Building a strong and diverse WORKFORCE

Veterans reintegrating into civilian life are seeking the sense of mission, meaning, and purpose they found during their service to our country. At the same time, our nation needs more nurses. The Service Scholars Program provides a pathway to accelerate our nation's veterans into the field of nursing and builds upon the Foundation's unparalleled support of nursing through increased educational opportunity and commitment to diversity and representation. This program provides funding for scholarships and non-tuition aid to participating Nurses for Tomorrow^® schools that have a current Yellow Ribbon Program agreement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Service Scholars will also support student veterans Beyond the Classroom through professional development, social connection, and community service.

Service Scholars was featured in an episode of "Military Makeover: Operation Career." The series promotes organizations that are helping veterans prepare for life and employment after service.

Increasing diversity in the healthcare workforce doesn't just provide more equitable career opportunities — it also helps communities better meet the needs of a diverse patient populations. The Foundation collaborated with Temple University's College of Public Health and Department of Nursing to pilot the IBX Foundation Healthcare Scholars Program to create pathways for underrepresented students to follow from high school through college. The program has expanded and is now reaching nursing students at 12 schools in the region, supporting these students in their pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or associate degree in nursing with full academic scholarships, academic support, and mentorship.

Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded more than $15 million to provide more than 6,000 scholarships to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral nursing students. Through its signature Nurses for Tomorrow^® program, the Foundation supports 22 nursing schools to expand educational opportunities and create a more inclusive, culturally sensitive healthcare workforce.

The Nursing Internship Program has helped prepare more than 400 future nurses to deliver community-based, preventive, person-centered care to patients. The paid, ten-week internship provides a unique learning opportunity that goes beyond standard clinical rotations in hospital settings, placing student nurses in community health centers. Students gain new perspectives on the many roles nurses can play to help deliver culturally sensitive care, all while cultivating professional and leadership skills to set them up for success in their career.

Making Change Happen: Solving for Health Equity, Nurturing the Next Generation of Nurses