Chinonye Nkemka, a Master of Science in Nursing student at Frontier Nursing University, has been awarded the prestigious $10,000 Dr. Maureen Sullivan Foley Memorial Scholarship from the New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN). Nkemka received this honor at the 2024 NJLN Nurse Recognition and Scholarship Awards held on November 1 in Edison, New Jersey.
The award highlights Nkemka’s academic excellence, dedication to nursing education, and commitment to impactful healthcare work in New Jersey. Funded through a $100,000 grant from the Community Health Connections Foundation, the scholarship commemorates Dr. Maureen Sullivan Foley, a distinguished New Jersey nurse leader and former NJLN president.
Nkemka is pursuing her MSN in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at FNU, with a specific focus on perinatal mental health and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. She said the award, which she describes as a tremendous honor, validates her commitment to advancing nursing education and represents the faith that NJLN and the Community Health Connections Foundation have placed in her vision.
“This award will help me achieve my goal of addressing the critical need for mental health services in underserved urban communities,” she said.
Nkemka’s journey began with earning an ASN from Trinitas School of Nursing, reaching this milestone by age 20. She then completed a BSN at Saint Elizabeth University in 2016. As a bedside nurse in Labor and Delivery, she observed the increasing need for mental health services in maternal health, gaining a unique perspective on the critical link between maternal care and mental health.
These experiences inspired Nkemka to pursue advanced education in psychiatric-mental health nursing. Choosing FNU for its strong reputation and commitment to rural and underserved communities, Nkemka is on track to graduate in June 2025.
“I look forward to bringing these specialized skills back to my community,” she said.
At FNU, Nkemka said she has gained a deeper understanding of the holistic approach essential in psychiatric-mental health nursing. She said the PMHNP program has enhanced her clinical decision-making and strengthened her commitment to providing culturally competent care.
“A key lesson has been understanding the intersection of maternal mental health and community health outcomes, particularly in underserved populations,” she said. “The program’s emphasis on evidence-based practice and cultural sensitivity has shaped my approach to patient care and community engagement.”
These lessons will be critical in providing care for underserved communities in her home state of New Jersey, she said. As a PMHNP, she said she plans to focus on addressing the gaps in perinatal mental health care, especially for Black and Brown communities who often face barriers to accessing these crucial services.
“My goal is to establish a practice that specializes in treating postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, while also working to reduce stigma and increase awareness about maternal mental health in underserved communities,” she said.
Nkemka said she could not have pursued this path or received the Dr. Maureen Sullivan Foley Memorial Scholarship Award without the support of her family.
“I am deeply grateful for the support of my family, particularly my husband, and two children, whom I have given birth to while attending the program – they inspire me daily to pursue this path,” she said. “This scholarship is not just a financial award; it’s an investment in the future of maternal mental health care in New Jersey. I look forward to honoring this opportunity by making a meaningful impact in my communities.”
To learn more about the PMHNP program at FNU, click here.
To learn more about the Dr. Maureen Sullivan Foley Memorial Scholarship Award and the New Jersey League for Nursing, click here.
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