STEUBENVILLE — Area residents looking for a career in nursing may not have to leave the area to do so, as Trinity Health System offers scholarships which cover and/or reimburse tuition and fees for the program.

This opportunity for a free education, as well as a career at Trinity in a full-time RN position, is available to scholarship recipients who agree to work at Trinity for two years after graduating and passing the NCLEX exam.

One area resident taking advantage of this opportunity is Michelle Clum, a former Catholic Central science teacher and Ohio Valley Youth Network’s program manager for the Indian Creek Middle School Sycamore Stars Program.

Clum will embark on her two-year journey to become a registered nurse this fall.

“I was honored to have a small role in health education, inspiring and preparing future nurses and doctors, but becoming a registered nurse will open new doors for me to improve community health for the 200,000 residents in the Ohio Valley,” Clum stated.

“As a patient advocate administering life-saving medications, RN’s save lives every day,” she continued. “They are the hands and feet of Christ, bringing his healing power to the sick.”

Clum recalls she was inspired to go to nursing school because of a story about a young man whose testicular cancer was successfully removed, but who experienced hypoxia during surgery, leaving him in a vegetative state. The doctors told his wife he would never walk, talk or have a normal life. Months later, he walked out of the hospital.

“Nurses provide hope for a cure and room for miracles,” Clum stated of the story. “They improve community health by practicing modern medicine. They have an even greater impact by caring for the sick with care, compassion and a little faith, and this makes all the difference.”

Those interested in the program by contacting Jill Duska at (740) 283-7637 or jill.duska@commonspirit.org.