Strategies for Finding Neonatal RN Scholarships

One of the very specialized Nursing niches is Neonatal Nursing. Few patients demand the hands-on nurturing and care that infants and pre-mature newborns do. But Neonatal Nursing is about much more than cuddling and caring for babies. Neonatal nurses also have to consider the needs of the mother as well, and this patient component of the neonatal nursing paradigm demands special care and guidance, before, during and immediately following child-birth. Babies born with unique challenges and with medical diseases and conditions all require intensive nursing care that requires skills outside those you'd use on adults and even children. All of this and more is part of the role of a Neonatal Nurse specialist.

At the undergraduate level, RN students receive basic education in neonatal nursing, but these are just the basics. Few nurses right out of school really specialize in neonatal; many are attracted via various nursing pathways and few RNs work in Neonatal care without at least some experience elsewhere in the hospital, preferably critical or intensive care.

Because this specialized field requires extending your education over and beyond what's needed to become an RN you will also naturally add quite a bit to the cost of your education. Is there any funding assistance out there to be found? Some. You'll not find many scholarships specifically aimed at Neonatal Nurses but a few exist. Have a look at following resources that can help get you on your way.

Scholarships for Neonatal Nursing School

Most neonatal scholarships are based on factors such as academic achievements, financial need - or both, depending on the criteria of each organization. And while more traditional nursing scholarships are more abundant than for the specialized field of neonatal, scholarships do exist. (Tip: Most scholarships for Neonatal Nurses support graduate level degrees).

Possibly the most specialized scholarship for Neonatal Nurses comes from the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. NANN, in particular, is the professional association dedicated to the role of these RN specialists. The Lundbeck, Inc. Neonatal Nursing Career Path Scholarship program provides scholarship funds for eligible RNs pursuing a graduate program leading to a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner degree. Recipients are chosen by a specialized panel that reviews applicants under a blind review process.

The March of Dimes offers a scholarship for RNs pursuing a graduate degree in Maternal-Child Nursing or a closely related specialization. Awards are $5,000 each. To be eligible for consideration applicant must already be a registered nurse who is enrolled in a graduate program pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in Maternal-Child nursing. To be considered, the applicant must also be a member of a professional health organization such as the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, the Association of Women's Heath, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses or the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

The Academy of Neonatal Nurses also offers financial assistance in the form of the Neonatal Nursing Academic Scholarship Award. This scholarship financially helps eligible RNs defray the costs of an undergraduate or graduate degree for studies that will advance his or her practice in neonatal nursing. The following is a sample of the scholarship opportunities you should pursue.

Praising creative problem-solving and perseverance, the Excellence in Neonatal Nursing Practice Award is given to candidates whose work exemplifies offering the highest standards to their patients.

For Neonatal RN's wishing to keep up on the latest news in their field, the Academy Conference Scholarship Award, which allows active Academy members the opportunity to attend the National Neonatal Nurses Meeting.

The Academy of Neonatal Nursing Ingrid Josefin Ridky Academic Scholarship Award exists to help ANN members further their careers in neonatal nursing.

In conjunction with the scholarship program through the Academy of Neonatal Nurses, the Foundation for Neonatal Research & Education is a non-profit that also offers financial compensation in the form of grants and scholarships.

Organizations such as the above mentioned exist to offer assistance to RN's choosing to further specialize in the field of Neonatal care. And since many of the RNs pursuing Neonatal Nursing are doing so at the graduate level you are best advised to include all avenues possible in your scholarship search so that you can receive the most assistance possible. By seeking out scholarships and grants that especially offer assistance to student Neonatal Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives, you will find a funding niche specifically tailored to your career path.