Past HRSA scholarship recipients

knittygrittyRN, MSN, RN · Aug 20, 2012

I haven't gotten this scholarship but I was talking to another nurse who has. Typically you have to work in a critically shortage hospital, in CT that's Hartford Hospital and I believe Bridgeport Hospital. The maximum amount of time you can claim the award for is 3 years and you have to work at that hospital for that amount of time (if not longer). Also x amount of hours a week have to be directed into direct patient care (if you're working as a staff nurse this shouldn't be an issue). I have heard it is really difficult to get the scholarship akin to winning the lottery you will have to pay taxes on the money they give you and show receipts that the money is only being used towards your loans. At the time I talked to someone about is she received nearly 15,000 a year for 3 years, however looking on the site now it looks like it's been reduced significantly. I hope that helps at least a bit for you hopefully someone that has recieved it can provide more information!

mtheiss84 · Aug 23, 2012

Hello. If you have won the HRSA Nursing Scholarship in the past, can you share your experiences with finding and now working in an approved facility. I am particularly interested if you could recommend hospitals or health centers in New York State or East coast region. I am starting to think about my future commitment and would like to know if it was easy to find work in a approved facilities and how your experiences are. ALSO on the more general side, if recipients can provide ANY information about this program, not just the job aspect it is more than welcome and deeply appreciated. Thank you in advance!

I too received this scholarship and would like info from anyone with experience in finding approved facilities (I find the website to be not very helpful in this). The only part of my experience thus far that I would like to share is to make sure you process your EVFs on time and with a trusted school affiliate (I somehow was not told that the school affiliate I had asked to assist me with this did not process this form correctly and missed a much needed monthly sitpend that I will never get back). Other than the complications with finding a job once I graduate, I think this program is great and I would not be able to do as well as I have in nursing school without it!

FinallyMine · Aug 23, 2012

I will need to find a qualifying job in 3 years when I finish my program. I am also struggling in finding listings. One thing I have found is that there are several "HPSA health clinics" nearby but they aren't listed as 'tier 1' on the HRSA site. In reading postings for available positions in those clinics they are posting that they are eligible for the loan repayment program.

I am receiving the scholarship and not the loan repayment program but I believe they have the same requirements for places to work.

I'm not sure if this helps but it did put my mind at ease a bit.

I would still love to hear from people if they have HPSA's in their area. I live in Maine and there are few clinics in Portland and Biddeford (Southern Maine) and a ton of areas in mid- to northern Maine. Nice place to live, lots of trees :)

patiently-waiting · Aug 31, 2012

I also applied for the scholarship havn't heard back yet tomorrow is suppose to be the deadline when they will let you know if you got the scholarship. I live in California so there are a lot of hospitals that qualify as critical shortage hospitals around the area i want to work in. I just hope i get this scholarship it would be so helpful but at this point seeing that you guys already know that you got it im not gonna hold my breath. Congrats and I know it is going to be a great help.

WorkingTowardsBSN · Aug 31, 2012

I have a really dumb question about this: when you're working your 2 years after graduating, are you getting paid? Or do you work for free because your tuition/etc was paid for?

patiently-waiting · Aug 31, 2012

No you get paid for your work

WorkingTowardsBSN · Sep 1, 2012

Thanks, patiently-waiting! :)

elprup, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2012

I have had the hardest time finding a job that qualifies as HRSA! i even moved to a rural area for my first RN job, but was let go because I could not function as a seasoned nurse after 3 months of orientation that had little structure (more like fly be free). Anyway, I relocated again, only to be told I no longer qualified for the new grad program due to my 3 months of experience! I worked at a rural clinic for extremely low pay to pay back 1 year. But now I have 2 more years to pay back and I am dying tyring to get my foot in the door at local hospitals, but since I do not have acute care experience they do not want me. Currently I am working as school nurse and have been told that it does not count. I would have thought a government job would count? But alas, if it does not count I will be looking again OR paying them back for the massive tuition they paid for me . I have no idea how their repayment works, but I am already paying $275 a month for my loans and then add theirs and not being able to find a job leaves my head spinnng. I have to make this work. This is getting insane....no job without acute care 1 year experience!

Nurse2b7337 · Dec 29, 2012

What are the qualifications for the scholarship??

Lolita34 · Dec 30, 2012

What are the qualifications for the scholarship??

Hi, you can google HRSA and you will see the website with the eligibility information. You can also subscribe and request an email to be sent to you once the application for next year is available. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Nurse2b7337 · Jan 1, 2013

Lolita34 thx for the response!!

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