MidAmerica Nazarene University
School of Nursing and Health Science
Department of Nursing
Accelerated BSN Program

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program

MidAmerica Nazarene University is delighted to announce a valuable scholarship opportunity for selected students entering the Accelerated BSN (ABSN) degree program in  January of 2011. Ten students who meet the eligibility requirements will receive $10,000 in one-time scholarship money. These funds may be used at the student’s discretion to pay tuition, academic fees and living expenses. This program is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): New Careers in Nursing (NCIN) Program. The purpose of the scholarship program is to help alleviate the nursing shortage and increase the diversity of nursing professionals. The RWJF is committed to programs that embrace racial, ethnic and economic diversity. The NCIN Scholarship Program specifically targets those underrepresented in nursing or those from an economically disadvantaged background (e.g. underrepresented gender or racial or ethnic minority along with the financially disadvantaged).

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:

• complete and submit the RWJF NCIN Scholarship Application Form to MNU’s
  RWJF – NCIN Scholarship Committee by October, 2011
• meet all eligibility requirements for the ABSN program in nursing, have a previous bachelor’s degree earned from a regionally accredited institution, and be accepted to and meet program requirements for the January 2012 program cohort;
• be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its territories at the time of application for the scholarship;
• be committed to participation in the NCIN leadership and mentorship programs within the ABSN program and provide stewardship and post-graduation follow-up (completion of surveys, etc.) to the RWJF;
• agree to pursue professional nursing licensure through the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®);
• be a member of a group underrepresented in nursing (racial or ethnic minority and/or male), and/or
• demonstrate significant financial need as evidenced by an annual income falling below a defined level established by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for those who are economically disadvantaged, in consultation with the FAFSA process.

Award Selection Process:

• eligible applications will be reviewed by the RWJF Scholarship Committee and ranked using the following selection guidelines: (1) underrepresented in nursing,
  (2) economically disadvantaged, (3) personal essay, (4) GPA and (5) community involvement;
• scholarship recipients will receive award notification by November 30, 2011.