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Completing a nursing degree can help you move ahead in your career
in the medical field, and nursing school is the first step to
completing your education. Nursing school can be costly, and many
students pursue nursing scholarships or nursing grants to provide
funding for their programs. No matter what level of nursing school
are you are interested in completing, there are a variety of nursing
scholarships, nursing grants, and nursing financial aid options
available. Nurses are in high demand and the industry forecast
continues to look promising; completing your nursing degree and
education is the first step towards a lucrative and rewarding
career.
Finding Nursing Scholarships
Finding the necessary funds for your nursing degree can be daunting,
but there are a variety of nursing scholarships available. Finding
and applying for different nursing scholarships as early in your
educational career is your best option. Application deadlines and
the selection process for different nursing scholarships vary by
region, state, and school; you will need to review all materials
well in advance and can work on gathering all of your application
materials as early as the senior year of high school.
You will find a varied selection of nursing scholarship available
through medical schools, colleges, and universities. However, these
are often limited to graduate students and some may not cover all
tuition costs. In these cases, nursing financial aid may offer an
additional option.
Finding nursing scholarships online may be another opportunity to
track down the funding you need. Starting or continuing your nursing
career is entirely possible by searching and reviewing scholarships
listed in online databases. Online databases for nursing
scholarships can be especially effective in matching you up to a
scholarship you have a chance of actually receiving; the search
engines are designed to filter out nursing scholarships based on
grade level, ethnicity, and even grade point average. This can help
save a considerable amount of time in finding the right fit for you
and your situation.
Contacting each of your prospective medical colleges and
universities you are applying to is another way to learn about
nursing scholarships that are state-based. If you are applying to
nursing school out of state, there may be additional opportunities
available for non-residents or even international students. Learning
about nursing scholarships during the time of your application is
your opportunity to secure your financing options well in advance.
Getting a Nursing Scholarship: What You Need to Know
Getting a nursing scholarship often involves a comprehensive review
and interview process, and you may be asked to supply references and
sample essays. The first step in getting a nursing scholarship is to
research all of the scholarships that are applicable to you; this
can take up to six months of diligent researching, and you can start
with online databases. You will need to review all scholarships'
requirements, and organize them by deadline and due dates. A nursing
scholarship may not allow you to apply until you are enrolled, and
you will need to plan accordingly.
In some cases you may need to prepare a portfolio that includes
reference letters or sponsors. You will need to locate former
professors, work-study colleagues, or even former employers who can
draft a formal letter of recommendation for you to pursue your
continuing education. It is important to contact potential
references far in advance, and you can ask for multiple copies to
make your nursing scholarship process easier.
If you are asked to submit a written essay or project sample, set
aside enough time to make sure you are meeting all requirements and
have a mentor or writing consultant critique your work. Editing your
final submission can help ensure that you have met all the requests
of the assignment.
After submitting your nursing scholarship application, you will want
to follow up with organization to ensure that they have received it.
You can do this via e-mail or a formal letter, but it is an
important step to confirm that all nursing scholarship materials
were received on time.
Nursing Grants and Applying for Nursing Financial Aid
Many schools and universities participate in national nursing grant
awards programs. These are nationally recognized institutions that
are committed to furthering education for nursing students and
professionals. Finding out which nursing grants are available
through your prospective school is possible by contacting the
admissions office each semester; nursing grants are often listed on
school bulletin boards and financial aid offices.
Nursing financial aid is another option if you do not receive
funding from nursing scholarships or nursing grants. Nursing
financial aid can cover tuition costs, books, and other related
expenses for each semester of study. You will need to keep track of
application deadlines when applying for nursing financial aid, and
in some cases, cannot be admitted to a nursing school program
without proof of satisfactory funding.
Getting a Nursing Grant: What You Need to Know
A nursing grant is designed to offer funding for research and
continuing education for registered nurses. Many are only offered to
nursing students who are pursuing a Masters Degree or doctorate
studies. A nursing grant may be offered by a nonprofit organization
with specific requirements for the recipient after completing their
course of study.
Resources for Finding Nursing Scholarships
The average cost for a four-year nursing program is $4,500 per year,
and considerably less in community colleges that offer two-year
programs. Whether you are a returning nursing student, a new
student, or a nursing professional looking to further their nursing
education, finding nursing scholarships can be a valuable way to
continue your education. Nursing scholarships and nursing grants can
help relieve the burden of financing nursing school, but it is
important to follow all application procedures and deadlines. The
following nursing scholarships and nursing financial aid sources are
available for eligible nursing students:
FastWeb
http://www.fastweb.com: a
scholarship search engine that can match you up to a nursing
scholarship based on specific criteria
National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA)
http://www.nsna.org/
a nationally recognized organization that grants nursing
scholarships and nursing grants in excess of $1,000 per eligible
student
Nurse Options USA
http://www.nurseoptions.com/studentinfo.htm:
a healthcare sourcing service that offers nursing scholarships to
any registered nurse student in their final 6 months of study
Department of Health and Human Services
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/pages/nu.htm#anchor1039973:
offers the Nursing Student Loan program as an alternative to
scholarships and grants. This program does require repayment, but
offers long-term and low-interest rate loans for eligible nursing
students
The Patricia Smith Christensen Scholarship
http://www.nursingsociety.org/career/pchristn.html:
offers a nursing scholarship to graduate nursing students who are
currently registered and carry a license. Preference is given to
Canadian residents, but all applications are considered
National League of Nursing
http://www.nln.org/aboutnln/grants.htm:
a nursing organization that offers funding through nursing grants
for students interested in pursuing a nursing education and
research. Over $40,000 in funds are available.
CollegeFunds.net
http://www.collegefunds.net/:
a scholarship database that can help locate nursing scholarships and
nursing grants based on specific eligibility requirements
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