Nursing Scholarships for Women

In the nursing field, there is a shortage of qualified medical professionals. Much of the nursing field is older and many are retiring. The younger workforce is not pursuing the profession as avidly as the previous generation. Qualified faculty is scarce and many prospective nursing students are denied acceptance because there is no one to teach the students. Some hospitals are offering signing bonuses, flexible work schedules, and subsidized educational grants and scholarships to attract and retain talent within the nursing field.

Clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and nurse mid-wives are all currently in high demand. Therefore, the interested individual can expect a certain level of job security. Twenty one percent of nurses are protected by the Union. The median income of the profession is nearly $63,000 annually.
Many scholarships and grants are available to attract talent within this field. Several of the scholarships and grants will be highlighted below to assist nursing students with their studies.

Neuroscience Nursing Foundation
http://www.nnfoundation.net/awards.html

The Neuroscience Nursing Foundation promotes research for patients diagnosed with neurological conditions. The Foundation was established in 1996 by the American Association of Nurses. The Foundation provides travel and research grants for those interested in nursing. Recertification grants are also available for registered nurses interested in the neurosciences.

The application deadline is July 31, 2010. The Neuroscience Nursing Foundation award is $10,000 for the Integra Foundation NNF Research Award. The Foundation awards $1000 for the Travel Grant program. The application deadline for the Travel Grant is December 19, 2010. Applications can be obtained through the website.

The Recertification grant award is $215. The application deadline is September 15, 2010. The application is available on the website.

Oncology Nursing Society Scholarships
www.ons.org

Ethnic Minority Scholarship in Oncology Nursing
The Oncology Nursing Society has over 70 scholarship opportunities totalling $500,000. One of the opportunities is the Ethnic Minority Scholarship in Oncology Nursing. The grant awards the participant $2,000. The deadline is in January of each calendar year. The number of awards varies from year to year.

Roberta Pierce Schofield Bachelor’s Scholarship
The Oncology Nursing Society also offers the Roberta Pierce Schofield Bachelor’s Scholarship. Three scholarships are awarded to three nurses interested in pursuing a career in Oncology. The recipients are awarded $2,000 per year and the deadline is January of each calendar year.

Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses Scholarship
http://www.aorn.org/AORNFoundation/GrantsAndScholarships/AORNFoundationScholarshipProgram/

The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Scholarship is offered to students who desire to become Operating Room Nurses. Several scholarships are offered of various amounts. Each year the amount and number of scholarships vary. Therefore, interested parties must inquire through the contact numbers listed on the website.

Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Scholarship
http://www.rehabnurse.org/awards/allscholar.html

The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) may grant a scholarship of $1,000 to students currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Two awards are presented each year and the deadline for the application is May 2010. This scholarship is also known as the Mary Ann Mikulic Scholarship. Applications are available through the web site.

Minority Nursing Scholarships

An abundance of minority scholarships exist. Most are of small denominations. However, any monetary assistance for school is appreciated by most students.

Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Program
http://www.ihs.gov/JobsCareerDevelop/DHPS/Scholarships/Scholarship_Applications.asp

This scholarship is awarded to an American Indian or Alaska Native who needs assistance enrolling in a health professions school. The recipient of the award will receive $1,160 per month over the course of 10 months. The award will span two years for full time studies and 4 years for part time studies. The application deadline is February of each calendar year. The number of awards varies each year.

Philippine Nurses of America
http://www.ncemna.org/ncemna/scholarships.asp

The Philippine Nurses of America offers scholarships to the ethnic minority. The amount of the award is $2,000 and five are awarded each year. The award is only valid for one calendar year. The recipient must be a member of the association and either applying to a bachelors or masters degree program. Current nursing school attendees are also eligible. The applicant is recommended to have leadership experience within their respective community.

National Association of Hispanic Nurses Scholarship
http://thehispanicnurses.org/

The recipient of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Scholarship can expect to receive $1000 dollars. The number of awards varies depending upon the budget. The application deadline is April of each calendar year. The applications are available on the website. Details will be provided upon inquiry.

Minority Nurse Magazine Scholarship
http://www.minoritynurse.com/features/financial/12_29_06.html

This scholarship is awarded to the minority pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. A recipient can expect to receive between $500 and $1000 per award. The number of awards varies. The application deadline is in June of each calendar year.

American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org

The American Cancer Society offers a scholarship to nurses pursuing their Masters or Doctoral degrees in Cancer or Oncology nursing. The Masters candidate can expect to receive $10,000 annually for two years. The Doctoral candidate can expect to receive $15,000 annually for up to 4 years. The deadlines are February 1, 2010 and October 15, 2010 for each respective program.

D.C. Nurses Training Corp Grant
The District of Columbia Office of Post Secondary Education provides a scholarship for the candidate seeking to pursue the Research and Assistance aspects of Nursing. The organization awards 16 awards per year and the average award is $13,700. The application deadline is the last Friday in April.

Delaware Nursing Incentive Program
www.doe.state.de.us/high-ed

This scholarship is awarded to individuals pursuing a nursing degree at the undergraduate level. The recipient must be a resident of Delaware. After the education is completed the recipient is expected to repay the loan through service in a Delaware hospital. The maximum amount of the award is $3000 per year. However, the award may be renewed annually for up to three additional years.

Summary

The scholarships provided were only a cross section of the types of scholarships available. The prospective student should review the website to determine which scholarships, grants, or loans are applicable to their situation and apply accordingly.