Photo at right: Kimberly Barragon, RN is pictured with proud parents Lindy and Jubal Williamson and baby RonenRegistered Nurse Kimberly Barragon has worked at Gila Regional Medical Center for quite some time. She began as a tech in the hospital’s Med Surg inpatient areas and now works full-time as a nurse in the Maternity department. She is a Grant County resident, born and raised, and plans to stay here.
“When I had my kids,” Barragon says, “I was treated with such warmth and care that I knew Nursing was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Barragon, the proud mother of 5 children, worked and attended college to obtain her Associate’s Degree in Nursing. “I couldn’t have done it without the emotional support of my husband and the financial support of Gila Regional.”
“We at Gila Regional are lucky to have scholarships and funding available to promote Nursing education,” says Chief Nursing Officer Cathy Woodard, who has personally been a recipient of Foundation and Auxiliary scholarships, and education funding from the hospital.
“Kimberly was the President of the National Student Nursing Association. She has the a lot of drive and ambition, and she is going to go far”, said Woodard.
Both women are thankful for the financial support they received from Gila Regional’s Foundation and Auxiliary. They also expressed gratitude for the hospital’s flexibility around students and their school and work schedules. “You can be supported and embraced here rather than trying to fight the system,” says Barragon who has researched other health organizations and their support of employee’s and school. “It is a challenge to try to accommodate everyone’s schedule,” says Woodard, “but we feel it is essential.”
Gila Regional’s Foundation and Auxiliary match funding, and last year provided over $20,000 in scholarships to students in the medical field. Scholarship funds can also be combined with the $600 per semester in tuition reimbursement and financial support available through the hospital.
“We feel it is essential to the growth of our organization to support nursing and other students in the medical field,” said GRMC Foundation President Mike Harris. “It helps us maintain a staff that has up-to-the-minute training and keeps graduates in the community.”
“The GRMC Foundation Scholarship money is a vital part of assistance for Nursing students,” says Pam Kuthe, RN, Foundation Board member and Nursing professor. “The funding is there to assist anyone in our community who wants to become a nurse.”
Patsy Miller, co-chair of the Auxiliary Scholarship Committee recommends Interested students contact the GRMC human resources office at 538-4076 for applications. June 25th is the annual deadline for applications. “We will be selecting next year’s recipients in July for the Fall and Spring semesters”, she added.
