www.sampleresume.net |
|
|
Nursing Student Grants
|
Article on Nursing Student Grants
The nursing shortage, with its attendant news coverage has sparked a renewed interest in nursing as a career, and there’s some good news for students. More grants than ever before are available to help nursing students work to fill the need. Grants are awarded for all levels of nursing education, including continuing education for current nurses. Whatever the goal: associate’s degree, bachelor’s, master’s, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner or other specialty, the grants are out there. Finding those of interest is not one-stop shopping, but with a little research, nursing school expenses can be reduced, often significantly.
Attending School For Free
The U.S. government has just about the best deal around for nursing students. The Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, a division of The US Dept. of Health, offers a scholarship paying tuition, books, and other school expenses, plus a monthly stipend ($1,326 for the 2010-2011 school year). In exchange, the student agrees to work, after graduation, for at least 2 years at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses, such as public health or rural clinics. For those who miss out, but get a Federal loan instead, the government has a similar agreement to allow forgiveness of most or all of the loan, in exchange for a similar work agreement. The NIH (National Institutes of Health) has a similarly designed scholarship program for students.
Help in Finding Grants
The FAFSA, the Federal Student Aid application should be filled out first, since it will qualify you for Federal education funding and many other grantors will require that you apply, before they will consider awarding their grant. Most nursing schools are well-versed in all the government and private options available. Schools may have full or partial scholarships unique to their specific school. Online resources can help locate grants sponsored by nursing professional associations and private foundations. Many of the find-a-grant sites on the net are actually filled with links to other marketing schemes. One that has real, credible information and links - www.discovernursing.com sponsored by the Johnson & Johnson company.
Application Requirements
It’s best to start the grant research as early as possible, a year or more ahead is best, since grant application deadlines are often many months in advance of the actual planned school start date. Applicants will generally need to gather lots of information in order to apply. Recommendation letters from former professors and employers will be needed along with grade transcripts and financial records such as bank statements and tax returns. A personal essay describing goals and motivations for entering nursing and choosing that particular school will likely be required. Any volunteer work or any other nursing-related work currently being done should be highlighted, as it will have weight in the decision process of the grantor. Quite often a personal interview is also required. With a little research and advance preparation, the nursing school student will have one less thing to worry about when school starts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|