Scholarships highlight the importance of home health care
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Three students from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Nursing are among 12 area nursing and allied health students who have been selected to receive scholarships from Kansas City’s Visiting Nurse Association (VNA).
The students will be awarded 2009-2010 school-year scholarships, made possible through a $45,000 donation from the VNA Foundation. The UMKC students – Janet Powell, Laura Kozlowski and Dana Everts – will each receive scholarships of $5,000. Scholarship winners were recognized at a VNA reception on Aug. 6.
For the UMKC students, the VNA scholarship will pay for about half of the upper division courses required of RNs working toward BSNs, according to Lora Lacey-Haun, Dean of the UMKC School of Nursing.
“With the changes in our health care system allowing for less time in the hospital and more time recovering at home, it’s necessary for our students to become more knowledgeable about home health care,” Lacey-Haun said. “Home health care is a huge part of the future.”
Lacey-Haun said she foresees student teams working with the VNA on clinical projects that are mutually beneficial. VNA job shadowing by nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy students also is an option.
As Kansas City’s first home health care agency, the non-profit VNA has worked hand-in-hand with hospitals on both sides of the state line for more than 100 years. The agency provides skilled nursing care and therapies for patients going home after hospitalizations, as its staff educates patients on everything from living with a diagnosis of diabetes to wound care to medication management, Roberson said.
The VNA’s home health care team includes registered nurses, home health aides, dietitians and medical social workers who provide social, economic and emotional support. A rehabilitation team includes physical, occupational and speech therapists.
“The VNA has a strong commitment to metro area teaching hospitals. Besides providing their patients home health care, we have taken their students into our community on rotations,” said Richard Roberson, VNA CEO and President. “This scholarship program helps ensure that the highest quality of care continues to be provided throughout the health care pipeline—from the hospitals to the home health care provided by the VNA.”
Along with the UMKC students, scholarships were also awarded to students from the Research College of Nursing, the University of Kansas (KU) Medical Center School of Nursing and the University of Kansas (KU) Medical Center School of Allied Health.
About the UMKC School of Nursing
The UMKC School of Nursing offers a full range of education programs including a four-year bachelor’s degree (BSN), an RN-BSN, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) and the Ph.D. in Nursing. Research at the UMKC School of Nursing is focused on Women’s and Children’s health and the school is a center of excellence in the provision of health care and education in these areas, emphasizing urban health care and wellness.
About UMKC
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Celebrating 75 years, UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience.