Wachovia joins Lee Memorial for scholarship program

In partnership with Lee Memorial Health System, the Wachovia Foundation has established the "Wachovia Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Educational Grants Program." The financial services company has provided a $10,000 grant through the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation that will help acquire and retain excellence in the System's nursing and medical staff.

The Wachovia grant is in response to a growing need in Southwest Florida where a critical shortage of nurses and medical staff exists. According to a recent study commissioned by Johnson & Johnson, Florida's nursing shortage mirrors a national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has also released information indicating that unless action is taken quickly, the national shortage of registered nurses in all healthcare facilities could triple to more than 400,000 by 2020.

Florida's current shortage is also exceedingly important to address as the Baby Boom population ages and requires increased levels of medical care. Other factors influencing the Florida shortage include a decline in enrollment and graduation rates at the state's nursing schools.

Since 1990, Lee Memorial Health System has provided educational grants to give financial assistance to students in Southwest Florida who are pursuing careers in the healthcare sector. Recipients of the scholarship must be Lee County residents who are attending a local college or vocational school in pursuit of a health care profession. Additionally, recipients must demonstrate financial need.

"Supporting and growing our workforce is essential to meet the healthcare needs of our community." Said Jim Nathan, president of Lee Memorial Health Systems. "Lee Memorial's educational grant program provides such support while encouraging health professionals to remain in our community."

Lee Memorial officials aid it will invest more than $975,000 to help more than 600 employees continue their education. Currently 98 employees are seeking a Bachelor's Degree in nursing, and 127 are seeking an associate degree in nursing.

A recent grant recipient, Tara Morales, has always been interested in science and the human body, so a career in nursing made sense.

After high school, she began taking some of the pre-requisite classes while waiting tables and tending bar. Then in 2001, she dropped out to take care of her father, who had kidney disease. Shortly afterwards Morales' schooling was further delayed when she became pregnant with her son, who is now 2 1/2.

However, thanks to a $2,200 a year scholarship from Lee Memorial Health System, Morales is on target to graduate with her nursing degree in May.

"I get financial aid," said Morales, 28, of Cape Coral. "This money helps to pay for my child to go to preschool so I can go to school."

Since the scholarship's inception in 1990, more than $1.2 million has been awarded. Of that, $700,000 has been given out over the past four years. ¦