New Jersey Nursing Scholarships

Scholarships and grants are available to nursing students across the country and are there to provide financial assistance for general course expenses and research projects respectively.

In these troubling economic times, students are encouraged to review all available grants and scholarships to see if there are any that suit them.

Nursing Grants & Scholarships for NJ Students

Some scholarship and grant programs are available across the country but others are specific from state to state. New Jersey is no exception and there are several valuable programs available only to New Jersey residents.

Scholarships and grants are usually established by entities like educational institutions, specialized organizations, private sector businesses and memorial trusts .

In New Jersey, the majority are administered by specialized nursing organizations.

The New Jersey League for Nursing and the New Jersey State Nurses Association are just two of these organizations that fund and administer grant and scholarship programs.

Student eligibility for these programs is determined by many factors, including whether they live in New Jersey State, what their grade point average is and what their long-term career goals are.

There are also several programs that make more than one payment per year so students have even more opportunity to obtain funding if they apply to these.

New Jersey students who wish to learn more about the many opportunities that are available for them should review the websites of:

• New Jersey philanthropic societies and hospitals;
• New Jersey educational institutions (especially nursing colleges); and
• New Jersey nursing associations.

Specific Scholarships and Grants in New Jersey

New Jersey Legion Auxiliary Past President’s Parley Nurses Scholarship

This scholarship fund has been established to assist relatives of American veterans to pay for their nursing studies. The number of awards paid out each year varies but applications always have to be submitted by March of every year.

The criteria by which eligibility is measured include:

• Applicants have to be the children or grandchildren of deceased, living or divorced veterans;
• Applicants must have resided in New Jersey State for at least two years, have high school diplomas (or equivalent qualifications) and plan to study nursing.

Further information about this scholarship program can be obtained from the American Legion Auxiliary, New Jersey Department, at 1540 Kuser Road, Suite A8, Hamilton, NJ 08619 (tel: 609-581-9580).

New Jersey State Nurses Association Research Grants

These grants have been established to fund small research projects instituted by members of the New Jersey State Nurses Association. One or more grants of $1,000 are awarded every year and, in order to be considered for a grant:

• Nurses must be current members of the Association and must be able to plan a scientifically sound empirical or non-empirical research proposal and execute the proposal if authorized to do so; and
• Nurses must submit the proposal in writing together with various documents, including a curriculum vitae and statements on previous work, publications and methods.

The Association can be approached directly for further details on these grants and can be reached at 1479 Pennington Road, Trenton, NJ 08618 (tel: 1-888-876-5762 and website: www.njsna.org).

The New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN) Nursing Scholarship

This program simply aims to provide financial assistance to New Jersey students enrolled in a nursing degree. There are several awards made each year and all applications have to be filed by June of any given year. Eligibility requirements include:

• Applicants must be either (a) Registered Nurses (RN) enrolled in a BSN program, (b) students entering their senior year in an RN or LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) program prior to the fall semester, or (c) accelerated-program students to be part of a program beginning in the summer semester;
• Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program in a New Jersey school and must be New Jersey residents; and
• Applicants must submit a 300-word essay on why they wish to practice nursing, including overall career goals, and must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00.

Other factors that will influence the selection process include academic achievement and financial need. Students who are interested in obtaining further information regarding this scholarship can contact the League at 332 North Avenue, 1st Floor, Garwood, NJ 07027 (tel: 908-789-3398 and website: www.njln.org).

Hoffmann-Laroche Scholarships

These programs are also administered by the New Jersey State Nurses Association and they have been established specifically to assist adult students studying nursing in that state. The number of awards made varies every year, applications have to be filed in December of any given year and eligibility requirements include:

• Applicants should be older students who are resident in New Jersey and either starting a second career by getting a nursing degree or just applying for a nursing qualification; and
• Applicants who are already RNs must also be members of the Association.

Other factors that will influence the selection process include GPA, financial need and the student’s leadership potential. Further information can be obtained directly from the New Jersey State Nurses Association, 1479 Pennington Road, Trenton, NJ 08618 (tel: 1-888-876-5762 and website: www.njsna.org).

Institute for Nursing Career Mobility Scholarships

These scholarships are, once again, administered by the New Jersey State Nurses Association and they have been specifically designed to help fund advanced degree programs for certain types of nurses. The number of awards made under this program also varies every year and applications must be lodged by December of any given school year.

The eligibility requirements for this program include:

• Applicants must be New Jersey residents;
• Applicants must be either (a) licensed vocational/practical nurses working on a qualification leading to the RN license or (b) RNs working on a baccalaureate degree;
• Applicants who are also RNs must also be Association members.

Further selection criteria include GPA, leadership potential and the level of financial need. All queries concerning this program can be directed to the Institute for Nursing care of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (1479 Pennington Road, Trenton, NJ 08618; tel: 1-888-876-5762; website: www.njsna.org).