Suncoast Nursing Action Coalition

“When my husband Mike and I were weighing whether to move to Sarasota, one of the important factors we took into consideration was the level of quality healthcare available in the region. It’s no secret that we are all fortunate to have a number of world-class institutions like Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Tidewell Hospice that are leading the way in ensuring our community’s residents are well taken care of when it comes to their health.

While providing world-class facilities needed to meet our region’s healthcare demand is important, the bigger undertaking is ensuring those facilities are filled with passionate and highly qualified professionals. Fortunately, to counter a critical and prolonged nursing shortage in Florida, we have organizations like the Suncoast Nursing Action Coalition to help.

After learning the mortality rate of patients decreases as the qualifications of the nurses treating them rises, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Patterson Foundation partnered with the Suncoast Nursing Action Coalition in 2014 to strengthen the educational opportunities available to nurses working in our local hospitals and those with dreams to become nurses.

By collaborating with local hospital, nursing, academic and community leaders from Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, the partnership has created a robust pipeline of highly educated nurses in our region. The best part is none of the financial burden of being a student is put on the nurses, as community supporters provide scholarship awards stewarded through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

At a recent award ceremony, SNAC announced 22 new scholarship recipients that totaled up to $74,000 for this semester alone. Since the partnership began more than $214,000 in scholarship awards have been distributed, and while the numbers are impressive, the real mission moment was when attendees of the ceremony got to hear from USF student, Damon McIntire.” … Continue Reading: https://www.srqmagazine.com/srq-daily/2018-09-01/9050_Helping-Those-Who-Help-Others