Her brother Reese’s severe asthma meant Morgan Broadbent spent considerable time in hospitals as they grew up together.
“I loved the hospital environment and seeing how loving nurses were as they cared for him,” she said. “I saw how they could make a difference in the way they treated their patients.”
After graduating high school, Morgan became a CNA and student working toward a nursing career. She received the John and Darlene Skees Memorial Nursing Scholarship and the Bloemendaal Family Scholarship.
She’s among 50 college students who received $112,900 in scholarships from Benefis Foundation donors for the 2021-2022 school year.
To scholarships donors, Morgan says thank you.
“It’s going to be very beneficial. I’m appreciative of the scholarships and will pay it forward as a nurse in my community, helping those who need it,” she said.
Morgan began her CNA career just in time for the pandemic and worked on the COVID-19 floor.
“It was very hard,” she said. “I saw my first death, and then many more. It was rewarding to help people in their last moments.”
One service Morgan was able to provide was connecting patients with their loved ones to say final goodbyes via video calls.
“At least the patients could hear their families one last time and know they were loved,” she said.
Morgan’s high-risk brother and grandparents locked down together, and Reese managed to avoid COVID-19 until last fall and received an infusion that proved effective.
“It was scary working in the COVID unit because I was so worried about getting high-risk loved ones sick, and it was hard emotionally watching the suffering,” she said.
Morgan plans to be a pediatric or ICU nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner.
Scholarship applications are due June 1 annually. Click here for more information.