Doctoral student lands prized nursing scholarship

Margaret Furr ’01 says that EMU prepared her well to not only see nursing as an art and a science, but also as a service.

“It’s all of those things,” she said. “It’s about caring for the less fortunate, giving the marginalized a voice, and ensuring that nursing follows its scopes and standards and code of ethics. That’s a unique lens I see in myself and other EMU grads: the idea of nursing as a service.”

Furr, a full-time nurse at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, is deepening her education as an EMU student enrolled in her third and final year of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, a consortium of EMU and Goshen College. Last month, she was named the recipient of the Eleanor C. Lambertsen Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year. The scholarship is awarded annually to a doctoral student in nursing education or administration through Nurses Educational Funds Inc. (NEF).

What is Nurses Educational Funds? NEF is a 112-year-old nonprofit created by nurses that awards scholarships to graduate level (master’s and doctoral degree) nursing students. Learn more at n-e-f.org. The scholarship’s namesake, Dr. Lambertsen, was named the American Hospital Association’s first director of the division of nursing in 1958. She was appointed dean of Cornell University-New York Hospital School of Nursing in 1970. That same year, she became the first nurse to serve on the board of Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Her concept of team nursing, proposed in 1953, revolutionized nursing and health care.

“I was honestly surprised to get the scholarship,” Furr said. “They don’t tell you how many people apply for it, but they describe it as very competitive. Many of the previous recipients were PhD students doing amazing research, and so it felt validating to be recognized for what I’ve been able to do at a community hospital.”

In her role as Magnet Program Manager at Sentara RMH, she primarily helps in “caring for the caregivers,” ensuring nurses at the hospital get the education, support, and professional development they need, as well as using data and quality metrics to improve the care they provide for their patients. “Having a nurse who really cares makes such a difference,” she said. “For me, that’s how I care for my community—by improving what we do so that every patient gets better care.”

Furr has worked at the Harrisonburg hospital for the past 23 years, starting as a new EMU nursing grad, in various roles including registered nurse (pediatrics), patient care supervisor, and nursing professional development practitioner. She taught EMU nursing students as an adjunct clinical instructor for three semesters in 2023-24. The scholarship will be used to cover the remaining tuition costs that aren’t reimbursed by Sentara, she said.

Furr graduated from EMU with a BSN  in 2001. She earned her MSN in nursing education from Walden University in Minneapolis in 2022.

Driven by a commitment to improving the experience of nurses, her doctoral project will focus on enhancing organizational support for health care staff who have experienced workplace assaults and examine how that support affects staff retention. Research shows that the initial care that staff receive after an assault often determines how well they cope with the experience, Furr said. 

Workplace assaults, including those by patients against providers, are a “very real problem,” said Michael Horst, dean of EMU’s Health, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences division. “In every circle I’ve been in, people talk about how difficult it is to recruit and retain nurses because it can be a very unsafe work environment,” he said. “This kind of doctoral work addresses that issue directly, and EMU has been preparing Margaret to tackle it since her undergraduate studies.”

Furr said her favorite part of the EMU-Goshen College DNP consortium is the small cohort size, which promotes relationships and community building, as well as the opportunity to learn from professors at both universities. The program’s values of stewardship, human flourishing, sacred covenant, and peacemaking also resonate with her, she added.

What can a DNP do?

DNP programs prepare nurse leaders at the highest level to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Furr said she plans to use her DNP degree to manage projects and drive change, support staff growth through nursing excellence, help staff understand data and processes, and develop better educational programs.

About EMU’s DNP program

The 33-credit, fully online and asynchronous program, accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), is for nurses who want to work in health care administration, teach, or be a change agent for their workplace. Students complete 10 online courses and at least one residency during the 24-month program. Eligible applicants must hold a master of science degree in nursing (MSN) degree from an accredited school with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.

The program combines the best aspects and shared values of both EMU and Goshen College. “The key advantage is access to faculty expertise from two universities,” said EMU Nursing Professor Melody Cash. “Plus, as a student, you’re learning alongside peers from both schools, which provides a wider range of perspectives.”

The consortium launched in January 2018, with the first cohort graduating in May 2020.

In addition to its BSN and DNP programs, EMU also offers an accredited MSN program and graduate certificates in nursing. Learn more about the university’s nursing programs at emu.edu/nursing. 

The application period for the next NEF scholarship process opens Oct. 1 and closes on Feb. 2. To apply for a scholarship, visit n-e-f.org/apply.html.