The College of Nursing is eager to announce its Caregiver Scholarship— designed for students like me, Julie Bauserman. A scholarship for nursing students caught between tending to a loved one’s medical needs while trying to complete a degree program. When my husband and I got word that I was one of the six recipients, we felt immediate relief and gratitude.

The scholarship money has allowed me to keep my work hours to a minimum. I’m more present in my schoolwork while spending time with my daughter, Sophia, who was born with Trisomy 18 and whose birthdays are never guaranteed. I now have more time to snuggle with her and resume her physical therapy. Sophia is now taking some steps with her walker and trying to sit independently!

Without this scholarship, I could be on the verge of burnout and might not have finished the degree—or worse, I might have lost precious Sophia hours. Your gift to CON efforts like the Caregiver Scholarship help to elevate our profession!

Why did so few students receive the Caregiver Scholarship?

While 24 students applied, the CON only had enough funding to help six students. Your gift will enable us to increase the number of deserving students who receive these $5K-$10K scholarships.

Why is the College of Nursing focusing on students who are caregivers?

We realized that while our nurses were supporting their communities, we weren’t supporting our student community. A growing group of family caregivers is quietly providing the healthcare many Americans receive. Their unpaid work often comes at the expense of the caregiver’s health and personal goals.

How else is the College of Nursing addressing the plight of family caregivers?

For nearly 20 years, CON researchers, clinicians, and educators have been leading the way in supporting caregivers. The College is uniquely positioned to lead an interdisciplinary effort to revolutionize care and inform new methods of support for patients and their caregivers.

Families truly extend the healthcare system, and the more our medical community recognizes this, the better outcomes will be for everyone involved. The financial support you provide to students like me now allows us to better support others later.