2019-2020 HRSA Nursing Corps Scholarship

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I can't seem to find a thread on the latest round of Nurse Corps Applications, So I'll start. My initial point is more of me venting, but guess I'll ask - Should I even continue with my application? The new cycle and FAFSA wants us to use 2017 tax info, but in 2017, I was preparing for school and was employed full-time. Now that I'm collecting pennies and in dire need of assistance, it looks like my EFC is almost 8000. I can rarely work in reality. I'm really disheartened and confused as to why the FAFSA is set up like that.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

Specializes in Critical Care.
34 minutes ago, Tarzana25 said:

I am a previous recipient of the HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship and currently fulfilling my commitment of 2 years servicing the underserved.

My advice to you is to rough it out for this year and apply again next year. I personally applied the first year of nursing school and was not awarded, and then I applied again the second year of nursing school and I got it the second time around.

Don't give up! I had taken out loans the first year and once I got the scholarship I was given enough money to pay for my loans from the first year. I made lots of sacrifices, but I was determined to finish school debt free.

Good luck!

This is actually my last year of nursing school. Thanks for the kind words, though! ?

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@Tarzana25 Thanks for the encouraging words, this process is very stressful and I'm already planning for possibly having to apply for next year. What government job did you find working in an underserved community?

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3 hours ago, alextaylor17 said:

@Tarzana25 Thanks for the encouraging words, this process is very stressful and I'm already planning for possibly having to apply for next year. What government job did you find working in an underserved community?

Public Health Nurse

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@Tarzana25 That's awesome, my degree is in Community Health. So that would be an amazing opportunity. Thanks for the info

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I applied as well. I didn't end up starting the BSN program that I was originally accepted into and applied for the HRSA scholarship under. I opted for a better ADN program that offers employment post graduation. Does anyone know If this change in program type (from BSN to ADN) will change my eligibility if I was awarded the scholarship? I truly hope not. The program cost is much cheaper (atleast $20k) which is another reason why I opted for ADN, just in case I still end up paying out of pocket. Anyway, Good Luck Everyone!

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On 6/26/2019 at 5:49 PM, Tarzana25 said:

I would recommend applying to the scholarship again. Here's several reasons why:

1. It's free money that you don't have to pay back.

2. I just got accepted to a DNP PMHNP program, and once you're a recipient your chances of getting it again are much higher. I am applying again, missed the deadline this year but will be applying next year to pay for my Doctorate program.

3. Working with the underserved is not as bad as you think. I have a government job that I love.

4. When applying for jobs you can add that you're a recipient of the HRSA scholarship on your resume.

Feel free to ask more questions.

Wow it's so nice to hear from someone who received it!!! Was it hard to find a site you wanted to work on? I"m mostly worried about that process honestly, like finding the right fit/city/environment for work. Also, congrats on your PMHNP program! ? Have you heard of NP students receiving the Nursing Corps scholarship? Thanks. ?

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Hi! I'm just introducing myself in order to follow this thread so I know when others start to get accepted, so I can start frantically checking the website to see what my outcome was. Thanks for creating this!

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3 hours ago, ciaraf said:

Wow it's so nice to hear from someone who received it!!! Was it hard to find a site you wanted to work on? I"m mostly worried about that process honestly, like finding the right fit/city/environment for work. Also, congrats on your PMHNP program! ? Have you heard of NP students receiving the Nursing Corps scholarship? Thanks. ?

ciaraf,

It was not hard to find a site at all. I applied for jobs that I liked and would then follow-up with my HRSA contact person to provide them with the address and name, and the contact person would let me know if the site met the requirements.

I do not know any NPs personally that have received the scholarship, but in the Nurse Corps Scholarship Handbook it specifically indicates that Graduate Nursing programs in behavioral health are Tier 1, along side ADN or BSN full-time nursing students. The handbook explains the Tiers and how they prioritize the recipients to be chosen.

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Among qualified applicants with the greatest financial need (i.e., applicants with an EFC between $0 and $5,576), awards are made based on the following tiers:

1. Applicants enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited diploma, undergraduate, and graduate nursing program or accredited graduate level nurse practitioner program, including nurse practitioners specializing in Psychiatric-Mental Health, registered as full-time students for every consecutive term.

2. Applicants enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited graduate nursing program for Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, programs for certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists or clinical nurse specialists as full-time students for consecutive terms.

3. Applicants enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited diploma, undergraduate or graduate nursing program as part-time students, as determined by school’s registrar.

Attached is the link to the handbook for the Nurse Corps Scholarship:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bhw/loans-scholarships/nurse-corps/application-program-guidance-2019-2020.pdf

What I do have specific knowledge on is that most of the Public Health Nurses that I work with have received the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (LRP).

Link to Nurse Corps LRP:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps/lrp

I hope this helps to answer some of your questions and fears.

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Hi @Tarzana25, thanks for taking the time to chime in. Could you tell us a bit about what your stats were going in, including any experience you’ve had prior to being a recipient?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
On 6/28/2019 at 12:49 PM, Tarzana25 said:

What I do have specific knowledge on is that most of the Public Health Nurses that I work with have received the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (LRP).

Link to Nurse Corps LRP:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps/lrp

I hope this helps to answer some of your questions and fears.

The LRP is the next option I'm considering. I know what your debt to income ratio has to be >100%, though. I'm considering applying after I get a master's degree and just incorporating debt payments into my budget until I start school again. Do you know if the public health nurses that you work with, who've gotten the LRP are at the bachelor's or master's level? Could you maybe ask them?

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On 6/28/2019 at 1:49 PM, Tarzana25 said:

ciaraf,

It was not hard to find a site at all. I applied for jobs that I liked and would then follow-up with my HRSA contact person to provide them with the address and name, and the contact person would let me know if the site met the requirements.

I do not know any NPs personally that have received the scholarship, but in the Nurse Corps Scholarship Handbook it specifically indicates that Graduate Nursing programs in behavioral health are Tier 1, along side ADN or BSN full-time nursing students. The handbook explains the Tiers and how they prioritize the recipients to be chosen.

Attached is the link to the handbook for the Nurse Corps Scholarship:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bhw/loans-scholarships/nurse-corps/application-program-guidance-2019-2020.pdf

What I do have specific knowledge on is that most of the Public Health Nurses that I work with have received the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (LRP).

Link to Nurse Corps LRP:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps/lrp

I hope this helps to answer some of your questions and fears.

Thank you so much for the in depth response! That does answer a lot of my questions and fears. I'm happy to see NPs are higher tier too!! That is def reassuring. ? Best of luck everyone!

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15 hours ago, jleegato said:

Hi @Tarzana25, thanks for taking the time to chime in. Could you tell us a bit about what your stats were going in, including any experience you’ve had prior to being a recipient?

I'd love to know this as well.

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