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Responding to the nursing shortage: Billings philanthropist, hospital create new nursing scholarship program
Ralph Nelles and his family are going to play a huge part in the lives of many local nursing students for the next few years.
By SUZANNE KYDLAND
Of The Gazette Staff
Nelles, who has made a significant impact with donations to Billings Catholic Schools, has agreed to fund the Nelles Nurses Scholarship Program through St. Vincent Healthcare. The Billings philanthropist was approached several months ago by Dave Irion, executive director of the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation.
"He talked to me about the nursing shortages," said Nelles, who explained that many graduating nurses are lured to cities such as Denver and Los Angeles with large signing bonuses. "There’s just no way we can keep them in Billings."
The new program is designed to retain nurses by providing $650,000 in scholarships to nursing students over the next five years. The Nelles contribution, which is $65,000 each year, was matched by St. Vincent Healthcare.
"We’re just now starting, but this program will help put 30 students a year into nursing school and pays their tuition," Nelles said. "Then they agree to stay and work at St. Vincent Healthcare."
Nursing students in their sophomore year may apply for the Nelles Nurses Scholarship Program. After being selected, the nurses sign on for a four-year stay at St. Vincent Healthcare starting immediately after graduation. If they choose not to stay at the hospital, the scholarship money must be paid back.
For Nelles, the decision to donate the scholarship money was an easy one. After talking to his two daughters about how it would affect their inheritance, the family agreed the scholarship fund was a good idea.
"I’m hoping my daughters will carry forward on this even after five years," said Nelles, who took a recent tour of St. Vincent Healthcare. "The community and the people have been so nice to me, and this isn’t just one-sided. There’s two great hospitals in Billings, and we’re lucky to have them. We need to keep nurses in Billings."
Jean Ballantyne, the campus director for Montana State University-Bozeman College of Nursing at Billings Campus, sees the scholarships as an extremely positive step for local students. Ballantyne found out about the program earlier this semester and recently learned more details through the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation.
"Mr. Nelles’ generosity shows the value he holds for professional nursing and the contribution that nursing can make to the healthcare of the citizens of Billings through care at St. Vincent Healthcare," she said. "It’s significant because of the cost of education and the need for nurses."
Ballantyne said she didn’t think the nursing shortage in Billings was quite as bad as the national crisis numbers, but she expects that it will get worse. She said an average 50 percent of Billings nursing school graduates take their first jobs here, and she looks for 30 to graduate this fall.
"Although that number has been as low as 19, the average is about 27," she said.
In response to the nursing shortage in Billings and Eastern Montana, Ballantyne said MSU-B is looking to expand its enrollment and admit an additional eight students both spring and fall semesters.
An annual educational symposium will be held in honor of the Nelles Nurses to provide educational training for all nurses at St. Vincent Healthcare. In addition, the Nelles Nurses will be honored at an annual banquet each spring. Applications are now available for eligible sophomore, junior and senior students by calling 237-3145. Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.
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