The Campaign for Nursing's Future is an initiative from Johnson & Johnson to address the nationwide nursing shortage, which is expected to be about 12,000 positions by 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Students in online nursing degree programs may benefit from the campaign, which recently announced a partnership in South Carolina to address the state's shortage. The partnership will host the Promise of Nursing for South Carolina gala, which will raise funds and provide scholarships to encourage enrollment in nursing programs.

“Nurses are the heart and soul of patient care as they care for patients during their most intimate
moments, from bringing new life into the world to helping patients die with dignity,” said Dr. Marilyn J. Schaffner, chief nursing executive and administrator for clinical services at a South Carolina university.

The American Association of Colleges and Nursing said the country's aging population - sped up by the large baby boomer generation - needs more doctors. The organization estimated that people older than 65 need about four times as much medical attention as their younger counterparts.