Neonatal Nursing Scholarships

Rewarding Work with Newborns and Preemies

Neonatal nursing involves caring for patients in the first 28 days of life, meaning newborn babies. There are three levels of hospital nursery care a neonatal nurse can provide, called Levels I, II, and III according to standard classifications agreed on by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In a Level I nursery, nurses give newborns basic health services including resuscitation and stabilization for transfer to other units. Level II care involves moderately ill babies, and Level III is for the very prematurely born or critically ill.

The work is extremely demanding, and can also be quite rewarding. As a neonatal nurse, you will see those not requiring hospitalization briefly, and those requiring more help for correspondingly longer periods. You will learn to be prepared for babies who are expected to recover as well as those who are not, you will be elated by successes and devastated by failures, but you will always be able to do something to make each sick baby’s life easier.

Scholarships From Private Organizations

Note: Most of these scholarships stipulate that students are eligible for only one monetary award from the organization during any given five-year period.

Foundation for Neonatal Research and Education

If you are enrolled in a Master of Science in Advanced Practice in Neonatal Nursing and you maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, you may be eligible for a scholarship from the Foundation for Neonatal Research and Education. You must qualify as a professionally active neonatal nurse, and there are several possible ways to do that, such as long-standing active membership in an approved professional group that promotes neonatal nursing.

Academy of Neonatal Nursing

The Academy of Neonatal Nursing (ANN) offers the Ingrid Josefin Ridky Academic Scholarship to members who are enrolled in either undergraduate or graduate degree programs in neonatal nursing. In order to be eligible, you must meet a list of seven criteria including the following: your ANN membership must be at least a year old, you must have two years’ experience in neonatal practice, you must have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have completed two courses already, and so on.

The scholarship brings $1,000. With your application, you must submit a transcript, a letter from your school, and an essay describing your goals and your degree program.

March of Dimes

Each year, the March of Dimes hands out scholarships to registered nurses enrolled in graduate programs related to the care of both mother and child. Applicants must belong to at least one of the following professional organizations: the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, or the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.

You must have at least one term of school remaining. Each scholarship is worth $5,000.

Florida Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners

The Florida Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (FANNP) gives scholarship aid to members currently enrolled in a health care degree program. Applicants must be licensed as an RN, ARNP, NNP, or the equivalent. Preference is given in several categories:

• To licensed neonatal nurse practitioners working for a degree in that field
• To members in this order: members, student members, and associate members, and
• To members of longer standing who have contributed more service to FANNP.

You may receive up to two FANNP scholarships per degree, and you may contact FANNP by e-mail to apply.

Delta State University

Seniors in the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing are eligible for the Bryan Hafter/March of Dimes Nursing Scholarship, which is reserved for those who have a 3.0 GPA and wish to become either neonatal or pediatric nurses. If you look at the other scholarships on the school’s page, you’ll see neonatal nursing students are also eligible for most of those awards.

University of Missouri (Columbia)

The University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing administers the Ellen Burge Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Scholarship for full-time students completing their senior year nursing practicum. Applicants must work in neonatal intensive care at University of Missouri Health Care. You may also be eligible for other nursing scholarships offered through the school, and you must have a completed FAFSA on file to apply.

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville’s School of Nursing offers the Kentuckiana Association of Neonatal Nurses Scholarship for $500 to undergraduate students who are planning a career as neonatal nurses. You may receive this award only once, and you should apply through the school. As is true for other colleges, you should also consider the general nursing scholarships offered.

University of Alabama (Birmingham)

The University of Alabama’s School of Nursing has a page of scholarship information, including a note on the Jo Ann Barnett Endowed Nursing Scholarship. Neonatal nursing is one of the fields of study supported by that award, and applicants must demonstrate financial need after consulting with the Office of Financial Aid.

Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt School of Nursing also maintains a scholarship page, including information on the Hilliard Travis Scholarship Fund for nurses specializing in any kind of child care, such as neonatal nursing. This is a partial scholarship awarded on the basis of academic excellence and financial need.