J&J Campaign for Nursing's Future hosts gala to raise funds to help ease nursing shortage in S.C.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future will host the Promise of Nursing for South Carolina gala to raise funds and provide scholarships to help ease the nursing shortage in South Carolina.
As the 30th Promise of Nursing regional gala to be held, this year's proceeds will contribute to the more than $18 million raised across the country to date. All funds raised from the event, which is being held in Charleston on Nov. 3, will remain in South Carolina to support undergraduate nursing student scholarships, graduate nursing education fellowships to prepare nurse faculty and grants to South Carolina area nursing schools to help expand their program capacity.
More than 500 South Carolina nurses and healthcare professionals are expected to be in attendance at the Charleston Marriott Hotel beginning at 6 p.m.
"Nurses are the heart and soul of patient care, as they care for patients during their most intimate moments, from bringing new life into the world to helping patients die with dignity," stated Marilyn Schaffner, chief nursing executive and administrator for clinical services for the Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center. "Through partnership with the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future, we have the opportunity to help fund scholarships for student nurses as they become part of the magic of nursing."
Current predictions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate that South Carolina is expected to experience more than 12,000 nursing position vacancies by 2020. The shortage predicted for South Carolina corresponds with national projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that estimate more than 1 million new and replacement nurses will be needed to meet U.S. population demands by 2016.
The Promise of Nursing for South Carolina gala is part of a public awareness campaign — The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future — launched by Johnson & Johnson in February 2002. The campaign is designed to enhance the image of the nursing profession and recruit new nurses and nurse faculty, as well as help retain nurses currently in the profession.