Virginia Nurse Practitioner/Midwife & Nurse Educator Incentive Programs

 

Application Cycles (registration): September 1st to November 30th of each year.

Virginia offers several scholarship opportunities to help pay for nursing education in exchange for service in Virginia upon graduation. Scholarships are available for individuals seeking degrees as Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Educators.

Nursing Scholarship Programs 2022 Guidelines

 


 

Nurse Practitioner/ Nurse Midwife Scholarship Program

The Nurse Practitioner/ Nurse Midwife Scholarship Program provides scholarship awards to students who agree to practice full-time as a Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Midwife in a medically underserved area of Virginia. All awards are made by a Nursing Scholarship Committee, appointed by the State Board of Health. The Office of Health Equity (OHE) of the State Health Department serves as the staff element to the Nursing Scholarship Committee and has no role in the determination of scholarship awarded to recipients. The guidelines for determining scholarship awards to recipients are established by the Nursing Scholarship Committee. Preference for the scholarship award shall be given to residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia who are minority students, students enrolled in Family Practice, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Pediatrics, Adult Health, and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Programs. Participants residing in Medically Underserved Areas (MUA’s) as determined by the Board of Health will also be given preference.

In order to be considered for the Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Midwife Scholarship program, the following are required:

  • Applicant must be a United States Citizen , National, hold an immigration visa or classified as a political refugee as verified by a social security number included in the application.  Persons with a temporary or student visa are not eligible.

 

  • Applicant must be a resident of the State of Virginia for at least one year.  Verification provided must prove that the applicant has lived in Virginia for at least one year (ex. Renewal date on driver’s license, previous year on voter registration card, motor vehicle registration/employment records/deed of property/ sources of financial support, etc if they reflect multiple years).  Please provide one of the following appropriate forms of verification:  1.) State Income Tax record or statement 2.) Driver's license with renewal information  3.) Voter registration card 4.)Motor vehicle registration  5.) Employment record 6.)  Ownership of real property 7.)  Financial support records.

 

  • Applicant must upload a one page Narrative Summary.  “Section 7-Narrative Summary” must be printed at the top of the page.  The applicant should sign and date the bottom of the page.  (The Narrative Summary will not be accepted if not submitted as stated above.)  In one page or less, the summary must briefly explain the significance of the Virginia Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Midwife Scholarship in pursuing the applicant’s educational goals, any school/community activities, and any skill-set that is pertinent to the nursing profession.  If the Narrative Summary exceeds the one page limit, it will not be accepted.  Please include:

1.        Scholastic attainment

2.        Character attributes and adaptability to the nurse practitioner/nurse midwife profession

3.        Plans for practicing in Virginia following graduation

4.        Any specializations in the following areas: family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, adult health, and

      geriatric nurse practitioner programs.

5.        School and/or community activities

6.        Any skill sets pertinent to the profession

 

  • Applicant must be accepted to or enrolled in a school [VP1] of nursing in the State of Virginia, which is approved by the State Board of Nursing.  The applicant must have the Dean/Director/Chair of the Applicant’s School of Nursing complete Section 8 of the application, provide an original signature and have it returned to him/her to be submitted with the application.   Section 8 will not be accepted if it is not submitted with the application.

 

  •   If applicable, the applicant must demonstrate financial need [VP2] verified by a Financial Aid Officer or Authorized Personnel.  The applicant must file one or more of the following: 1) Financial Aid Form (FAF) of the College Scholarship Service 2) The Family Financial Statement (FFS) of the American College Testing or 3) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the institution the applicant is attending or will attend to determine financial need. The recommendation of the Financial Aid Officer or Authorized Personnel must be based on one of the three referenced need analysis documents and must include a specific dollar amount that reflects the applicant's financial need.  Section 9 will not be accepted if it is not submitted with the application.

 

  • Applicant must complete Section 10 and upload two (2) letters of reference/commendation.  At least one reference letter must be from a former faculty member or teacher.  Request references in advance and include with the application package.  Letters of reference/recommendation is a part of a complete application.

 

  • Applicant must upload curriculum vitae or resume.

 

  • Applicant must upload an official transcript of grades from all schools attended. The transcript will not be accepted if it is not submitted with the application. The applicant must demonstrate a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.5 if currently enrolled in and attending a nursing program. Request transcripts in advance and include with the application.

 


 

Nurse Educator Scholarship Program

The Nurse Educator Scholarship Program is intended for part-time and full-time master’s and doctoral level nursing students.  All scholarship awards are made by an Advisory Committee appointed by the Virginia State Board of Health. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH)-Office of Health Equity (OHE) of the State Health Department serves as the staff element to the Advisory Committee and has no role in the determination of scholarship recipients.  The Advisory Committee recommends the award selection criteria to the State Commissioner of Health. Awards are based on scholastic attainment, financial need, character, and adaptability to the Nurse Educator specialty.

In order to be considered for a Nurse Educator scholarship, the following are required:

  • Applicant must be a United States Citizen , National, hold an immigration visa or classified as a political refugee as verified by a social security number included in the application.  Persons with a temporary or student visa are not eligible.

 

  • Applicant must be a resident of the State of Virginia for at least one year.  Verification provided must prove that the applicant has lived in VA for at least one year (ex. Renewal date on driver’s license, previous year on voter registration card, motor vehicle registration/employment records/deed of property/ sources of financial support, etc if they reflect multiple years).  Please provide one of the following appropriate forms of verification:  1.) State Income Tax record or statement   2.) Driver's license with renewal information 3.) Voter registration card 4.)Motor vehicle registration 5.) Employment record 6.) Ownership of real property 7.)  Financial support records.

 

  • Applicant must upload a one page Narrative Summary. “Section 7-Narrative Summary” must be typed at the top of the page.  The applicant should sign and date the bottom of the page.  (The Narrative Summary will not be accepted if not submitted as stated above.) In one page or less, the summary must briefly explain the applicant’s personal and professional interest in nursing and nursing education. The applicant should describe an interest and willingness to teach in Virginia, including type of educational program/institution and plans for professional practice in Virginia following graduation.  If the Narrative Summary exceeds the one page limit, it will not be accepted.

 

  • Applicant must be accepted to or enrolled in a master’s or doctoral level nursing program (full or part time) in the State of Virginia and complete the degree requirements within two years or less.  The applicant must have the Dean/Director/Chair of the Applicant’s School of Nursing complete Section 8 of the application, provide an original signature and have it returned to him/her to be submitted with the application.   Section 8 will not be accepted if it is not submitted with the application.

 

  •  Applicant must complete Section 9 and upload two (2) letters of reference/commendation.  At least one reference letter must be from a former faculty member or teacher.  Request references in advance and include with the application package.  Letters of reference/recommendation is a part of a complete application.

 

  • Applicant must upload curriculum vitae or resume.

 

  • Applicant must upload a current official transcript of grades from all schools attended with the application.  Request transcripts in advance and include with the application.  If the applicant is already enrolled and has started the graduate nursing program, the applicant must provide transcripts that demonstrate satisfactory academic progress. Official transcripts will not be accepted separately.

 

  • If applicable, the applicant must demonstrate financial need verified by a Financial Aid Officer or Authorized Personnel.  The applicant must file one or more of the following: 1) Financial Aid Form (FAF) of the College Scholarship Service 2) The Family Financial Statement (FFS) of the American College Testing or 3) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the institution the applicant is attending or will attend to determine financial need. The recommendation of the Financial Aid Officer or Authorized Personnel must be based on one of the three referenced need analysis documents and must include a specific dollar amount that reflects the applicant's financial need.  The Financial Aid Officer or Authorized Personnel must provide signatures in Section 10 of the application.

 


 

Contact

If you have any questions related to the program, please contact either Cassandra Braxton, Health Workforce Coordinator, by calling (804) 624-1915 or by emailing Cassandra Braxton or Olivette Burroughs, Statewide Health Workforce Manager, by calling (804) 864-7431 or by emailing Olivette Burroughs.