Shaping the Future of Nursing Education
The BOLD Career Pathways Nursing Faculty Loan Program stands for “Better Outcomes, Less Debt”. The program helps address South Carolina’s nursing shortage by offering scholarships to nurses seeking to advance their education without the burden of student loan debt. Currently, the University of South Carolina College of Nursing has 15 graduate-level students enrolled in this program. In exchange for up to $30,000 per academic year of tuition reimbursement, these students have committed to serving in a faculty role at least two years after graduation.
Meet three BOLD Pathway students who are pursuing graduate-level nursing degrees: Allison Newton, Tiffany Charles and Pierre Andre Barreau.
Allison Newton: Advancing Care and Education
Allison Newton, a full-time nurse at MUSC Lancaster, is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). After graduating from USC Nursing (BSN 2016, MSN 2023), she realized she wanted to make a greater impact by teaching the next generation of nurses. "The BOLD program allows me to pursue my education without student loans and give back to my rural community through nursing education," she says.
USC is known to produce top tier nurses, and I am honored to have graduated from the College of Nursing twice already and look forward to having my third and terminal degree from them. The student success center is a huge help. From the numerous workshops offered, individualized consults and even the accountability groups, the amount of support offered is phenomenal. The faculty and staff at the college is the best in the nation. The amount of passion they all display is unmatched, and they truly want each student to be successful.
Tiffany Charles: Inspiring the Next Generation
Tiffany Charles, an adjunct clinical faculty member at USC Nursing, is working toward her DNP. With a background in labor and delivery, Charles' goal is to become a full-time educator. "The BOLD program supports my dream to teach while easing the financial burden," she explains. She believes that increasing faculty will help address the nursing shortage by preparing more nurses for the workforce.
As a nurse educator, I see myself continuing to advance my learning to become an innovative educator where I can use my experience and organizational and leadership skills to help mold and motivate future nurses. I also want to serve as a role model to nursing students inspiring them to advance their education and help improve health care outcomes in direct patient care, administration, research, education, or any nursing field.
Pierre Andre Barreau: From Respiratory Therapy to Master's Entry to Practice Nursing
Pierre Andre Barreau, a licensed respiratory therapist, is now enrolled in the college's MEPN program. Barreau viewed nursing as an opportunity to advance his health care career. "The BOLD program’s financial support is helping me pursue better opportunities and it helps address the nursing shortage," says Barreau, who plans to eventually enter a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program and hopes to teach as a way to contribute.
All the professors in the MEPN program hold a doctoral degree and have been in health
care for a long time, so the experience level is totally different. Many of the professors
are not here just to teach, they are here because they want to help. It’s a very rigorous
program and you’ve got to be dedicated, but the instructors are here for their students
and make sure we have the right tools once we get out there to take care of our patients.
Addressing the Nursing Shortage
All three students view the BOLD program as essential in addressing the nursing shortage. By increasing faculty, the program enables more students to receive training and enter the workforce. If you're a nurse passionate about education, the BOLD program could be your pathway to make a lasting impact.
Ready to make a difference? Apply for the BOLD program and take the next step in your nursing career.