Although some things have changed in three decades, one that hasn’t is the critical need for professional nursing skills. Consider this: By 2030, nearly 25 percent of the U.S. population will be over 60, 19 percent will be over 65, and over 2 percent will be over 85.*
Nurses will increasingly be relied on handle the extra care required by people living longer with chronic and acute medical conditions. At the same time, baby boomers are going to be retiring in ever-greater numbers – exacerbating what is already an acute shortage of nurses.
That’s why the Santa Clara Woman’s Club annual Mary S. Taylor-Ruth N. Frey $500 nursing scholarship takes on new importance.
Started in 1978 in memory of club member Mary S. Taylor, the scholarship initially was intended for “a worthy young woman…who plans to pursue the field of nursing as a career.” Ruth Frey chaired the committee tasked with organizing the program and the first scholarship was awarded in 1980.
Today the scholarship is open to men and women of any age, living or attending school in Santa Clara, and who plan a career in any field of nursing. The Club is accepting applications through April 4, 2011 for the 2011-12 academic year. For applications and information, call Woman’s Club Nursing Committee Chair Vivian Martinez at (408) 985-5384.
*Compare that to 1930’s statistics – 9 percent of the population was over 60, 5 percent over 65, and 0.02 percent was over 85.