (Carson) Felgen, Chief Nursing Officer at (the former) Osteopathic Hospital in Lancaster, recognized the need to promote and support nursing careers in Pennsylvania, as an essential strategy to recruit and retain nurses, in order to meet the state's future healthcare needs.
Jayne and other visionary nurse leaders were the driving force behind establishment of the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania. A volunteer Board of Trustees, consisting of leaders in nursing, business, industry, and other healthcare fields, has guided the organization since its inception. Over half the Board members are executive-level nurses. View Bylaws of the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania.
As the responsibilities of nurses continue to grow, Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania will work in partnership with other organizations that demonstrate pride and ownership in the nursing profession. Our goal is to ensure that future nurses will receive the support and recognition they need to provide for the healthcare needs of Pennsylvania.
Jayne and other visionary nurse leaders were the driving force behind establishment of the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania. A volunteer Board of Trustees, consisting of leaders in nursing, business, industry, and other healthcare fields, has guided the organization since its inception. Over half the Board members are executive-level nurses. View Bylaws of the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania.
As the responsibilities of nurses continue to grow, Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania will work in partnership with other organizations that demonstrate pride and ownership in the nursing profession. Our goal is to ensure that future nurses will receive the support and recognition they need to provide for the healthcare needs of Pennsylvania.
Our Impact
Since 1990, the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania has provided 228 nursing scholarships totaling over $550,000 and has honored 718 exemplary Pennsylvania nurses at our annual gala. Scholarships for Pennsylvanians pursuing nursing education help them prepare to become practical nurses, registered nurses or advance practice clinical nurses. To be eligible, an applicant must be a Pennsylvania resident and agree to work as a nurse in the state following licensure.
Our Inspiration
Florence Nightingale envisioned nursing as one of the fine arts. She used this vision to make the point that nursing requires devotion to the work akin to a painter’s or sculptor’s devotion. A battlefield nurse during the Crimean War, she went on to establish the world's first secular nursing school and is considered the Founder of Modern Nursing. Today, significant changes are taking place in our nation’s healthcare system. As we face the resulting challenges, we must keep Florence Nightingale's vision alive by encouraging students of the highest caliber to enter this demanding field and by supporting them throughout their professional nursing careers.
Our Challenges
To meet the healthcare needs of Pennsylvania's 13 million people, healthcare providers are challenged to deliver quality care in an increasingly complex environment that demands cost efficiency and management of care throughout the entire patient life cycle. Technology is advancing quickly and our aging population is placing unprecedented demands on the system. Meanwhile, national healthcare costs are consuming over 17% of the GNP. Amidst these significant challenges, recruiting and retaining excellent nurses remains a priority.