Nursing, as a profession has remained deplorably underrepresented despite of its high demand and particularly in the regions of the country, which are medically underserved, the number has been distressingly less than required to fill the need.
A division of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is sponsoring handful of invaluable grants applicable to the nursing students either directly or indirectly. Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students are one such scholarship funded federally not only to financially weakened nursing students but also to other students who have enrolled themselves in full time program of health sciences.
Wide array of specialties such as dental hygiene program, occupational therapy, veterinary school and many others are covered under eligible programs. Students can apply for this scholarship through financial aid office of school and are chosen by the participating programs and disperse funds as required.
Another federal funded program is Nursing Scholarship Program, executing more than 200 scholarships or grants on an annual basis to qualifying nurses. To avail this grant or scholarship, students have to agree to work for minimum of two years at a high-need health care institution after graduation. Students can cover their tuition and related expenses with the scholarship money and in addition, a stipend of around $1000 is offered monthly.
Nursing students who are pursuing undergraduate course on a full time basis in an officially recognized nursing program are preferred. States are also making vigorous efforts to support nursing education through administering grants with a purpose of restoring lackadaisical nursing profession. Reports have shown that 38 states have constituted both state funded grant and state loan programs to provide funds to students as an incentive to them and motivate them to pursue nursing as their career.
As such, state schools of Florida consist of strong and effective programs funding nursing education, as Advanced Education Nursing Grants from HRSA were awarded to four state universities namely University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, the University of South Florida and University of Florida-Gainesville. Similarly The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority as a part of Nurse Scholars Program executes around 300 to 400 awards, based on merit whereby eligible students can get scholarship up to $6000.
For making this fund as a source to pursue the desired profession, eligible students should pursue two or four-year state recognized undergraduate or graduate nursing program on full time basis. Not only this, impetus has also been made to increase minority and international nursing students through funding and facilities as a part of remedy. As such, American Indian Students United for Nursing is sponsored by Arizona State University.
This is federally funded organization, which provides scholarship to Native Americans for nursing education who could have not afforded to enter the profession otherwise. To get more information about the scholarship, you can contact your state colleges and universities for the grant programs being offered for nursing education.
