BWH Nurses Receive ScholarshipsBWH Nurse - For and about the Nursing Staff of Brigham and Women's HospitalBWH Nurses Receive ScholarshipsBWH Nurse - For and about the Nursing Staff of Brigham and Women's Hospital

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BWH Nurses Receive Scholarships


Mairead Hickey, PhD, RN, left, and James Smithson, trustee for the Gretchen Stone Cook Foundation, far right, with scholarship award recipients, Sheila Connelly, RN, Eduarda Fernandes, RN, Paulette Manon, RN, Sharon Swan, RN, and Fatima Nottingham, RN.

Fatima Nottingham, RN, knows all about hard work and its rewards. Just a decade ago, she was a medical assistant working at a cardiac clinic on Cape Cod. This year, she completed her master’s degree, accomplishing her goal of becoming an acute care nurse practitioner.

Last month, along with four other nurses, Nottingham received financial help, thanks to the Gretchen Stone Cook Foundation and the Genevieve Hope Blaney Scholarship Funds.

“I’m so honored to receive this scholarship,” said Nottingham, a staff nurse in the Thoracic Surgery ICU. “It will assist me in the pursuit of my education goals. It is such a privilege to be part of BWH’s Department of Nursing.”

During a recent luncheon, Nottingham and recipients Sheila Connelly, RN, of Radiology Oncology, Eduarda Fernandes, BSN, RN, of the Coronary Care ICU, Paulette Manon, BSN, RN, of Hematology/Oncology, and Sharon Swan, BSN, RN, of the Surgical ICU, were honored with scholarships for their endeavors to pursue higher education in nursing.

“In its second year, this scholarship has been a tremendous resource for the Department of Nursing,” said Mairead Hickey, PhD, RN, FAHA, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services. “As we continue to build and enhance an infrastructure to shape and influence nursing practice, the scholarship’s support of nursing education will be vital to our vision.”

The scholarship offers $5,000 to each nurse who pursues baccalaureate or graduate degrees in nursing.

Gretchen Stone Cook’s foundation was inspired by its namesake’s companion, Genevieve Hope Blaney, who was a registered nurse in Salem. The foundation donates money to support the educational scholarships of nurses. James Smithson, trustee for the foundation, joined the recipients, Hickey and other nursing leaders at a luncheon.

All recipients said it was hard to put into just a few words how this financial help will benefit their careers.

“I’m always inspired by how many thoughtful, caring people we have here at BWH, and I feel supported to continue to develop and provide the best care to patients and their families,” said Swan.