South Carolina Partnerships Address Statewide Nursing Shortage

CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continued effort to help alleviate the nationwide nursing shortage, the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future will host the Promise of Nursing for South Carolina gala to raise funds and provide scholarships to help ease the nursing shortage in South Carolina. As the 30th Promise of Nursing regional gala to be held, this year's proceeds will contribute to the more than $18 million raised across the country to date.

All funds raised from the event, which is being held in Charleston on Thursday, November 3, will remain in South Carolina to support undergraduate nursing student scholarships, graduate nursing education fellowships to prepare nurse faculty, and grants to South Carolina area nursing schools to help expand their program capacity. More than 500 South Carolina nurses and healthcare professionals are expected to be in attendance at the Charleston Marriott Hotel beginning at 6 p.m.

"Nurses are the heart and soul of patient care as they care for patients during their most intimate moments, from bringing new life into the world to helping patients die with dignity," says Marilyn J. Schaffner, PhD, RN, CGRN, chief nursing executive and administrator for clinical services, Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center. "Through partnership with the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future, we have the opportunity to help fund scholarships for student nurses as they become part of the magic of nursing."

Current predictions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate that South Carolina is expected to experience more than 12,000 nursing position vacancies by 2020. The shortage predicted for South Carolina corresponds with national projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that estimate more than 1 million new and replacement nurses will be needed to meet U.S. population demands by 2016.

"The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future is committed to supporting the recruitment and retention of our nursing workforce at both regional and national levels," says Andrea Higham, director of the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future. "Partnering with local nursing organizations to host the Promise of Nursing galas help extend our reach, and our collaboration will ensure that nurses and student nurses across the country continue to receive the resources and funding they need."

The organizations that comprise the Promise of Nursing for South Carolina Steering Committee include: AnMed Health; CareCore National, LLC ; Clemson University School of Nursing; Georgetown Hospital System; Greenville Hospital System; Greer Memorial Hospital; McLeod Regional Medical Center; Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing; Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center; Medical University of South Carolina Physicians; Palmetto Health; Roper Saint Francis Healthcare; Sigma Theta Tau – Gamma Omicron At-large Chapter; South Carolina Hospital Association; University of South Carolina, College of Nursing; and the University of South Carolina Upstate, Mary Black School of Nursing.

For additional information on the Promise of Nursing for South Carolina gala, e-mail [email protected].

ABOUT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON CAMPAIGN FOR NURSING'S FUTURE

The Promise of Nursing for South Carolina gala is part of a public-awareness campaign – The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future – launched by Johnson & Johnson in February 2002. The Campaign is designed to enhance the image of the nursing profession, recruit new nurses and nurse faculty, as well as help retain nurses currently in the profession. Working in cooperation with various professional nursing organizations, schools, hospitals and other healthcare groups and providers, the Campaign for Nursing's Future focuses on promoting opportunities within nursing as well as increasing awareness of the value of the nursing profession to our overall society and healthcare community.  The Campaign will mark its 10th anniversary in 2012 and has invited nurses to participate it its "Portrait of Thanks" Mosaic Project. A photo mosaic – a compilation of different pictures to create a single image – is being created to celebrate the nursing profession and inspire the next generation of nurses and will be unveiled next year. For every photo submitted for the mosaic through February 1, 2012, the Campaign will donate $1 to the Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (FNSNA) to help fund nursing student scholarships. Learn more at www.CampaignforNursing.com/PortraitofThanks. For more information on the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future, visit www.campaignfornursing.com and www.discovernursing.com or via Facebook: www.facebook.com/jnjnursingnotes.  

ABOUT JOHNSON & JOHNSON

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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future