Beaufort and Jasper County face a nursing shortage, putting the health and well-being of our Lowcountry communities at risk. Estimates show South Carolina has the lowest nurse-to-population ratio of any other state (7.9 nurses per 1,000 population).

The mission of the South Carolina Nurse Retention Initiative is to retain top nursing talent in Beaufort and Jasper County. Awards are presented to recent Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) grads and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) grads who remain and practice nursing in Beaufort or Jasper County in primary healthcare. In essence, the South Carolina Nurse Retention Initiative is a talent retention program.

Who is eligible?

Recent BSN and ADN graduates in the past twelve months, and those who plan to graduate in the current year, including successful completion for the NCLEX-RN with unrestricted licensing.

What is the criteria?

Awards will be based on the applicant’s desire to remain and practice nursing in Beaufort or Jasper County in primary medical care. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need and a long-term commitment to practice in Beaufort or Jasper County.

What is the application process?

Applications will be accepted from January 1 - February 15, 2023 and July 1 - August 15. 2023. Applications are completed online or the application form can be downloaded. A selection committee appointed by the South Carolina Nurse Retention Initiative, which includes diverse representation from nursing, human resources and executive management, will select recipients. The application form can be found at https://scnurseretention.org/application-form/

For more information about the South Carolina Nurse Retention Initiative, visit https://scnurseretention.org/

To make a donation to the scholarship, Click Here

SCNRI appreciates the generous support of Power:Ed and donors across the region.