RICHMOND, TX - (February 7, 2007) - If you had been outside OakBend Medical Center last Thursday evening, you may have thought the Oscars had come early.  There was a large gathering of onlookers their cameras flashing and a stretch limousine awaiting a group of formally dressed people.  No, they were not Hollywood stars, but a group of OakBend Nursing “Stars” on their way to a night of celebration at the Hilton of Americas in Houston. 
 
The nursing shortage has been a concern for a number of years, with the estimated shortfall at about one million nurses nationwide. Compounding this dilemma is the growing scarcity of nursing educators in the Houston/Galveston area.  To help solve this problem locally, Johnson & Johnson and The Promise of NURSING for Houston/Galveston Steering Committee hosted a gala event with a goal to raise funds to address this shortage.
 
OakBend Medical Center, along with other hospitals, supported the event through table sponsorship.  All proceeds from the evening were donated to nursing student scholarships and nursing faculty fellowships, both to be distributed by the Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association.  In addition, area nursing schools will also become beneficiaries through grants awarded by the Houston-Galveston Area Council Corporation for Regional Excellence.
 
To represent the hospital OakBend selected ten of its outstanding nursing staff to attend the event in VIP style.  The nurses had to exceed the hospital’s customer service and behavior expectations, be an active patient advocate and he flexible and willing to assist their fellow nurses at work.
 

For further information contact:   Tracey J. Shaw, VP, Marketing & Development (281-238-7821)