The University of Miami (UM) School of Nursing and Health Studies has received two grants totaling over $60,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). One grant will provide scholarships to undergraduate students while the other grant will support students in the school's graduate nurse practitioner programs.

The HRSA Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program provides financial assistance to full-time, financially needy students who are enrolled in health professions and nursing programs. Through this program, UM's School of Nursing and Health Studies is able to reach out to academically gifted, financially disadvantaged students by assisting with their tuition expenses. Funding in the amount of $32,120from HRSA will support undergraduate students who might otherwise be unable to attend UM's School of Nursing and Health Studies as a result of financial need in the 2009-2010 academic year.

The HRSA Advanced Education Nursing Traineeships Program supports projects in advanced nursing education and practice as well as traineeships for individuals in advanced education programs. This program assists UM's School of Nursing and Health Studies in supporting students in its MSN nurse practitioner programs. The amount of the financial assistance available for the 2009-2010 academic year is $29,922.

"These HRSA grants underscore the vital role that nursing professionals play in health care today," says Nena P. Peragallo, DrPH, RN, FAAN, and Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies. "In these challenging economic times, funding to support talented nursing students at the undergraduate and graduate levels is critically important and deeply appreciated."

For more information on the Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students visit, http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/DSA/sds.htm and on the Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship visit, http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/grantprograms.htm.

Source:
Marie Guma-Diaz
University of Miami