Nursing hopefuls may apply for university scholarships

Nursing hopefuls may apply for university scholarships

Adults residing in Florida who are planning to pursue a nursing degree may be eligible for a full-tuition scholarship offered by the University of Phoenix.

The school has partnered with Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund with an aim to increase access to nursing education. One award will go to an individual pursuing a RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree and the other will be offered to a candidate pursuing a Masters of Science in Nursing/Health Care Education.

"I'm extremely proud to celebrate my mother's life by helping nursing students advance in their careers in healthcare by providing them with access to higher education," says Lucille O'Neal, the daughter of Odessa Chambliss for whom the foundation was named.

"Education and an improved quality of life for others are my primary focus in everything that I do," she adds.

Winners may choose to either attend classes at one of university's Florida campuses or online, and the latter may be a good option for busy adults who have to juggle multiple responsibilities and may therefore benefit from the flexibility offered by distance education.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for nurses is expected to grow by a dynamic 23 percent over the next seven years. The top salaries in the field already exceed $83,000 per year.