Undergraduate Nursing Scholarships

Because of nursing’s recent popularity, undergraduate nursing scholarships have gone through the roof as well.
 
A career in nursing has always been considered as stable but in the last decade, the appeal has grown significantly lower especially in first world countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. This general disinterest in the profession prompted developing countries to produce nurses in hyper-drive, shipping them off to places where they are in demand and offering rather attractive salary packages that could rival even a doctor’s. This financial boost, along with the more flexible hours plus the emotional fulfillment, makes the

Getting a quality Nursing education

Nursing-specific schools and nursing-related courses started to mushroom in different countries (especially in developing ones). This prompted a need to standardise nursing education. So if you’re interested in this profession, it’s best to look into quality schools that have been approved and backed by the government.

The general disinterest in a career in nursing has been attributed to the lack of financial support for nursing education. Nursing scholarships— undergraduate or graduate—have not always been available at the disposal of a potential nursing student. But if there is one good thing that this decline resulted to, apart from giving many citizens from developing countries jobs, it’s the fresh answer to the call of scholarship for nursing education.

Several schools have opened scholarship to nursing students. Kaplan University, University of Tampa and Indiana State are only some of the colleges that have a great nursing program and offer undergraduate nursing scholarships.

Scams and Hoaxes in this field

However, you must again be wary. Due to the peak of this course, scams are also abundant. There are many fake nursing scholarships being offered that could cost you so much money. A tip when looking for undergraduate nursing scholarships: watch out for an expensive handling fee. Some nursing scholarships do require a small sum to cover miscellaneous expenses but that shouldn’t be more that a few dollars. Anything over this, try searching for a new program. Likewise, never ever give out your credit card number or bank account unless you’re already paying for tuition.

Easily acquired undergraduate nursing scholarships could be a scam as well. As with every program, there are always several requirements—submission of records, essay writing, forms. If they ask you to just kick back and relax, chances are, they’re relaxing as well.

Some loan companies also disguise themselves as scholarship programs. Try not to fall for this or you might be buried in loan repayment in the future.

Options for the aspiring nurse

There are two kinds nursing degrees. Undergraduate nursing sets the course to this career path while graduate nursing are for professional nurses looking for an administrative role or hoping to specialise. Fortunately, both have a variety of scholarship offerings.

One program that offers both graduate and undergraduate nursing scholarships is called Federal Scholarships—they are awarded to students who are in a credited nursing program. This scholarship also provides a $1500 stipend along with full tuition reimbursement. The condition is that recipients of this must serve two years in a specified health institution.

The Chance Scholarship Program is a scholarship to nursing students that gives up to $16,000 a year to a chosen student in a nursing program. Another good option is the AQHF Fund which awards $10,000 every year to first year students enrolled in nursing. The Scholarships of the United Daughters of the Confederacy help out potential nurses who are descendants of Confederate veterans. They only give out one scholarship a year.

Most undergraduate nursing scholarships, however, award smaller amounts spread out amongst a large number of people. Nonetheless, such programs could still greatly help alleviate the financial strain of tuition. The CAN Educational Advancement Scholarship gives out $1500 to 50 to 100 upperclassmen enrolled in a nursing program while the National Nursing Scholarship gives $250 to four college nursing students.  

It might also help to join civic or social organisations. The Miriam Fay Furlong Grant is a scholarship to nursing that is exclusive for upperclassmen undergraduates who belong to Alpha Tau Delta. Hosa Scholarships are undergraduate nursing scholarships for those who are part of the Health Occupations Students of America. The Mary Opal Wolanin Undergraduate Scholarship, on the other hand, is exclusive to members of the National Gerontological Nurses Association.

Some scholarships are also sentimental. The Barbara Palo Foster Memorial Scholarship is open for those who have lost a parent to cancer or has a parent with cancer.

Options for those in the minority

Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other minorities need not worry as well. They are not excluded from this slew of undergraduate nursing scholarships. Some minority nursing scholarships include: the American Nurses Association Minority Fellowship Program, the American Indian Scholarship, the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations, the National Black Nurses Association, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses and the National American Arab Nurses Association.

There are so many undergraduate nursing scholarships being offered out there. Financing education has no longer been a setback. The biggest problem now is deciding which one to go after.