Actress Sonya Eddy has provided years of entertainment in her role as General Hospital nurse Epiphany Johnson, but now the actress is hoping to provide something of more serious value: a solution to help fix the nation's nursing shortage.
Eddy took to social media to announce that she is currently spearheading a campaign in partnership with the Foundation of National Student Nurses Association to provide scholarships to nursing students. She hopes her efforts -- as well as yours, if you decide to help -- will break down at least one barrier that medically inclined students encounter when considering nursing school.
"Every day, I play a nurse on TV. Over the years, I've heard from thousands of real nurses about how hard their job is," she shares. "Now with COVID, #WeNeedMoreNurses and we need them now. I'm leading a new campaign to provide scholarships to nursing students. You in?"
Every day, I play a nurse on TV. Over the years, I've heard from thousands of real nurses about how hard their job is.
— Sonya Eddy (@TheRealSonyaEd) February 2, 2022
Now with COVID, #WeNeedMoreNurses and we need them now.
I'm leading a new campaign to provide scholarships to nursing students. You in? https://t.co/XAHOKAKUoF pic.twitter.com/GsNgxwYmZ9
In a video attached to her post, Eddy explains that because of the nursing shortage, the nurses who have worked through the COVID-19 pandemic are exhausted, and many are being asked to continue working even when they have tested positive for the virus.
"We need more nurses. Not only do we have to give the nurses that fight for us every day a break, but we need to create a new foundation of nurses who are going to be the ones who help and heal our kids, our parents, our friends -- hell, even us," she explains. "There is a foundation that is already doing this work, already has a scholarship fund to send more people to nursing school, and I want to help them do it."
Eddy aims to raise half a million dollars via her FNSNA campaign. "We're going to get more people to nursing school so we can create a new generation of nurses and finally give the nurses we already have a well-deserved break," she enthuses.
Fans who decide to donate money toward Eddy's campaign will be in good company. GH star Rebecca Herbst, who plays nurse Elizabeth Webber, retweeted Eddy's video and shared, "The GH nurses are with you!"
To learn more about Eddy's nursing scholarship campaign and to contribute a donation, check out the campaign's GoFundMe page. And if you do decide to contribute, make sure to let Eddy know via the Twitter post below, and she will personally thank you!
To help me and my friend @choo_ek achieve our goal, please give what you can and then REPLY here so I can thank you! Let's do this!https://t.co/XAHOKAKmz7
— Sonya Eddy (@TheRealSonyaEd) February 2, 2022
Sonya Eddy has played the recurring role of GH's Epiphany since 2006, but she's also known for appearing on many primetime shows, including Fresh Off the Boat, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Young Sheldon, 2 Broke Girls, The Middle, Mike & Molly, Mom, Castle, ER, and Desperate Housewives.
What do you think about Sonya Eddy's efforts to help raise money for nursing school student scholarships? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
