Scholarships for Nursing Students in Oregon

Oregon is going to need a lot of dedicated professionals, ready to enter the nursing field in the coming years. The demand for LPNs is expected to grow by 23% and the demand for RNs by 22%. In anticipation, the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education has been working to increase the capacity of the state’s nursing schools. Unfortunately, barriers to education exist at the personal level as well. Having a commitment to the profession is not quite the same thing as having resources! There are, however, a number of grant and scholarship opportunities that can help Oregon’s future nursing workforce. These range from general governmental grants to prestigious merit-based scholarships.

Oregon students should be aware of the resource that they have in the Oregon Student Assistance Commission. There is now a common application that puts a student in the running for 400 different scholarships. Some, like the Bertha P. Singer Scholarship, are specifically for nursing students. In addition to scholarships focused specifically on healthcare, students may be eligible for other awards based on factors like geographic region, ethnicity, or life experiences. The priority deadline is February 16.

Nursing Scholarship Requirements and Amounts in Oregon

The Oregon Nurses Foundation (ONF) also administers several scholarships in the amount of $1,000. The Centennial Scholarship competition is open to students at various levels who are in the clinical part of their program. The award is designed to support those at the beginning stages of their career; experience with underserved populations, including minority groups, is valued. There are four application periods a year, ending on the last day of March, June, September, and December. BSN and graduate level students are also eligible to apply for the Smith Scholarship through the ONF. Professional membership is required. The application date may vary.

Additional scholarships are available to people who live in, or have connections to, particular regions of the state. The Grande Ronde Hospital Auxiliary (Union County) makes awards of $1,000 or more based on a number of criteria. These include past achievement, character, and financial achievement. Candidates may call or write the committee representative to get the current year’s application.

Scholarships are also available from individual colleges and universities. Schools like Oregon Health and Science University have nationally known graduate programs; therefore, you will see some scholarships that are only available to graduate students and/ or students who are pursuing programs in particular specialty areas. Others, like the Helena Fuld Scholarship, are open to general BSN or RN to BSN students.

Oregon has a particular need for nurse practitioners who can deliver primary care in more rural parts of the state. It’s far from guaranteed, but if one does have to take out a loan to complete master’s or doctorate level training as an NP, they may eventually qualify for loan repayment. In July of 2011, Oregon’s program will be renamed Primary Care Services, and new candidates will again be able to apply.

Graduate level nursing students who go on to teach at Oregon nursing schools may also be eligible for repayment through the Nursing Faculty Repayment Program. Details can be obtained through the Student Assistance Commission.

Nursing Scholarship Application Professional Advice

According to the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, one of the biggest mistakes students make is sending in the wrong type of transcript. Other scholarship committees report receiving incomplete application packets.

As the Grande Ronde Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship application reminds us, neatness matters. Just completing everything thoroughly and carefully can put you ahead of many applicants. A student shouldn’t get discouraged from filling out applications, though, because he she thinks other people might have higher GPAs or more qualifications.

Contact Information for Nursing Scholarships in Oregon

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