I am currently looking into ways I can pay for nursing school. I get no financial help from my parents - mom is on disability, so I would be taking out loans to go to school.
Someone told me about the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program - in which they help you pay for tuition, books, etc., and give monthly living stipends as well .. the only catch is you have to work in a in a critical shortage facility for two years upon graduation. This sounds like a really good exchange in my current predicament.
My question is, what's the catch (other than the fact that you have to work in CSF areas)? Has anyone been a part of the NC Scholarships program? Can you share with me your experiences regarding it?
I haven't been in school in 7 years so I do not have a professor I could ask for a letter of recommendation. I doubt they would remember me. Anyway this is adding to my dilemma of applying for this.
Thank you for your interest in the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program. The 2013 application cycle is now open! The deadline to apply is May 2, 2013, at 7:30 pm ET. Learn more about program eligibility and requirements .
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to join us for an audio conference call on April 20, 2013 from 1:00 -3:00 pm ET (12-2:00 pm Central/ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Mountain/10:00 am -12:00 pm Pacific).
The audio conference call will:
Provide an overview of the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
Highlight the key points to note in the Application Program Guidance (APG)
Review “need-to-know” information and resources for participating in the program, if awarded
Offer participants an opportunity to ask questions about the Application Program Guidance (APG) and service requirements for the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
I'm in the process of applying myself. I just got my requests sent of for my letters of recommendation, so now I'm working on my supporting documentation. It's a process, but it would totally be worth it.
I have a family, but I live extremely rurally- in the Southern Black Hills of SD- so nearly every medical facility should apply (I also live close to Pine Ridge Hospital). I'm not too concerned about finding employment if I were to be accepted.
The only thing that might hold some people back that isn't totally specified in the qualifications is that because it's so incredibly competitive (only 200-300 accepted out of 2000-3000), they only really consider applicants with EFCs of zero. Of course, they say they accept EFCs up to 5,500, but from what I've read, that's really not who gets accepted. They're looking for the folks with the highest need.
I'm interested to know what was covered in the webinar!! My other understanding is that they are VERY particular about everything matching up right and being submitted correctly. They won't even look at you if your application is incomplete.
Good luck, everyone!!
Untrue. I know a girl who had an EFC of 2000 who got it. I would say that's the exception though.
This really interests me! I would love to be a part of this program, but I can't tell which hospitals are considered Critical Shortage Facilities! I called the hospital nearest me and asked if they were considered one and they lady didn't even know what I was talking about... :/
The designation of Critical Shortage Facility is a designation by CMS, and relates to the level of Medicare/Medicaid billing (percentage of total billing done by the institution that is Medicare/Medicaid). You are more apt to find this in a teaching hospital or in a public hospital that takes in uninsured patients.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
The designation of Critical Shortage Facility is a designation by CMS, and relates to the level of Medicare/Medicaid billing (percentage of total billing done by the institution that is Medicare/Medicaid). You are more apt to find this in a teaching hospital or in a public hospital that takes in uninsured patients.
Not true....these are facilities that are short staffed due to their locality.....very rural areas or inner city facilities in rough areas. They must accept medicare and medicaid. These facilities are difficult to staff due to their inner city or very rural area ie: Indian reservation clinics, inner city like the Shattuck in Boston. There is a list of clinics on the website for NP/MD's the list for nurses I have never found.
Go to the HRSA website www.hrsa.gov - they have some tools there that you can use to enter zip code data to find out the HPSA score of a facility. Facilities with a HPSA score 14 or higher have the greatest need (scale is 0-25). There is also another link that allows you to see what jobs are currently available at facilities in each area. That number changes month to month as does the HPSA score. A place could have a score of 25 today (the max) and 6 months later be a 9 if their shortage no longer exist. So stay on top of checking your regions out throughout your time in school.
Is there anyone who has received the HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship in the past? If so what did you think of it? Was it worth it? Did you miss opportunities you might have otherwise been open to? Anyone specifically from the NY Metro area?
Lolita34
148 Posts
I haven't been in school in 7 years so I do not have a professor I could ask for a letter of recommendation. I doubt they would remember me. Anyway this is adding to my dilemma of applying for this.