New scholarship to benefit nursing students

New scholarship to benefit nursing students

The healthcare industry is experiencing a shortage of workers, resulting in rewarding career opportunities to those considering earning a college degree in nursing, and the many financial aid options available may make that decision even easier.

For example, the American Association of Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society have announced they are launching the Frank Lanza Memorial Scholarship Program, which will provide financial support to students enrolled in registered nursing, respiratory care or emergency medical service programs at select community colleges.

The program will provide scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each for up to 25 students. The funds will be awarded to eligible part-time, full-time and international students for the 2010 academic year.

Earning a degree in nursing may be a great option for those looking to switch careers as the Labor Department says demand for nurses is expected to grow by 23 percent over the next seven years, and the top salaries in the field already exceed $83,000 per year. Moreover, government analysts predict that by 2012, a total of 1 million nurses will be needed to care for the aging population, and some 587,000 new nursing jobs will be created nationwide.

Working adults have also benefitted from pursuing online degrees which are cheaper and more flexible than on-site instruction.