The National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) is an organization created to improve nursing education and support nursing students as they begin their entrance into the nursing profession. This takes the shape of a nursing journal released five times annually, career workshops, employment resources, NCLEX study resources, and nursing scholarships.
There are currently over 56,000 members in the NSNA. It was founded in 1952 to foster the professional growth of students enrolled in all types of nursing programs (from Associate degree and diploma programs to post-graduate work). Since then, additional services have helped to launch the organization into the national spotlight, and even those who don’t qualify for or are granted the scholarships can benefit from membership and the opportunities in educational development.
National Student Nurses Association Scholarships
The NSNA scholarships are among the best opportunities in the country for nursing students to get access to financial support. Few foundations focus as much on nursing as the NSNA, and $125,000 in awards are offered in increments of $1,000 and $2,500 each year.
In order to apply for the scholarships, individuals must be U.S. citizens (or students with alien registration numbers) currently enrolled in a state-approved nursing program. Graduate-level scholarships are only offered if it is the student’s first degree in nursing (such as going from an undergraduate degree in biology to a graduate degree in nursing).
The scholarship board looks at factors like academics, financial need, and the student’s involvement in community activities, volunteering, and nursing-related issues.
National Student Nurses Association Annual Convention
Nursing students can also take advantage of the annual convention put out by the NSNA. Students can obtain career counseling advice, attend workshops on certification opportunities, attend job recruitment fairs, learn about and participate in nursing advocacy at the legislative level, and even learn more about becoming a part of the NSNA leadership board.
The location, times, and costs of attendance vary. The convention typically takes place in the spring and you can book hotels and even flights through their package options.
To Learn More about the National Student Nurses Association
If you’d like to learn more about the organization and how you can get involved, visit the NSNA on the web at http://www.nsna.org/. Many of the features are Internet-based only, so even if you can’t travel to the conventions or participate in live courses, you can still benefit from the services and resources offered here.
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