When Stephanie Duncan decided to take the next step in her nursing career, it came from a simple but powerful goal: to deepen her knowledge and provide the best possible care for patients at ARH.

“I wanted to increase my knowledge to provide better care to acutely ill patients at ARH,” she explains.

At the time, Stephanie was working full-time as a Registered Practical Nurse while raising four young children. Returning to school to become a Registered Nurse meant balancing work, studies, and family life—a challenge many healthcare workers face when advancing their careers. Through the ARH Foundation-funded Employee Bridging and Bursary Program, that path became possible.

“The bursary helped relieve the financial burden and stress, so I could focus more on my education,” says Stephanie. “It helped with tuition, daycare costs, and other expenses—because working full-time, completing a degree, and being a mom to four comes with its challenges.”

Supported by the program, Stephanie completed her journey in March 2026 and is now working as a Registered Nurse at ARH. Programs like this are designed not only to support staff development, but also to strengthen and retain skilled healthcare professionals. The Employee Bridging Program, funded annually by the ARH Foundation, provides financial support for staff to upgrade their qualifications, including transitioning from RPN to RN, while committing to continue working at ARH after completion.

For Stephanie, staying at ARH was never in question.

“It’s a small-town hospital where people are treated like people—not just a number in the system,” she says. “There’s a real sense of community here, and I love being able to provide care to the people who rely on this hospital. I also work with a great group of people who have become like an extended family.”

Kelly O’Rourke, another bursary recipient, shares many of those sentiments. Kelly will be graduating in December 2026, completing the program in only 3.5 years instead of the usual five. Kelly was motivated to make the shift to RN to expand her scope.

“As an RPN, I gained valuable clinical experience and developed a strong foundation in nursing, but I was motivated to take on more complex clinical responsibilities, increase my critical thinking skills, and have greater opportunities for professional growth,” she says.

For Kelly, receiving the bursary alleviated financial stress, but it also made her feel an even stronger tie to ARH.

“The bursary also gave me confidence and motivation, knowing that ARH believed in my potential and how they were willing to invest in my education,” Kelly notes.