Most of the visitors to this site will arrive searching for opportunities to join the nursing field starting with an entry level position such as the licensed practical nurse or LPN. We’ve gone over the LPN job description and discussed the tremendous opportunity the LPN position is for aspiring nurses just looking to get their foot in the door of the healthcare industry. However, with all that said, any solid career path is going to offer growth opportunities, and the nursing profession is no different.
College grants are a source of financial assistance that never have to be paid back the way that borrowing from a bank or credit card do, so they can go a long way toward helping one realize their educational and professional goals. Most people are clueless how many nursing grants are available from a wide range of government grant programs at both the state and federal level. In case you haven’t heard, there is a tremendous shortage of nurses available to meet the growing healthcare demands of the country, and as a result, hundreds of grant opportunities are available for LPNs to go back to school and become registered nurses (RNs). Despite the fact that an LPN salary is quite attractive to nursing newcomers, many established LPNs and medical assistants aspire to earn a higher salary, increase their qualifications for better (higher paying) jobs, and specialize in areas of the medical field that interest them most. Online LPN to RN college grants fill this need – it’s just a matter of knowing where to look, and more importantly, taking action to acquire them.
The Federal Pell Grant is available to any undergrad students, regardless of major, contingent on being financially eligible. Students could qualify for up to $5,000 per year in many cases, making their financial burden to pay for specialized training much easier to deal with. But it doesn’t stop there, there are many government grants available to nurses because of the huge demand in the United States as discussed above. A great place to start is the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, which offers a number of grants to students interested in nursing or want expand their training. Similarly, almost every state offers grant programs, provided you are willing to work in the state for a designated period of time after graduation. Just be sure to thoroughly review and understand the grant requirements before applying.
Another option are private organizations that offer nursing grants, including the following:
- American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
- Emergency Nurses Foundation Association
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- Gerontological Society of America
As to be expected from their names, some of these organizations only support nurses in certain specialties. Some private organizations offer scholarships to a wide range of nurses or thsoe seeking another health related educational degree. Some grant programs cater specifically to students who need distance learning opportunities, like those who have existing jobs, family, or other responsibilities and want to study at their own pace.
However, it may be a bit more difficult to find grants for online degree programs. But as long as you research and identify an accredited college to enroll in, there will most likely be several grant opportunities for you. The best way to find out about grant qualifications is to call the grant committee for the specific grant you’d like to acquire and they’ll let you know if you qualify.
You might be interested to know that grant opportunities are available to nurses that are unique to most other fields. for instance, as an RN you can apply for a federal loan repayment or forgiveness program. These are like grants for post graduates, contingent on certain criteria. For example, if you’re willing to work in a high-need facility for a specific number of years, you can be repaid for up to 85% of your student loans once you qualify.
Lastly, be sure to investigate the LPN to RN programs available through your employer, if any. Many doctor’s offices, hospitals, health organizations, and other LPN employers will pay for employees to become RNs in exchange for a commitment to work for them for a certain number of years. What an excellent way to enroll in an online LPN to RN program free of charge!
Resources:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
