Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Fund Awardee Spotlights
Continuing its mission to support the next generation of nurses, Nightingale Foundation recently awarded scholarships to two learners on the Nurse Practitioner (NP) MSN track at the Spring 2025 white coat ceremony. This milestone event marks a transition in nursing education and is a rite of passage that symbolizes the progression from academic study to clinical practice. A meaningful steppingstone for learners, it lets them know that they are on their way toward making a difference in the world of healthcare.
Scholarships are awarded to Nightingale learners who demonstrate academic excellence, maintain a high GPA following their assessment course, and are in need scholarship support. This cohort’s recipients were Walter West of Boulder City, Nevada, and Ninarose Cabalfin of Las Vegas, Nevada. “After more than 30 years as a paramedic and firefighter, I transitioned into emergency nursing to remain directly involved in patient care,” said Walter. “My goal is to open a rural clinic that delivers accessible, high-quality care to underserved populations in Boulder City and nearby Moapa Valley. The support from the Nightingale Foundation and its donors has made a direct and measurable impact on my education, and I am grateful.” This scholarship has eased Walter’s financial burden of graduate school and has helped but him stay grounded in his purpose of serving his local community.
Ninarose has worked across various healthcare settings and witnessed the challenges her community faces in terms of healthcare access and long wait times for specialty services. “I chose nursing because I wanted to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and ensure they had equitable access to care,” said Ninarose. “Receiving this scholarship has been such a relief and has allowed me to focus fully on my education without the stress of financial constraints. I am deeply grateful to the Nightingale Foundation for this opportunity and remain committed to using my education to make a lasting impact.” Having recently graduated with honors from Nightingale College with her BSN, Ninarose is committed to advancing her career to serve underserved populations.
In healthcare, the white coat is a symbol of the devotion and trust that goes into a patient-provider relationship. In providing an emphasis on the compassion and excellence that comes with becoming a healthcare professional, Nightingale Foundation would love to see the awardees create their own future as they finish their program. While the Foundation continues to work to provide financial resources to the next generation of nurses, they hope that they can continue to improve the nation’s health outcomes, health equity, and eliminate the nursing shortage by increasing access to pre- and post-licensure nursing education and resources.