Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's scholarship program is helping aspiring pediatric nurses achieve their goals.

Established in 2001, the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Nursing Commitment to Employment and Study (CHANCES) scholarship program has benefited approximately 34 nursing students from across the country.

CHANCES scholars receive tuition assistance to the accredited nursing school of their choice. In return, they work full time at Children's as a registered nurse for 18 consecutive months for every academic year of tuition assistance, for as many as two years.

"Collectively, CHANCES recipients currently represent 83 years of full-time RN commitment to Children's," said Bobbette Loyd, clinical staff development.

CHANCES has continued to gain momentum each year. In 2003, 67 applicants represented 14 states and 32 schools. Of those applicants, 14 scholarships were awarded in 2003.

"We anticipate that they will be outstanding Children's employees," said Loyd, who added the program has fostered strong relationships between Children's staff and the nursing students.

"While our staff provides mentoring and guidance for these recent graduates, it also is energizing for veteran nurses to see and feel the excitement of someone who is just beginning their career," Loyd said.

LaKiesha Neely, a recipient who plans to continue her career at Children's, was one of the nursing students selected with the first group of CHANCES scholars in 2001.

After graduating from Emory University in 2002, she began her 18-month commitment to Children's in July 2002. While that commitment will be fulfilled in January, she wouldn't think of leaving Children's.

"I always wanted to be a pediatric nurse, and this opportunity to work at Children's has confirmed that I made the right decision," said Neely, a pediatric intensive care unit nurse.

"The CHANCES program helped relieve some of the financial stress that comes with being a student," she said. "It also relieved the burden of hunting for a job by providing me the opportunity to begin my career in pediatrics right after graduation."

For information about the CHANCES nursing scholarship program, visit www.choa.org/employment/nursing.shtml. To begin the application process, call Bobbette Loyd at 404-785-7812 or e-mail her at bobbette.loyd@choa.org.

- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta