The AORN Foundation Scholarship Program
Purpose
To provide scholarships to students who are pursuing a career in perioperative nursing and to registered nurses who are interested in and committed to perioperative nursing to continue their education by pursuing a baccalaureate, master‟s or doctoral degree in nursing or a complementary field.
Eligibility
Nursing Student—The applicant must be enrolled at the time of application in an accredited program as a nursing major for the 2008-09 academic year (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009). Acceptance into a pre-nursing program only does not qualify; applicant must have complete program pre-requisites. The applicant must be in a program leading to initial licensure as an RN. The applicant must possess an interest in the field of perioperative/surgical nursing. This interest and/or experience must be clearly demonstrated in the personal statement. Baccalaureate—The applicant must be enrolled at the time of application in an accredited baccalaureate degree program in nursing for the 2008-09 academic year (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009). The applicant must have a current license to practice as a registered nurse and must have a commitment to perioperative nursing. The applicant must have a current AORN membership by application deadline date (June 15, 2008) Master’s—The applicant must be enrolled at the time of application in an accredited master‟s degree program in nursing or in an accredited master‟s degree program in another discipline for the 2008-09 academic year (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009). The applicant must have a current license to practice as a registered nurse and must have a commitment to perioperative nursing. The applicant must The applicant must have a current AORN membership by application deadline date (June 15, 2008) Doctoral—The candidate must be enrolled at the time of application in a doctoral program in an accredited university for the 200809 academic year (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009). The applicant must have a current license to practice as a registered nurse and must have a commitment to perioperative nursing. The applicant must The applicant must have a current AORN membership by application deadline date (June 15, 2008)
Awards
The number of awards and amount of the awards will be determined annually. Awards are not renewable. The scholarships will be applied to educational expenses including tuition, fees and books. Winners will be required to submit grades and invoices for these allowable expenses corresponding to each semester no later than August 1, 2009.
Winner Selection
A Selection Committee appointed by AORN President-elect will evaluate the applications and select the winners by a blind review process. The use of this committee is designed to ensure the impartiality and confidentiality of the selection process. In evaluating the applicants, the committee will consider the applicants‟ academics/transcripts and personal statement.
Making Changes to Your Application
Return to https://www.scholarshipadministrators.net/ and click the “APPLY for a new scholarship” link. Using Login Option 2, enter your access key (AORN), Application Identification Number and name to re-enter the application process. Click Continue on each tab until you reach the section that needs to be corrected or updated. Make changes as necessary and print a new Cover Page for you r records. You do not have to resubmit paperwork unless there is a change in test scores or class rank and/or size, prior to the postmark deadline.
Checking the Status of Your Application
To check the status of your application, return to https://www.scholarshipadministrators.net/ and click the „Check Application Status‟ link. Enter your AIN, first name and last name. Then click Submit.
Responsibilities of Recipients
It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure he/she is enrolled in an accredited program, earning credits applicable t o the specific degree. The recipient is also responsible for updating his/her current contact information including address, phone, and email.
Payment of Funds
Checks will be mailed to each recipient‟s mailing address and will be made payable to the recipient. Recipients must submit grades and invoices for allowable expenses (tuition/fees/books) no later than August 1, 2009. Funding period covers courses starting on or after July 1, 2008 and starting on or before June 1, 2009. The only exception for earlier payment will be for scholarship recipients graduating in December 2008. Those scholarship recipients must submit grades and invoices for tuition, fees, and books by February 1, 2008. Undergraduate scholarship recipient will be reimbursed for Nursing Program courses with a B or higher grad e only. If the Nursing Program is not on the grade system, then the equivalence to an "above average" grade will be substituted as the requirement. Masters and PhD programs are reimbursed for health/nursing/teaching/administration courses with a B or higher grade only. If the Program is not on the grade system, then the equivalence to an "above average" grade will be substituted as the requirement.
Program Administration
To assure complete impartiality in selection of winners and to maintain a high level of professionalism, the program is administered by Scholarship Program Administrators, Inc., a firm that specializes in managing sponsored scholarship programs.
Questions
For additional information regarding the scholarship program contact: The AORN Foundation Scholarship Program Scholarship Program Administrators, Inc. P.O. Box 23737, Nashville TN 37202-3737 Fax (615) 320-3151 Email: https://www.scholarshipadministrators.net/EmailRequestForm.asp Access Key: AORN
Mail By June 15 to: AORN Foundation Scholarship Program c/o Scholarship Program Administrators, Inc. P.O. Box 23737 Nashville TN 37202-3737
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
All applicants must complete steps 1-4: Baccalaureate, Master’s and Doctoral students must also complete step 5. 1. Complete this Application. 2. Obtain and attach an official transcript from current program, and/or official transcript from your most recently completed degree or course work showing at least 9 credit hours. 3. Attach your letter of acceptance into your current program. 4. Mail your completed scholarship application by the June 15 postmark deadline to the address indicated above. 5. Attention Baccalaureate, Master’s and Doctoral students: You must also submit your current resume or CV. Student Information: Scholarship For Which You Are Applying? Masters Doctoral Bachelors Nursing Student First ___________________________________MI _______ Last ____________________________________________ Credentials: _______________________________ Maiden/Other name (as it appears on transcript): ______________________________________________________________ Permanent Mailing Address ____________________________________________________ Apartment _____________ City ____________________________________________________ State _________ ZIP _______________________ Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY) _____ / _____ / ________ E-Mail ___________________________________________________ Home Phone # (______) __________-_____________ Work Phone # (______) ____________-____________________ *Are you a member of AORN? ______Yes ______ No If yes, list the total number of years as a member: ____________
* For BS, Master’s and Doctoral students: You must have a current AORN membership by application deadline date (June 15, 2008)
Employment Information: Name of Current Employer ___________________________________________________________________________ Employee Work Address _____________________________________ City ____________________ State __________ Nursing Information: RN License Number & State (BS, Master’s and Doctoral only) ____________________________________________________ Certification Type and Number ________________________________________________________________________ Total Number of Years of Perioperative Experience: _________________
Academic Information: Name of School:
Address:
*It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure he/she is enrolled in an accredited program, earning credits applicable to the specific degree.
Type of Program Nursing Student ADN Diploma BSN Master‟s-entry Accelerated Second-degree BSN Other Masters Degree Please specify the degree program ______________________________________________ Doctoral Degree Please specify the degree program ______________________________________________ Current Student Status: Full time Part time Number of credit hours completed towards the degree specified above:________ Anticipated date of graduation for the degree specified above: I am a Surgical Technologist I hold a college degree in another field (indicate:_____________________) Financial Information:
Anticipated tuition, fees, and books expenses only (2008-09 academic year): DO NOT INCLUDE ROOM & BOARD OR OTHER EXPENSES
(MM/DD/YYYY)
____ / ___ / _____
Tuition cost Per credit hour including fees $ ______________ Total # of credit hours to be taken ______________ OR Per semester tuition charge, including fees ______________ Anticipated cost of books$ ______________ Total amount of tuition, fees, and books for 2008-09 academic year$ ______________
Note: Undergraduate scholarship recipient will be reimbursed for Nursing Program courses with a B or higher grade only. If the Nursing Program is not on the grade system, then the equivalence to an "above average" grade will be substituted as the requirement. Masters and PhD programs are reimbursed for health/nursing/teaching/administration courses with a B or higher grade only. If the Program is not on the grade system, then the equivalence to an "above average" grade will be substituted as the requirement.
Additional Funding: Please indicate if you are receiving financial assistance for the 2008-09 academic year. Disclose additional scholarships, grants, employer assistance, tuition reimbursement, or other types of aid that are not repayable; do not include loans. Include funding that you have applied for but have not been notified about by the time of submission. Funding Source Amount Dates of Assistance _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITIES List volunteer activities in which you have participated during the last three years. Indicate the number of years involved in each activity. Please define any acronyms. Activity Description Years Involved Highest Position Held
Describe your current and past contributions to AORN on a local, state, and national level
Personal Statements: Nursing Student:
(Please limit essays to 500 words or less)
1) Why have you chosen to pursue a career in nursing and what are your career goals? 2) What experience or exposure have you had in the OR/surgical field (academic and/or clinical)? If you have not had any and your program includes exposure to the OR, describe the program. If your program does not have a surgical rotation of coursework, explain why (you may have to research with your professors to find this answer). 3) How do you believe AORN promotes the specialty of perioperative nursing? Bachelor’s Degree: 1) Describe your role as a perioperative nurse. 2) What are your professional goals? 3) How will you apply your degree to perioperative nursing? Master’s Degree: 1) 2) 3) 4) Describe your role as a perioperative nurse and your professional goals. Why did you choose this master‟s program and how will this program assist you in achieving your goals? What perioperative nursing role does this program prepare you for? What courses and clinical learning activities are related to perioperative nursing?
Doctoral Degree: 1) 2) 3) 4) Describe your role as a perioperative nurse and your professional goals. Why did you choose this doctoral program? How will this program assist you in achieving your professional goals and advancing perioperative nursing? Describe your research area of interest and your plan for dissertation.
APPLICATION CHECK LIST You may use the following checklist to ensure the application process is complete. All documents must arrive in the same package for the submission to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
I have included my completed application I have included my current resume or CV (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral only) I have included my letter of acceptance (If applicable) I have included my transcript from my current program and/or transcript from my most recently completed degree I have included my essay. I understand these documents may be scanned and agree not to staple, paper clip or otherwise attach documents together. I have photocopied my entire submission for my files.
CERTIFICATION
I certify, to the best of my knowledge, that the information on this application is complete and accurate. Falsification of a ny information will cause my disqualification from the scholarship competition. I understand it is my responsibility to make sure this application is completed and mailed by the required postmark deadline listed on the application. Furthermore, I understand that if my application is not complete, or if I do not submit my application by the postmark deadline, I may be disqualified from the scholarship competition and may not be considered for a scholarship. This application, upon receipt, becomes the property of the scholarship sponsor, and of Scholarship Program Administrators, Inc., the administrator of the scholarship program. To comply with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, I hereby give permission for school officials to release my secondary school record and other requested information, if necessary. Applicant‟s Signature __________________________________________________ Date _____________________