Miami, Oct. 28, 2022 – In a continued effort to address the nursing shortage, Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Benjamin León School of Nursing has partnered with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to offer students the Nurse Scholars Program. MDC students working toward an associate degree in nursing can apply for the program and receive up to $10,000 to cover tuition, books and fees. They also gain hands-on experience as care assistants and may potentially obtain employment. The deadline to apply for spring is Nov. 16.
Funded by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, the Nurse Scholars Program includes four semesters of didactic and clinical experiences as a student and Student Nurse Intern Program (SNIP). The SNIP is a per-diem employment opportunity for nurse scholars to be hired as care assistants to gain insight into the field of pediatric nursing at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Ten participants will be accepted each spring and fall semester.
Students in their first semester can test for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program and phlebotomy as part of the scholarship, allowing them to work for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital while completing the nursing program. As they progress in the program, they will also have the opportunity to test for the EKG Technician certification.
After completing the program, eligible graduates may be offered employment with the Horizon Nurse Residency at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to fulfill a two-year agreement within the organization. The selected nurse scholar is required to complete the RN-to-BSN program if hired as a Horizon RN.
MDC’s School of Nursing offers a comprehensive program of study leading to an Associate in Science or Bachelor of Science, in addition to certifications as a Licensed Practical Nurse and Certified Nursing Assistant. MDC’s nursing program builds personal and professional skills needed to provide outstanding patient care. Community health activities, clinical partnerships, and state-of-the-art Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation ensure that MDC graduates are ready for real world professional nursing practice in a variety of healthcare environments. Upon completion of the associate degree program, graduates are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
To apply for the Nurse Scholars Program and for more information, visit https://www.nicklauschildrens.org/for-medical-professionals/for-students/nurse-scholars-program.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 800 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children’s Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. In the 2022-2023 ranking, the hospital tied with two other hospitals as the number one children’s hospital in Florida. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College is the most diverse institution in the nation. There are 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways including associate and baccalaureate degrees, career certificates and apprenticeships. Baccalaureate degree offerings include biological sciences, engineering, data analytics, information systems technology, education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film and others. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards including the Aspen Prize. As Democracy’s College, MDC changes lives through accessible, high quality-teaching and learning experiences. It is the home of the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, the Eig-Watson School of Aviation, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, the Cloud Computing Center, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation, the School for Advanced Studies, and the New World School of the Arts, to name a few of its most innovative programs. MDC has been named among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College embraces its responsibility to serve as an economic, cultural, and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. Its alumni and employees contribute more than $3 billion annually to the local economy, and MDC graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC is renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is the home of the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, the Tower Theater, Dyer Building, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, Live Arts Miami at MDC, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, the Museum of Art and Design, a sculpture park and a large campus art gallery and theater system. MDC has admitted more than 2.5 million students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. Approximately 120,000 students are currently enrolled. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.