nursing scholarship essay examples

nursing scholarship essay examples

The Importance of Nursing Scholarships

1. Introduction

Nursing students in college might have a number of alternative financial aid options accessible to them, such as loans or grants. Scholarships, however, stand for the best form of financial assistance. Offered by various sources, scholarship monies do not need to be repaid, and thus they are “free” financial help. Such financial help is much valued for college students because there are frequently severe demands on their time, attempting to meet the many needs of their families as well as attending college. In recent years, a variety of scholarship opportunities have become obtainable to students in nursing degree programs. This has prompted letters and recruitment by schools and colleges to gather people into nursing, varying from the young adult student to the second-degree “career changer”. But why are scholarship opportunities so vital to these students in nursing? This paper will explore and address the importance of nursing scholarships.

2. Benefits of Nursing Scholarships

It is an admirable decision when one makes the choice to become a nurse. However, it does not come without difficulty. Many students are deterred from achieving their goal due to the financial strain associated with higher education. This is what makes them the perfect candidates for scholarships. Financing higher education is a worthwhile investment. It offers a short term compromise in efforts to gain long term improvement. One of the benefits of nurse scholarship from the federal government is that they offer an engaging workforce scheme. This is when the recipient of the scholarship works in a public sector facility that is considered to have critical shortages of nurses. In return for working at these facilities, the nurse is then granted a sum of holiday from his/her employment. This becomes the perfect stepping stone for newly graduated nurses. By working in a friendly environment with other healthcare professionals, the graduate is then able to establish a foundation to diverse nursing opportunities.

3. How to Write a Compelling Nursing Scholarship Essay

Step 3: Tell A Story. This last step is the most important. A compelling personal statement should begin with an exciting introduction that will immediately grab the reader’s attention. With your audience in mind, tell your story in a heartfelt, sincere manner. Be sure to give the reader what they want, but stay honest and follow your own unique style. By narrating your past experiences and what has led you to your career choice, you will provide the committee a better understanding of you as a candidate. Be sure to address how your career decision has come to fruition through both careful planning and serendipitous events. Make connections between your experiences and your character; the formation of a good nurse is due to life experiences and personal character traits. Conclude your personal statement with a brief summary of your goals and what you expect to achieve using what you’ve learned thus far. This will tie all of the key points of your essay together and provide a very strong statement of your intentions. With effort and hard work, you can make your essay a very convincing story of your path to nursing school or advanced practice.

Step 2: Create a Self-Portrait. Most admissions committees are interested in accepting a candidate who indicates a strong desire to contribute to the advancement of healthcare and shows evidence of a ‘caring’ personality. Use your personal statement as an opportunity to impress an organization with your potential and your motivation to be a part of a worthy cause. Start by brainstorming various aspects of your personality and character that could make for an interesting essay. Compile a list of experiences, achievements, and attributes that represent you in the most favorable light. In order to connect with your intended audience you will want to write about yourself in a clear, concise, and sincere manner. A good way to start would be to set aside a block of 4 hours solely for writing an original draft without fear of grammar or typographical errors. This time should be scheduled when you are least likely to be disturbed. The more time you are able to dedicate to composing a draft in one sitting, the more focused your writing will be.

Remember to follow any specific instructions provided by your school or department. Many require a statement that specifically addresses their academic program. Failure to adhere to the page or word limit or other formatting instructions specific to the application process can result in automatic disqualification.

Step 1: Self-Assessment. When you are prepared to begin applying to schools, it is a good idea to take a pause and reflect on who you are, and what you wish to achieve. A clearly defined mission will help you to remain focused and avoid the common pitfall of straying off topic. Your mission will help to align your personal statement with the expectations of your desired institution. Take a moment to consider your future career as a nurse or advanced practice nurse. The personal statement is an excellent opportunity for a candidate whose GPA is suffering due to extenuating circumstances, directly address any grades or test scores that do not reflect your aptitude for success in the program, and express your ability to meet the demands of the graduate nursing program.

Just as a poorly written essay can hinder your chances of acceptance to nursing school, a great one can set you apart from other applicants. Below are three steps to writing a personal statement that will make a positive impression on any admissions committee.

4. Examples of Successful Nursing Scholarship Essays

My goal after completing my BSN is to try and stay in the medical field and work my way into earning a Masters or Doctorate of Nursing Science degree. I feel that continuing my education with this degree will strengthen my leadership role and enhance my knowledge in evidence-based pediatric nursing practice. With the current and projected nursing shortage, professional nurses must possess a strong knowledge base and advanced analytical skills to provide the best possible patient care. Given the authority, I would like to conduct my own research and contribute findings to current evidence-based medicine resources. I also plan to become a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing. By using financial aid and scholarship programs, I would be able to attain these goals without stress and be able to give more to the children who are our future and our hope.

The last twelve years of my life have been marked by dedication to the field of nursing. From the age of ten, I have known that I wanted to become a nurse, specializing in pediatric care. The summer of my junior year, I attended an overnight camp designed for children with asthma. This experience was a pivotal moment for me. The counselor explained to a group of children and their parents that ten of the twenty children would not make it through the night due to pre-existing complications of their disease. Fallen into despair, the parents retreated to a room to console each other. Meanwhile, I provided emotional support to the children and formed relationships that encouraged them to improve their health and their lives. By morning, four children were taken to the hospital for treatment, but I was relieved to know that the remaining sixteen were in stable condition. With the knowledge I gained from the experience, I felt that I had learned a great deal from just one night staying with these children. This event has embedded in me a passion for pediatric nursing; it is something I hope to enjoy in my future career. A representative from this organization later contacted my high school and introduced me to a scholarship program they were launching for students entering the field of pediatric asthma nursing. Contributing to the beginning phase of this scholarship program would be the most rewarding accomplishment I will achieve in my career. This step has increased my enthusiasm for attending the college and has helped me to be more confident in my ability to pay for college.

Some examples of successful scholarship essays can be invaluable to those who are lost on how to write this material. Scholarship essay writing varies as much as the subjects students will be writing on. There is no perfect way to write a scholarship essay. If you compiled a hundred-page book of essays from successful college grant seekers, you would probably struggle to identify what made each individual essay a success.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, achieving a degree in nursing is not easy. By providing nursing scholarships, it will benefit both the nurses and the organization. With advancements in education, scholarship programs are the best way to ensure there are enough nurses in the future. Nursing scholarships may help alleviate the projected nursing shortage, as they typically require scholarship recipients to agree to work in a healthcare facility for a certain amount of time, which may solve the problem in the near future. This scholarship for nurses already works in some countries like the United States and Australia. A study from the United States has shown that this scholarship is a very effective way to improve the quality of nurses. In Australia, the shortage of nurses forces the health department to import nurses from other countries, which may cost a lot. By cutting the requirement for foreign nurses, ensuring that every nurse in Australia is a native, and solving the problem with this scholarship, the government can save a lot of money and still fulfill the nursing needs for their country.