Salmon Creek Hospital Foundation has established a new scholarship fund for the educational advancement of nurses at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center.
The Chou Nursing Scholarship Fund was launched with an initial $60,000 donation from the Sunlin and Priscilla Chou Foundation of Battle Ground.
Awarded twice annually to nurses working at Legacy Salmon Creek, the scholarship provides $3,000 for a nurse pursuing a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) and $5,000 for a nurse pursuing a master of science in nursing (MSN).
“Priscilla and I strongly believe in the value of education and are very pleased to provide this support for the educational advancement of nurses at Legacy Salmon Creek.,” said Dr. Sunlin Chou. “Nurses who make the demanding commitment to pursue more advanced degrees while working deserve our support.”
Legacy Salmon Creek currently employs 780 nurses; 57 percent have a BSN or higher. The medical center hopes to have that figure reach 80 percent by 2020.
“Rapid changes in health care require nurses to be better educated in critical thinking, best practices and complex technologies so they can meet the needs of our patients,” said Legacy Salmon Creek Nurse Executive Kelly Espinoza. “These scholarships are an investment that will reap rewards for our community for years to come.”
The first recipients of the scholarship, nine BSN students and three MSN students, will attend a reception to meet Sunlin and Priscilla Chou on November 18.
