BACKGROUND
Patricia Louise Bethel received a B.A. from West Liberty State College in 1970 and taught art education to elementary students in the Steubenville School system, Steubenville, Ohio. She was inspired, however, to pursue nursing by the dedication shown her by nurses during a very vulnerable period in her life. Their care reflected a spirit of love and caring and provided the bridge between illness and health that could not have been achieved by her alone.
Pat, as she was known, began her nursing education at the East Liverpool Branch of Kent State University and received an Associate Degree in 1977. She achieved her baccalaureate degree in nursing from West Liberty State College, West Liberty, West Virginia in 1979 and a master’s in science from the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio in 1981.
Pat enjoyed and participated in all aspects on nursing…practice, research, education, administration and development. Her career was spent at the Ohio Valley Hospital in Steubenville, Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus, Ohio, Miami Valley Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, Bethany Lutheran Village, Manor Care and Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Pat wishes to be remembered as appreciating the opportunities afforded her by the nursing avocation and feeling privileged to serve others in their time of need. She always gave the best that she could each and every day, caring for both her patients and her coworkers/staff, being a conscientious advocate for the profession and striving to make it better. She espoused the value of good mentoring and camaraderie to keep nursing moving in a positive direction. Pat believes that a good nurse is one who keeps his/her heart in all that they do. It is hoped that these values will be shared with the recipients of this scholarship and that each will cherish the art as much as she did.
Eligibility criteria
- Have achieved junior status in either the generic baccalaureate program or be a registered nurse in the baccalaureate program for registered nurses,
- Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale, and
- Demonstrate financial need.
If you are a prospective or current student interested in applying for this scholarship, please contact the Assistant Professor of Nursing at 304-336-8911.