Nurses are in extraordinarily high demand in the United States, and students or current RN’s seeking nursing grants may find that competition is very high. In fact, nursing programs at colleges and universities all over the country often fill up fast or have rigid requirements that only the best and most financially equipped students can manage. Students applying for nursing grants will need to have a strong understanding of the competition they are up against, as well as the exact process of the grant in order to capitalize on their ability to obtain educational funding that does not have to be repaid.
The nursing field is a secure one and is expected to continue to grow exponentially over the next decade and beyond. Because of the high demand for nurses, grants are offered by a large number of groups and individuals around the country. In order to qualify for as many grants as possible, it is vital to have an understanding of what organizations or individuals that provide them, how the process works, and what the deadlines are. Because of the fierce competition for grants, an applicant must be certain that their application will stand out.
The best place to start when seeking nursing grants is with the federal government. In fact, most schools require that you fill out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, in order to enroll. By filling out a FAFSA, nursing students can qualify for loans, grants, scholarships, and work study programs. Pell grants are awarded to students with financial need and can be utilized as a grant for nursing education. Similarly, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity grant, often awarded in conjunction with the federal Pell grant, can also be used as a nursing grant. Nurses that intend to enter teaching fields in their career may also qualify for the Teacher Assistance for College and Higher Education grant, which provides money that doesn’t need to be repaid in exchange for a commitment to teach under certain conditions.
Non Government Sources of Nursing Grants
RN’s and nursing students should also be aware that many professional associations offer nursing grants. The idea behind this is that by offering educational funding to qualified nursing students, the field in general will be better equipped and hospitals and organizations that offer grants are likely to attract the student as an employee after they graduate. A valuable resource of professional associations and colleges that offer grants can be found at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Additionally, the National Student Nurses Association and the Department of Health and Human Services is often an excellent resource for grants and grant information.
Because there are so many undergraduate nursing students, many organizations only provide grants to students who are enrolled in a masters or doctoral program. Just as the college requirements for these programs are very stringent, so too are the requirements for grants at the same level. For this reason, nursing students need to conduct thorough research in order to accurately fill out grant applications and actually stand a chance of earning an award. This can be quite difficult, as graduate programs for nurses are already quite demanding. The key is to set goals- perhaps to fill out one or two applications per week.
During the application process for grants, students need to be thorough and exacting. Grant applications should be studied in their entirety prior to filling them out. It is often suggested to have three sets of the same application: one as a rough draft, one as a final submission, and one as a backup in case the submission is lost in the mail or otherwise destroyed. Prior to submission of an application for grants, students are strongly encouraged to have a qualified writer or editor review the application to ensure there are no errors or omissions. It is important to note that nurses are held to very high standards, and only those with exceptional applications will be awarded nursing grants.