For the past several years I have represented ONA as a committee member of the Nursing Scholarship Advisory Committee (NSAC) with the Health Care Workforce Training Commission (HCWTC). This Commission was formerly known as the Physician Manpower Training Commission (PMTC). Committee meetings were traditionally held each year in July following statewide interviews that were conducted with applicants from all over the state of Oklahoma. However, with budget cuts, the annual meetings and annual interviews were no longer funded. Now the Committee meets virtually after the applications are reviewed by the Committee members.
In addition to the Oklahoma Nurses Association, members of the NSAC Committee, are comprised of representatives from the Rural Hospital Nursing Service, Urban Hospital Nursing Service, Oklahoma Association of Healthcare Providers, Oklahoma Hospital Association, Oklahoma League for Nursing, Oklahoma State Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, Oklahoma League for Nursing, Associate Degree Nursing Director’s Council, Association of Deans and Directors of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Nursing Programs, and one Lay Member. Of note, there are now two members of the commission on the committee.
The committee membership role now involves virtual meetings to review screened applications and make recommendations to the Commission for approval of scholarship recipients. I remain as the Vice-Chairperson and serve in that capacity at the meetings.
The scholarships are either matching or non-matching, depending upon the student having a sponsoring facility. Beginning in 2020, PMTC/HWTC approved to expand the program to include scholarships for the DNP and PhD levels along with the LPN, ADN, BSN APRN and MSN Programs. The breakdown for this year is as follows:
LPN 8; ADN 21; BSN 17; MSN 6; DNP 8; PHD 1
To qualify for a scholarship a recipient must be a legal resident of the State of Oklahoma, citizen of the United States, and unconditionally accepted into an OKLAHOMA nursing program. They also must have an overall 3.0 GPA. For each year of financial assistance, there will be a one-year full-time work obligation (or equivalent thereof). The obligation is fulfilled at the sponsoring RURAL health institution if the funds are matched/sponsored or at a qualified RURAL health institution if the scholarship is a non-match. Financial assistance is available from one year to up to four years depending on the program level.
PMTC/HWTC has placed nurses in all 77 counties, mostly in rural hospitals and nursing homes. The purpose of the program is to aid Oklahoma nursing students pursuing nursing degrees and are interested in practicing or teaching nursing in Oklahoma communities. There is an emphasis placed on rural or smaller communities and teaching instructors at our nursing programs. Physician Manpower/Health Care Workforce Training Commission has assisted over 7,000 nursing students since 1982. It is an honor for me to represent ONA by serving on this committee.
Respectively,
Beverly Botchlet, RN, MS
