White sand, palm trees swaying, a year-round average temperature in the low eighties…paradise. Hawaii, an archipelago in the Pacific and the 50th state of the United States of America, is one of the most beautiful places on earth, frequented by millions of visitors annually.
What many people forget is that Hawaii isn’t just a vacation destination – it has a population of over 1.2 million people scattered across the various islands, with much of the population on Oahu.
These people work, go to school, raise their families, and live perfectly normal lives – they just happen to live in paradise. The President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii and attended school there!
Nursing School as an Investment
Earning a nursing degree is a great investment, because according to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses are among the top earners in America.
Wherever you choose to live and work, nurses will always be in demand: it is as close to a “recession-proof” career as possible. Specialists – ER or neonatal nurses, for example – will garner higher salaries than those in general nursing. It pays to look into further post-secondary opportunities even if you’re already working as a nurse.
For people interested in studying for a career in nursing, there are scholarships and grants available to help offset the high cost of living in Hawaii.
Hawaiian Nursing Scholarships and Grants
The following scholarships are specific to the state of Hawaii and its educational institutions. Some scholarships require applicants to be residents of Hawaii prior to applying.
Hawaii Student Nurses Association
The Hawaii Student Nurses Association provides scholarship to residents of Hawaii to study for a career in nursing. The amount of the scholarship varies from year to year and recipient to recipient. See the website for further information.
Edward and Sally Sheehan Endowed Scholarship
Graduate and undergraduate students wishing to pursue a degree in Nursing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene can apply for the Edward and Sally Sheehan Endowed Scholarship in Nursing. Applicants need not be resident in Hawaii to apply.
Kapiolani Community College Awards
Kapiolani Community College has the Health Careers Student Aid Award of up to $10,000. The number of awards granted each year varies according to committee decision.
National Nursing Scholarships and Grants
These nursing scholarships and grants are open to all residents of the United States, regardless of where they wish to study. Successful applicants may use the awards to apply to Hawaiian colleges or universities to study nursing.
AJNP Grant
The American Journal for Nurse Practitioners (AJNP) sponsors an annual scholarship grant of $1,000 and a one-year membership in the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP).
This award has been developed to promote the education of nurse practitioners and to recognize the ACNP Annual National Clinical Symposium, with an additional award of up to $750 to help pay for travel costs to and lodging costs for the Symposium. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.4 or above to be eligible. To learn more, visit www.discovernursing.com.
AHNA Charlotte McGuire Scholarship
The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) provides the Charlotte McGuire Scholarship Program, which was established in 1986 to provide financial aid to members of the American Holistic Nurses Association. Applicants must be members of the Association for at least six months before applying for the scholarship (one year for post-graduate applicants) and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above. Deadline is March 15 every year.
Other Nursing Scholarships
The M. Elizabeth Carnegie Scholarship is specifically for African Americans who are already practicing registered nurses. The Scholarship is to promote post-graduate study in nursing. The M. Elizabeth Carnegie Scholarship – named for the great nurse, educator and racial equality activist – grants $2,500 to $10,000 to successful applicants. Visit www.n-e-f.org to learn more.
The Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps program (NROTC) offers scholarships and on-the-job training in many disciplines, including nursing and other medical sciences. Because of the large military contingent in Hawaii, the NROTC are usually looking for young, bright, strong candidates to train as officers there and across the country. Learn more about the nursing program at the NROTC website.
Hawaii Nursing Scholarships and Grants,