LPN to RN Bridge

LPN to RN bridge programs allow nurses to pursue better education without repeating classes that they’ve already taken. There are both scholarships and grants available to qualifying nurses who choose to enter these programs, and other financial aid programs also exist to allow students in need to go back to school.

LPN to RN Scholarships

Scholarships are forms of financial aid typically based on merit (talent, skills, grades, etc.), and some are also based on other factors, such as religion, ethnicity, family status, and so forth. You can find scholarship applications specifically for nurses or scholarship applications for any type of qualifying student participating in an accredited program. Some of the organizations that have provided scholarships for nurses in the past include the following:

• National Association of Hispanic Nurses
• Neuroscience Nursing Foundation
• Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
• Oncology Nursing Society
• Health Occupations Students of America
• Alpha Tau Delta
• National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations

You can also find nursing scholarships directly from colleges in some cases.

LPN to RN Grants

Unlike scholarships, grants are usually given based on financial need, rather than just merit. They are offered by schools and private organizations to students who may not otherwise be able to pursue advanced education. Grants are also available to qualifying nursing students from the Department of Health and Human Services and some of the other organizations that may have nursing grants available include the Emergency Nurses Foundation Association and the Gerontological Society of America.

Other Forms of Financial Aid for Nurses

Facilities across the United States are in dire need of nurses, especially nurses with advanced education. To help attract workers, many employers offer tuition assistance programs, where you can get advanced education in exchange for working at the facility for a certain number of years. Student loans are available for those who qualify in LPN to RN bridge programs who don’t have their college costs covered by scholarships, grants, and tuition assistance programs, but loans have to be repaid after graduation. Luckily, the government provides loan forgiveness programs for some nurses, if you’re willing to work in areas where need is especially high and meet other prerequisites, so this is also an option if you need money for school.