With Nurses Burned Out After 3 Years of Covid, Nonprofit Aims to Boost Next Generation of Nurses
SMITHFIELD – As the nursing shortage crisis looms in North Carolina, some Johnston Community College (JCC) students are getting a special gift to encourage them to stay on track and finish their nursing degrees.
The Gale Healthcare Foundation is making $30,000 in scholarships available to help nursing students cover the cost of tuition and expenses, and giving an additional $7,000 toward nurses aides scholarships at JCC. The donation comes at a critical time, with more than a third of North Carolina nurses saying they’re burned out from the pandemic and a projected statewide shortage of 17,500 nurses by 2033.
“With the nursing industry in crisis, we’re doing everything we can to inspire students to start and finish a career in nursing. We appreciate this generous gift from the Gale Healthcare Foundation and its mission to support our future caregivers during this unprecedented time,” said JCC President Dr. Vern Lindquist.
About Gale Healthcare Foundation and Its Special Ties to the Greater Triangle Area
Gale Healthcare Foundation is a national nonprofit, but has special ties to the local community. Its founder, Tony Braswell, grew up in Johnston County, working on his family’s tobacco farm. After college at East Carolina University, he spent a career in healthcare and in 2016 launched a healthcare technology company called Gale. Often called the “Uber of Nursing,” Gale connects healthcare providers to nurses who accept open shifts. Nurses use an app to choose when and where they work and get paid the same day. Gale now operates in 40 states with more than 60,000 nursing professionals nationwide.
“At Gale, we’re aiming to revolutionize nursing by using technology to put nurses in control of their schedules and provide work-life balance to prevent burnout. Because nurses love the flexibility, Gale has experienced tremendous growth, and we want to pay it forward,” said Tony Braswell, President and Founder of Gale Healthcare Solutions and Chair of the Gale Healthcare Foundation.
Braswell started the Gale Healthcare Foundation in 2022, committing more than half a million dollars to help nursing students—with a goal to raise a total of $1 million for nursing education in two years.
“To help solve the national nursing shortage, we’re offering support to those who aspire to become nurses,” Braswell added. “And there is nothing better than giving back to my hometown. When these students graduate, they’ll make a difference right here in North Carolina—taking care of our friends and loved ones during their time of need.”
In addition to the JCC scholarships, nursing students have until April 15 to apply for individual scholarships at GaleHealthcareFoundation.org. The foundation will open up another round of scholarships again this fall. Both nursing and certified nursing assistant students are eligible for scholarships.
About the Gale Healthcare Foundation
The Gale Healthcare Foundation was created in 2022 by Tampa-based Gale Healthcare Solutions (GHS) to support nursing education. Both organizations are committed to solving the national nursing shortage. GHS tackles the issue through technology that connects clinicians with open shifts in their area, while GHF provides educational and financial resources to grow and support the nursing workforce.
Thank you Mr. Braswell!