Villanova Nursing student receives Paoli Memorial Hospital Scholarship

Villanova, PA, November 18, 2008 — Looking forward to a career in surgical nursing, Jennifer Stevens of Parkesburg, Pa. gave up a management position in the business world to pursue her dream of becoming more fulfilled as a professional nurse. She enrolled in program for adults with a degree in another discipline at Villanova University’s College of Nursing (Stevens has a degree in criminal justice). In August of 2009, she will graduate and, building on her excellent clinical skills and knowledge, will be employed as a registered nurse.

Jan Nash, Ph.D., M.S., R.N., vice president, Patient Care Services at Paoli Memorial Hospital (left) and Joyce Willens, Ph.D., R.N., assistant professor at Villanova University College of Nursing (right), congratulate Jennifer Stevens on her scholarship.

En route to her goals, Stevens is a unit secretary in the emergency department at Paoli Memorial Hospital. There she was one of 14 applicants for the 2008 Dr. John S. Willens Memorial Scholarship. Dr. Willens was an anesthesiologist with a love of education who formed and chaired the anesthesia department at Paoli. The endowed educational scholarship, established by his wife Joyce Willens, Ph.D., R.N., assistant professor at the College of Nursing, awards $2500 annually to a Paoli Hospital employee so that person may pursue education. To be eligible, the candidate must be employed at the Hospital and in good standing, as well as accepted into an accredited college or university with proper documentation.

Dr. Joyce Willens viewed Stevens as a “strong, motivated” candidate. “I am honored to receive this year’s Dr. John S. Willens Memorial Scholarship. Since starting in the Emergency Department as Unit Secretary two years ago, I have greatly enjoyed working here,” said Stevens at the October 29th awards banquet. “Paoli Hospital has given me the foundation to achieve my goals in nursing so I will have the skills to continue on with this career and be a part of a new era with the opening of the new four-story Pavilion.” Stevens, as a married mother of a four year old daughter, has had to balance life, work and school commitments but her eyes are on the future, “The coming months will be very exciting, personally and professionally. I am nearing the end of a hard road of long hours and arduous work, which will culminate in a wonderful career.”

The Villanova University College of Nursing, established in 1953, is a nationally recognized premier nursing program under Catholic auspices with a mission to create a synergy between compassion and clinical excellence. Designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing, the College provides a values-based undergraduate education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences that prepares students to assume positions as productive, ethical, and socially responsible citizens and leaders providing care in clinical and community settings. Its reputation is solidified by its rigorous, top-ranked graduate program to prepare advanced practice nurses, administrators and nurse educators; its environment for faculty and student scholarship; its respected continuing nursing education program and the leadership contributions of its students, faculty and alumni in nursing and health care around the world.