Nursing
students with a wide range of disabilities are increasing in number every year. Disabilities
may include hearing loss, low vision, learning disabilities, limb differences, paralysis,
mental illness and chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and movement
disorders.
Financing
an education can be a challenge for some students with disabilities. In
addition to routine expenses (tuition, room and board, books, uniforms, transportation), some students may
need to purchase an amplified or electronic stethoscope, computer software
programs, or audio books—as well as medications, hearing aids, therapies, prostheses,
special equipment or custom alterations to uniforms and lab coats. Working a
part-time job may not be possible.
Scholarships are available from ExceptionalNurse.com,
a nonprofit resource network for nursing students and nurses with disabilities.
The organization provides links to disability-related organizations,
technology, equipment, financial aid, employment opportunities, mentors, blogs,
continuing education, a speaker’s bureau, legal resources, social media, research
and related articles.
The organization has been awarding
scholarships to nursing students with disabilities since 2003. The awards are
based on academic performance, letters of recommendation, financial need and an
essay which answers the questions: “How do you plan to contribute to the
nursing profession? How will your disability influence your practice as a
nurse”? The awards range from $250.00-$500.00.
ExceptionalNurse.com is honored to announce the
winners for 2015!!!
Kirbi Arnold from Valdosta, Georgia will be attending Valdosta State University in Georgia.
Kirbi wrote, “It wasn’t
until my third year of elementary school that I had to face another
surgery….This is when I discovered I wanted to be a nurse. The nurses that took
care of me were so patient and kind. I could tell they really cared about me.
They took time to explain to a 10 year old child what they were doing and why
they were doing it”.
Angela Stuive from Byron Center,
Michigan is attending the RN to BSN program at Michigan State University.
Angela wrote, “I was also scared. Could I do it? Will the professors
think I can do it? Will people accept me? Will patients accept me as a
competent nurse? Despite my fear, I jumped in. I sailed through both my
classroom and clinical courses with excellent grades and multiple semesters on
the Dean’s list….I had to take a lot of extra time in the lab practicing and
figuring out how to do things like give injections and take blood pressures
with one hand. I pressed on and graduated with my LPN”.
Katelyn
Simmons from Byron, New York will be attending St. John Fisher College in New
York.
Katelyn wrote, “I believe the journey of navigating
through my own disability will serve as excellent experience to help me to
provide superior emotional support, and empathy for others as they cope with
disease, injuries, and disabilities of their own....I will never forget these
lessons I have learned from my own struggles, and will do my very best to “pay
forward” all the wonderful patience and support that I have received from
medical professionals over the years”.
Congratulations and best wishes to all!!!
The ExceptionalNurse.com scholarship
awards are funded through donations, grants and proceeds from book sales of “The
Exceptional Nurse: Tales from the trenches of truly resilient nurses working
with disabilities”, “Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses working with disabilities”
and “Nursing students with disabilities change the course”. To make a donation,
please visit www.ExceptionalNurse.com.
The scholarship application can be downloaded at http://www.exceptionalnurse.com/pdf/exnurse-scholarship08.pdf
The scholarship application can be downloaded at http://www.exceptionalnurse.com/pdf/exnurse-scholarship08.pdf
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