Scholarship Supports Future Nurses

A Boone Hospital Foundation scholarship supports future Boone Health nurses.

The Boone Hospital Foundation Boone Health Nursing Scholarship’s goal is to help current Boone Health employees achieve their goal of becoming a nurse. Those chosen are eligible for awards up to $5,000 toward tuition and fees.

Criteria for receiving the award includes a commitment to working at Boone Health for 2 years upon graduation in a full-time RN position. Two scholarships were given this year – one to Caprice Leighton and one to Elly Krueger. Both recipients say the scholarship has been life-changing.

Boone Health phlebotomist Caprice Leighton has worked in healthcare for more than 32 years. Now, thanks to a scholarship provided by the Boone Hospital Foundation, Caprice is one step closer to her degree in nursing.

Caprice began her career in healthcare working in administration, education, quality risk management, and medical staff credentialing. She decided to pursue more direct patient care when her youngest child went to college. She is now a phlebotomist, patient care tech, and unit secretary for the Boone Health Emergency Department.

“I am so grateful that I am there to provide blood draws or patient care assistance to those who are ill. I have the opportunity to give quality care and provide the healing touches patients need to heal,” says Caprice.

Caprice recently began nursing school, but her interest started in 1991 when her second daughter was born.

“I knew that there would be a nursing shortage, and I felt that I could provide excellent care, especially with the elderly. My grandmother taught me at a young age to watch after my family, friends, and neighbors when they are in need. A few years ago, before the pandemic, I decided I would be a nurse for my final career. There just simply isn’t enough nursing staff anywhere. As a patient myself many times over the years, I want to be one of the nurses that makes a difference in health care,” says Caprice.

Caprice enrolled in the Moberly Area Community College weekend program while continuing to work full-time at Boone. One day, one of Caprice’s mentors told her the Boone Hospital Foundation was offering a scholarship to Boone Health employees looking to become nurses.

“My husband had just had his left kidney removed as a cancerous tumor. My family had taken a direct hit with finances, and I hadn’t received any other scholarships for nursing school,” says Caprice.

Caprice says the application was very straightforward and easy to submit. Not long later she received an email that she was selected as a recipient.

“At first, I just stared at my computer screen. Then I jumped up and down screaming. I added up how many hours and extra shifts I would have had to pick up for that amount of money. I am so blessed and grateful!” says Caprice.

Caprice is working hard on her degree and looks forward to being a nurse at Boone Health once she graduates.

“I hope to work in the Emergency Department or Cardiology and possibly with Risk Management and Quality Assurance,” says Caprice.

Elly Krueger, BSN, RN is currently a Boone Health nurse that just began her career as a Graduate Nurse on the Surgical Specialties floor. She says she loves working at Boone Health and being a nurse.

“Although I have not previously worked in healthcare prior to becoming a nurse, I feel like I have learned so much in such a short time. My preceptors and peers have been welcoming, approachable, and eager to help me be successful. The team approach at Boone has really enforced that we aren’t just here to take care of patients and families, but also each other,” says Elly.

Elly’s recent degree did leave her with some student loans, and she was thrilled when she heard that the Boone Hospital Foundation was offering scholarships to support future nurses. She was even more thrilled when she found out that she was chosen as a recipient.

“This scholarship went a long way in helping me to pay for my recent college education, and for that I am extremely grateful,” says Elly.

Elly says she plans to have a long career at Boone Health.

“My career goals include caring for the people of the communities Boone health services, while learning as much as I can to function at my highest potential. I want to be an asset to Boone Health, to both patients/families and my peers. Beyond my immediate future nursing career, I do not know where this industry will take me, but I am excited to find out. It’s exciting that Boone offers a lot of spaces to grow my career, and I look forward to each opportunity,” says Elly.

Boone Hospital Foundation Director Monica Collins says these scholarships align perfectly with the foundation.

“The Foundation’s mission is to support Boone Health in its mission of improving the health of the people and the communities we serve. One of the obvious ways we do this is to help ensure that the best, most-prepared caregivers are in place for patients to have the best possible care. By ‘growing our own,’ we can further this goal,” says Monica.

And she says she loves that her donors can know what an impact their dollars are making.

“Donors invest in the Foundation because they know our goal is to help achieve positive outcomes for Boone patients and those who live in our service area. This scholarship is an investment in Boone’s future and in quality healthcare for our community,” says Monica.

The Foundation relies on gifts and donations to help initiatives like the Boone Nursing Scholarship. For information on how to give to the Boone Hospital Foundation, contact Monica Collins at 573.815.2801 or monica.collins@boone.health.

By Madison Loethen