International nurses are recognized for excellence in scholarship and leadership.
San Antonio, Texas (PRWEB) June 9, 2005 -- Global Scholarship Alliance (GSA) announced today that eight GSA nurse-scholars participating in its cultural exchange program through the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio, Texas have been accepted into the prestigious nursing honor society, Sigma Theta Tau International.
The Filipino nurse-scholars, who are working towards a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree at UIW, are also gaining first-world clinical experience through Methodist Hospital. Sigma Theta Tau International is the second largest nursing organization in the world with more than 125,000 active members.
GSA?s program is designed to help alleviate the global nursing shortage by providing graduate education and academic training to qualified international nurses through American universities and hospitals. Following the four year and a half year program, the nurse-scholars at UIW will be required to return to the Philippines to help lead and train the next generation of nurses. GSA also offers scholarships to nurses in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and India.
?We are very proud of the eight nurse-scholars at UIW and their commitment to their craft,? said J. William DeVille, chief executive officer at Global Scholarship Alliance. ?We take pride in delivering quality, talented nurse-scholars to our partner universities and hospitals, and the fact that these individuals were accepted into the nursing honor society is a positive reflection on them, the education and training they are receiving and on our program. With this recognition by the honor society, these nurse-scholars will be even more qualified to help lead and develop the nursing program and healthcare system in their home country when they return.?
As noted on Sigma Theta Tau?s Web site, NursingSociety.org, ?membership [into the nursing honor society is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students, who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing.? The GSA selection process also reflects this commitment to excellence by carefully evaluating educational transcripts, licensing board scores, work histories and clinical experiences, references, and background checks to ensure that only first-rate nurses are accepted into the program.
Prospective nurse-scholars are required to possess a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN or an equivalent degree), a registered nursing license in their home country, and two or more years of hospital experience. They also must pass the U.S. nursing exam and a language proficiency exam. The nurse-scholars are then hand-picked by representatives from U.S. universities and hospitals through face-to-face interviews in the nurses? home countries. Those selected must also meet U.S. licensing and immigration requirements before arriving in America.
?As evidenced by their induction into Sigma Theta Tau International, these eight nurse scholars have demonstrated that they are committed to the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, and clinical excellence,? said Dr. Kathi Light, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions at UIW. ?Our university is committed to working with a diverse student body in exploring strategies for reducing health disparities in a global society. The GSA nurse-scholars bring an international perspective that has been a positive influence in our MSN program. We all benefit from their presence at our university and in our partner hospital. The GSA scholarship program is an exciting and ethical way to address the global nursing shortage.?
Participants in GSA?s program receive full MSN scholarships to an American university and are eligible to work part-time at university-affiliated hospitals during the period of study, full-time while on school holidays, vacations and breaks, and for 18 months after completing their degree. Upon completion of the program, the nurse-scholars must return to their home countries for at least two years to work as clinical instructors, nurse leaders or hospital administrators. Including the nurse-scholars at UIW, GSA has 55 current nurse-scholars in eight cities across the United States.