MANSFIELD — Molly Ardis knows that she has a forever teammate in the surgical intensive care unit.
Ardis, 23, and her sister Emma, 24, are both surgical ICU nurses for OhioHealth Mansfield. The Crestview High School graduates both knew they wanted to go into the nursing field and started as patient service associates.
“I think it’s nice going into our shift knowing that we will be together,” Molly said. “We’ll always help each other, so that aspect of teamwork is always there.”
The two sisters both earned OhioHealth Mansfield scholarships on May 7 during the hospital’s celebration of National Nurses Week.
OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby hospitals awarded a total of 91 scholarships totaling over $85,000 this year. That makes it the most-awarded year for scholarships in the local network’s history.
Erin Stine, senior philanthropy adviser for the OhioHealth Foundation, said Mansfield and Shelby hospitals together ranked second in total scholarships among OhioHealth hospitals this year.
“We increased our award-giving by $15,000 this year for Mansfield and Shelby,” Stine said. “It’s really incredible to be a part of a health care system that invests so much into their associates and are so encouraging of our nurses to continue to seek education.
“Today is a really fun way for me to bridge the gap between our nurses and our donor community. They usually don’t see each other. When I’m able to not only represent those donors, but also see the look on the nurses’ faces when we award them out scholarship dollars … it’s a win-win for everyone.”
Stine said Mansfield and Shelby hospitals saw the most-ever applicants and awards given this year. Any OhioHealth nurse wanting to continue their education is eligible for a scholarship. The applications are reviewed by the Nursing Excellence Planning Workgroup.
Patients the number one donor for scholarship funds
Stine said the number one type of donor to OhioHealth scholarship funds are grateful patients.
“These are people who have been treated at our care sites and want to give back,” she said. “There’s also many community members who want to support you and give back to your education, including associates who have previously received scholarships themselves.”
The Ardis sisters said nursing runs in their family. The two counted their aunt, a cousin and great aunt who are all current or former nurses.
Their mother Missy Ardis also works as a nurse in the OhioHealth Mansfield obstetrics unit.
Molly Ardis was awarded a Martha B. Tawse Scholarship Endowment Fund scholarship. The scholarship fund was started by Dr. Robert Tawse in memory of his late wife Martha to support nursing bachelor degree studies.
“We’re both really grateful to the donors that made this possible,” Molly said.
Both of the sisters received their registered nursing degrees from North Central State College and are currently enrolled in Ohio University courses.
Emma earned her bachelor of science in nursing from Ohio University and is currently taking graduate classes.
“I’m enrolled in some core classes for a graduate level program,” she said. “Not 100% sure which direction I’ll go with it, but I’m getting prerequisites done right now.”
Across OhioHealth, nearly 430 scholarships totalling about $500,000 were awarded during National Nurses Week.
OhioHealth’s senior vice president and chief nursing executive Cynthia Latney thanked Ohiohealth Mansfield nurses at the scholarship ceremony May 7.
“Having older parents, and even my child and my family in different health care situations, it was the nurses that got me through,” she said. “I know you’re all doing that work on a daily basis.”
