As a nonprofit organization, Hospice of the Piedmont is fortunate to have generous donors who sponsor nursing scholarship and grant programs for our employees. We believe in supporting our staff and providing opportunities for them to develop their skills and advance their careers, and our scholarship programs are just one way we do that.
Multiple Nursing Scholarships and Grants Available
Our nursing scholarship programs are designed to help our employees pursue further education or certification in their field. We offer a range of nursing scholarship paths through The Donald A. Perry Memorial Scholarship, including:
- CNA to LPN
- CNA to RN
- LPN to RN
- RN to BSN
Employees are free to pursue their degrees at local institutions or online, whatever works best for them.
Additionally, The Kay Taylor Professional Development Grants offer several certifications through the Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), including:
- ACHPN: Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse
- APHSW-C: Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker – Certified
- CHPLN: Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse
- CHPN: Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse
- CHPNA: Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant
For these certifications, employees can apply for a scholarship covering the cost of study materials/self-paced courses and the test cost. We also cover the cost of the HPNA reTEST Assured Program, which provides a one-time retest option for those who experience test anxiety.
A Nursing Scholarship Program Designed to Help You Succeed
At Hospice of the Piedmont, we value our employees and want them to succeed in their educational pursuits. To that end, our scholarship programs have reasonable eligibility requirements. To qualify, we ask that employees work at HOP for one year and work at least 20 hours per week. Some scholarships have more specific qualifications, such as acceptance into a nursing program and/or the completion of prerequisite courses.
Our scholarships cover the costs of tuition, books, and other fees associated with the required coursework. HOP also provides each scholarship recipient with a mentor who is a community member in nursing and available to talk about anything they may need help with, such as work-life balance and test-taking skills.
We require scholarship recipients to commit to certain standards, such as maintaining a C average and obtaining the degree by the approved graduation date. However, we understand that life can be unpredictable, and we offer extensions to those who need them. We want our employees to know that we are invested in their success and are willing to provide support when needed.
Opening Doors for Virginia Nurses
Hospice of the Piedmont’s scholarships have proven enormously successful, with over a dozen employees receiving a scholarship for degree programs and nearly twenty receiving grants for certification programs.
Jessica Dubuque (pictured above) joined HOP as a CNA and recently graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Piedmont Valley Community College. “This major step in my career path would not have been possible without the financial and professional support of the HOP scholarship program,” she says. Jessica plans to start the RN to BSN program at VCU in the fall.
Continued Professional Development for All Disciplines
Additionally, thanks to the support of community philanthropy, Hospice of the Piedmont pays the annual dues for each employee’s membership in the professional organization of their choice:
- Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association (HPNA)
- The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)
- Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network for Social Workers (SWHPN)
- Association of Professional Chaplains (ACPE)
These organizations support our teams’ ongoing professional development in their respective disciplines. These memberships enable staff to receive continuing education hours, access to professional journals, and up-to-date information.
Nurse Scholarships That Reflect Our Values
At Hospice of the Piedmont, these nurse scholarship programs reflect our mission to transform the way people view and experience serious illness, dying, and grief. By supporting the professional development of our staff, we improve the care we deliver to our patients and caregivers.
We are committed to hiring, training, and retaining the best care providers in central Virginia. That’s why we proudly offer these scholarship programs to our employees and encourage any interested nurses and nursing assistants to consider joining our team.
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We are grateful to Kay Taylor, who established the scholarship and professional development programs in 2018, in appreciation of the loving care that her husband received from Hospice of the Piedmont.
