Carmen Bernal Compassionate Nursing Scholarship
Registered nurses are crucial to patient-centered care in the U.S., especially in our small towns and cities. Carmen’s namesake scholarship aims to encourage students from Glide High School to fill these important caregiving roles by providing several $2,000 scholarships to graduates pursuing nursing degrees. In 2023, its inaugural year, the fund raised $12,000 and awarded scholarships to three deserving recipients.
About the Scholarship
The Carmen Bernal Compassionate Nursing Scholarship is named for Carmen Bernal, a Glide resident and extraordinary nurse who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to compassionate patient care.
Carmen Bernal began her caregiving when she was just eleven, supporting her father in raising her younger siblings. Born in France and raised in Southern California, she pursued nursing with her best friend after high school. Carmen and her husband moved to Glide, Oregon shortly after marrying where they raised four children who all eventually graduated from Glide High School. Despite an enduring battle with cancer, and true to her heart of service, Carmen continues to work as a nurse during treatments providing care for others while facing her own health struggles.
Patients, colleagues, and community members remember Carmen as an inspiration through her connection with others and dedication to service. She approached life with humility and was always searching for the good in the world. The “Carmen Bernal Compassionate Nursing Scholarship” honors her legacy and values, supporting aspiring nurses who embody her compassionate spirit.
Purpose of the Scholarship
Glide Revitalization supports the Carmen Bernal Compassionate Nursing Scholarship because we’ve seen firsthand the impact of dedicated emergency personnel and how compassionate care can make recovery from tragedy a little easier.
This scholarship is our commitment to bring attention and support to:
- The Increased Need and Demand for Nurses: Employment projections for nurses indicate a need for over 203,000 nurses every year through 2031 due to nurse retirement and an aging population.
- A Compassion-First Approach: Research shows that patients receiving compassion and kindness from healthcare workers heal faster and feel less pain and anxiety.
- The Importance of Rural Nurses: A 2021 survey of 130 rural hospital leaders found that nearly all respondents were having trouble filling nursing positions. This greatly limits patient care. Nearly half of those surveyed said they’ve been forced to turn away patients due to a lack of nurses.
Award & Notification
Applicants will be notified of the status of their application in March. Not all applicants to the program will be selected to advance to the interview stage. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.
- If selected, the recipient will receive a $2,000 award
- Up to two awards will be granted per year
- Awards are renewable. Past recipients may re-apply
- Awards are for undergraduate study only
