Pair of Nurses Benefit from Scholarships
Working RNs Laud Travis Credit Union, NorthBay Health for Backing Each Received to Help Offset Cost of Master’s Program
A pair of registered nurses, on the cusp of receiving graduate degrees at Touro University California, are singing the praises of Travis Credit Union and NorthBay Health for providing a combined $30,000 to support them as they sought an advanced degree.
Camryn Wentworth and Nora Fey have completed work for their Master’s degrees in Nursing Leadership through the BSN to MSN program in the College of Education and Health Science’s School of Nursing. Each was awarded a $15,000 scholarship to offset the cost of the program.
With work on their Master’s programs complete, Fey and Wentworth are looking ahead to commencement in May. The research project for their degrees focused on developing a mentor program within NorthBay Medical Center to support experienced nurses who join the health care organization.
JoAnn Munski, NorthBay Health’s director of Nursing Education, Clinical Practice Development, and Clinical Informatics, says the scholarship collaboration remains a way for NorthBay Health to promote advanced education within the community and for the community.
Awards Represent Life-Changing Experience
Wentworth says the scholarship took the financial edge off for both she and Fey as they took part in the one-year Master’s program, allowing them to start their post-Master’s careers without the burden of student debt.
“I think it’s even more special to get that support from our own community, from NorthBay, who we work with. And, we’re both Travis Credit Union members,” Fey says. “It’s been a really positive experience.”
“It was three of the places we care about – Touro, NorthBay and Travis – all coming together so it was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is meant for me,’ ” Wentworth says. “But then the amount, it was life-changing. Honestly. We’re coming out of this extremely grateful for it. It’s been nice.”
The scholarships were announced this past March 30 at the Farragut Inn Ballroom at Touro. The scholarship is open to new BSN to MSN degree program students who work at least half time for NorthBay Health and have a Travis Credit Union account. Its purpose is to encourage professional development with an eye toward retaining experienced nurses to serve the community.
Focus Remains on Professional Growth
Fey works in Labor and Delivery at NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield, a position she has held since March 2022. Prior to that she worked in Labor and Delivery at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose.
Wentworth joined NorthBay Health in March 2022 as a registered nurse and works in an Acute Care unit. She previously worked as a registered nurse with HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Division.
Both say they plan to continue with NorthBay and will recommend the scholarship to their co-workers.