The HRSA nursing scholarship is available now. I just submitted my application although I'm probably a long shot.
How to Apply for a Scholarship
If you're interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, you may be eligible for a scholarship through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The HRSA Scholarship Program is designed to support students in various healthcare disciplines who are committed to serving underserved communities and helping to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in those areas.
HRSA offer scholarships to help pay for health professions' education.
All Scholarship awardees will provide a one-year service commitment for each year of scholarship support received.
The application cycle typically opens in late Winter or early Spring and closes in late Spring or early Summer, so be sure to check the website regularly for updates.
Scholarship requirements:
To be eligible for the HRSA Scholarship, you must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited program that leads to a degree in one of the following disciplines:
Nursing (including RN, ADN, BSN, and graduate-level nursing programs)
Nurse Practitioner
Certified Nurse-Midwife
You must also be a U.S. citizen, a national, or permanent resident.
Have no federal judgment liens and service commitment.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for scholarship through the HRSA's online application system.
Scholarship award covers:
Tuition and Eligible Fees
A monthly stipend for living expenses
An annual other reasonable costs payment
If you have any questions about the program or the application process, the HRSA offers resources and support to help guide you through the process. Don't miss out on the opportunity to receive financial assistance while pursuing your dream of a career in healthcare and serving those in need.
Anyone feel brave and like sharing the essays they submitted? I love to read fellow students' writing. I'll go first:
2. What experiences have you had or activities have you participated in that have prepared you to work with underserved populations?
August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina impacts New Orleans, Louisiana. I could not believe the horror and destruction that those folks faced, residing in the city and its parishes. All that I wanted to do was go there and help in any way that I could, with my own two hands.
Fast forward to the spring semester of my final year at Immaculata University, May, 2006. My school was sponsoring a service trip to New Orleans to help its residents. I jumped on this opportunity as fast as I could. I remember calling my mother the moment I found out about it, I just had to be a part of this. I could not believe that I was actually going to help those poor people that suffered from such a horrible act of nature. It had seemed as though, nine months after the fact, talk of Katrina and its victims had quieted down. The general public pushed it from their minds to think that all was okay again in the Big Easy. This was far from the truth. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was going to experience. Maybe the waters had receded and the bodies had been removed, but what was left was heartbreaking.
By the time our plane arrived in New Orleans, it was dark. As we drove to our accommodations, a primitive tent city, we were able to see the devastation. This was seen by the blocks and blocks of blackened streets, no lights to be seen. This whole area, that was once so populated, so lived in, once called home by so many, had literally become a ghost town. If anyone needed help and aid, it was the poor people left in this city.
At the time when my group arrived, not much work had been done yet in many of the houses. Our job was to gut out the homes that we worked on. The residents that my group helped were either disabled and could not do the work themselves, or they just could not afford it. The houses were filled with dangerous mold and a multitude of memories of the family that once called it home. There were still photographs hanging on the wall, clothes in the closet, and toys on the floor.
On my trip, our group had the privilege of helping four families. We got to meet them as well. Some retold their stories, others gave appreciation and thanks. For me, the best thing was knowing that somehow I affected them in a positive way. I gave of myself willingly, knowing that my prize was seeing these families with a glimmer of hope, comfort, or faith that everything would one day be okay again. I can only wish for the same in my nursing career.
My school turned in a 3.93 GPA and this was one of my essays. I have not received any of the emails except the accidental one from JV. I really am not sure they are looking at the GPA or essays.
What experiences have you had or activities have you participated in that have prepared you to work with underserved populations?
My first experience I have is life. I grew up with a single mother for the first 10 years of my life because she had left my alcoholic father when I was a baby. That said one of my favorite sayings is "I believe that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are but we are responsible for who we become." This would completely sum up the belief system that my hard working mother taught me. At 18, unmarried, and uninsured I became pregnant with my son. I received care at the local health department with a nurse midwife. I will forever be grateful for the care I received. Later after my son was born I joined a program through the Department of Children and Families that helped me receive my AA in human services. I chose this field so that I could pay back the debt I owed for all the people who had been there for me. I chose to work for a non-profit program called Employment Resources Northwest in McMinnville, OR working with low income families, mostly single mothers. I helped find resources for the families so they could become employable, completed home visits to make sure they had a safe living environment and unfortunately sometimes to check on the well being of the children for Child Protective Services. This job taught me many things but also an important lesson, that you can't save everyone so you celebrate the small victories.
During the time that I was married I had free time that allowed me to volunteer for programs such as Big Team for Little Children where I teamed up with a single mother who needed help and to answer phones for a crisis pregnancy line. Unfortunately after getting divorced I needed to work full time and was unable to keep up with such commitments. I do still work with women who have been affected by alcoholism because of my family background and I find that to be very fulfilling.
Anyone feel brave and like sharing the essays they submitted? I love to read fellow students' writing. I'll go first:
2. What experiences have you had or activities have you participated in that have prepared you to work with underserved populations?
Since 2005, I have been the Program Director for All American Sports Basketball, a Christian based organization that runs youth tournaments in San Antonio. Many of the kids involved in these tournaments are from areas where gangs, drugs, and drop-out rates are high. This organization gives these kids a safe place to come, an opportunity to build leadership qualities, build their self-esteem and even gives them hope for the future. My favorite example is a thirteen year old girl that I've had the pleasure to watch over the last few years. She comes from a bad neighborhood, and her brother is in and out of jail frequently; yet, this young lady comes every weekend, plays basketball, and has become an excellent athlete. More importantly, she has remained free from gangs and drugs. At this point in time, there is real promise in this young lady's ability to earn a scholarship and to play for a top rated school in the future. I have witnessed the tremendous effect this organization has on the lives and futures of the underprivileged kids in our area, and I am proud to be a part of that.
Another way I believe I am prepared to work in the underserved community is seeing and experiencing first hand what the lives of people are like in underprivileged areas. My daughter's father is from an underserved community. He grew up in the streets, learning about gangs and drugs when most kids were learning math and history. With a mother in and out of jail and an absentee father, he was told he would be lucky if he graduated high school. I have watched his family go through things that I cannot even begin to understand. I have had to learn, first hand, that the mentality is such that these kids are given little hope of excelling, going on to college, or making a future for themselves. In actuality, it is often discouraged as they are belittled and harassed for "trying to be better than everyone else". This mentality leaves many repeating a cycle of poor education and often a cycle of drugs, gangs, and criminal involvement. This cycle results in hopeless and a sense of oppression which many find difficult if not impossible to overcome. The relationship with my daughter's father has given me a better understanding of cultural differences and has made me aware of the necessity in being a conscientious and compassionate advocate for those whose beliefs and culture differ from my own.
Okay I don't normally let people read my stuff so easy comments :-)
1.how will you contribute to the mission of the nursing scholarship program in providing care to underserved communities?
living, working, and raising a family in an underserved rural community has taught me that life is about giving and receiving. for me this means that i have a responsibility to be of service by identifying and meeting the needs of those who lack social resources. as a nurse i can do this best by providing genuine relationship centered care. this allows me to serve as a gateway to resources and a catalyst for lasting change. a personal focus from health care workers develops trust which then maximizes opportunities for patient education. establishing a relationship with each patient creates a platform for understanding and motivating behavioral changes. a community empowered with knowledge will be more proactive in their self-care and equipped to personally advocate for their ability to receive quality and affordable health care. when more citizens have access to early and preventative care then overall costs are reduced which in turn allows more people to access services. serving vulnerable populations has a cycling positive impact on the entire health care system.
a vital component of my role as a nurse is to improve the lives of people in my community by teaching them to create sustainability by utilizing the local resources available to them. but, excellent health care which focuses on quality service and education does not benefit those who do not have access to it. underserved can mean uninsured, isolated, living in poverty, medically vulnerable, or many others reasons and the challenge is always how to reach these communities and create positive change. my personal health care mission reflects that of the hrsa because i have a strong commitment to improve access to quality health care within vulnerable populations. i believe that people are drawn to the medical field through a desire to serve others and from this collective desire an excellent health care system can be created and maintained.
as a nurse my focus will be on teaching health promotion and disease prevention. these two components are critical to the future health of all people, but especially to those in underserved populations. reducing health disparities is a service to all of mankind and i am dedicated to a career which serves the basic laws of humanity. my past, present, and future exist in an underserved community and i look forward to a career improving their access to the services that will help them live full and healthy lives.
Good job everyone! It seems a lot of us are or have been single moms! A totally off topic question for the single mothers who have some nursing school under their belt--what did you do if/when your baby got sick? I have a one year old (turned one yesterday...very eventful day...I will share more about that later). My dad is willing to watch her for me in Cali but I want her with me in Kentucky. In order to have her with me, I need some kind of back-up/sick child care. Just wondering what you guys did? I'm sorry to anyone who doesn't like how off topic this post is!
Another off topic bit---my father, daughter, and I left sunday from ca to ky. Yesterday, our car was struck by lightening in the middle of Texan nowhere!!! Thankfully we were not hurt but my car(packed to the brim with all my belongings) is dead. Before analyzing the car to see what's actually wrong, the mechanic says it will be a minimum of 5 days before we can have the car back. So...we are getting a rental car and will be driving through the night to make sure I arrive in time for my orientation tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully the rental people will arrive soon so we can get back on the road! Oh man oh man.
Good job everyone! It seems a lot of us are or have been single moms! A totally off topic question for the single mothers who have some nursing school under their belt--what did you do if/when your baby got sick? I have a one year old (turned one yesterday...very eventful day...I will share more about that later). My dad is willing to watch her for me in Cali but I want her with me in Kentucky. In order to have her with me, I need some kind of back-up/sick child care. Just wondering what you guys did? I'm sorry to anyone who doesn't like how off topic this post is!
Another off topic bit---my father, daughter, and I left sunday from ca to ky. Yesterday, our car was struck by lightening in the middle of Texan nowhere!!! Thankfully we were not hurt but my car(packed to the brim with all my belongings) is dead. Before analyzing the car to see what's actually wrong, the mechanic says it will be a minimum of 5 days before we can have the car back. So...we are getting a rental car and will be driving through the night to make sure I arrive in time for my orientation tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully the rental people will arrive soon so we can get back on the road! Oh man oh man.
I was lucky enough that if my daughter got sick and I did have to stay home because I didn't have anyone else to watch her then I had friends who would email me notes and stuff. I mean yes nursing school is important, but your child is more important. My babysitter will also take her if it's like an allergy thing..basically as long as she isn't throwing up she will take her...
Good job everyone! It seems a lot of us are or have been single moms! A totally off topic question for the single mothers who have some nursing school under their belt--what did you do if/when your baby got sick? I have a one year old (turned one yesterday...very eventful day...I will share more about that later). My dad is willing to watch her for me in Cali but I want her with me in Kentucky. In order to have her with me, I need some kind of back-up/sick child care. Just wondering what you guys did? I'm sorry to anyone who doesn't like how off topic this post is!
Another off topic bit---my father, daughter, and I left sunday from ca to ky. Yesterday, our car was struck by lightening in the middle of Texan nowhere!!! Thankfully we were not hurt but my car(packed to the brim with all my belongings) is dead. Before analyzing the car to see what's actually wrong, the mechanic says it will be a minimum of 5 days before we can have the car back. So...we are getting a rental car and will be driving through the night to make sure I arrive in time for my orientation tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully the rental people will arrive soon so we can get back on the road! Oh man oh man.
Oh my gosh, you poor thing! That's crazy! I wish you the best of luck and a safe drive!!!
Good job everyone! It seems a lot of us are or have been single moms! A totally off topic question for the single mothers who have some nursing school under their belt--what did you do if/when your baby got sick? I have a one year old (turned one yesterday...very eventful day...I will share more about that later). My dad is willing to watch her for me in Cali but I want her with me in Kentucky. In order to have her with me, I need some kind of back-up/sick child care. Just wondering what you guys did? I'm sorry to anyone who doesn't like how off topic this post is!
Another off topic bit---my father, daughter, and I left sunday from ca to ky. Yesterday, our car was struck by lightening in the middle of Texan nowhere!!! Thankfully we were not hurt but my car(packed to the brim with all my belongings) is dead. Before analyzing the car to see what's actually wrong, the mechanic says it will be a minimum of 5 days before we can have the car back. So...we are getting a rental car and will be driving through the night to make sure I arrive in time for my orientation tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully the rental people will arrive soon so we can get back on the road! Oh man oh man.
I think you will be suprised at the LITTLE amount of time you actually will have. You might consider that if you don't have a support system (ie, family or friends) in Kentucky, your daughter could stay with you Dad until you get all settled into a routine. I have completed my first year of NSG school (2 more to go), have a husband and 2 children and would NEVER have been able to do it without the help of my in-laws. I pretty much thought that it was the worst year (in terms of time management) ever.
My instructors have little empathy for sick children or anyone who had to miss class (even from a family death). With that being said, I had to remind myself constantly that if they were overly empathetic to everyone's situation then they would have students missing school constantly...If you are going to keep your daughter with you, I would start by asking for referrals for daycare providers from the local Department of Human Services. Bottom line is that your family comes first..if you have to miss school for a sick child then that is what you have to do.
Oh, you might consider talking to your academic advisor on the policy for missing class due to sick children, etc.
Yeah the tentative plan right now is to let my dad take her back with him and then I could bring her out with me after I acclimate to the area and have trustworthy child care with multiple back up plans. She would also stay with my parents during finals week and other times like that. I need to get one of those credit cards with an airlines to try to earn extra miles so I can get better airfare!
I was lucky enough that if my daughter got sick and I did have to stay home because I didn't have anyone else to watch her then I had friends who would email me notes and stuff. I mean yes nursing school is important, but your child is more important. My babysitter will also take her if it's like an allergy thing..basically as long as she isn't throwing up she will take her...
Good job everyone! It seems a lot of us are or have been single moms! A totally off topic question for the single mothers who have some nursing school under their belt--what did you do if/when your baby got sick? I have a one year old (turned one yesterday...very eventful day...I will share more about that later). My dad is willing to watch her for me in Cali but I want her with me in Kentucky. In order to have her with me, I need some kind of back-up/sick child care. Just wondering what you guys did? I'm sorry to anyone who doesn't like how off topic this post is!
Another off topic bit---my father, daughter, and I left sunday from ca to ky. Yesterday, our car was struck by lightening in the middle of Texan nowhere!!! Thankfully we were not hurt but my car(packed to the brim with all my belongings) is dead. Before analyzing the car to see what's actually wrong, the mechanic says it will be a minimum of 5 days before we can have the car back. So...we are getting a rental car and will be driving through the night to make sure I arrive in time for my orientation tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully the rental people will arrive soon so we can get back on the road! Oh man oh man.
I am not a "single" mom but I am an army wife. So when he is gone for 12-15 months at a time. I consider that being a single mom. If you look in the paper, or go throug social services in your local area they might be able to help you. Plus, I would talk to my professors and inform them of tour situation ahead of time. Hopefully you will make some friends that you can trust enough to help u in case a situation like that arises. Which I hope it does not. Good luck to you!:)
Does your school provide child care? We have a day care center on campus. What's even better, people with Pell grants get reduced fees. I don't use it because I have family, but I know it would be a blessing not to have to pay full price and to have something nearby.
addiesmom
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