The NLN Foundation for Nursing Education and Home Instead are joining forces to foster and promote geriatric education through a $10,000 scholarship fund for nursing students. Six scholarships will be awarded to prepare a competent nursing workforce to deliver the best care to older adults. The scholarship awards can be used for tuition, fees, and/or books. Read the criteria below and apply today.

Criteria FOR $5,000 SCHOLARSHIPS (1 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD):

• Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited graduate nursing program (Masters, Doctorate) focused on geriatrics or gerontology.
• Applicant is a current or former employee of Home Instead, Inc. or the Home Instead Senior Care franchise network in good standing as determined by Home Instead.
• Applicant must provide proof of current or recent work in geriatrics/gerontology (employment, clinical experience, classes taken, etc.).
• Applicant must write a 500-word essay (described below) highlighting their goals to become an advanced practice geriatric nurse or gerontologist.
• Applicants must provide two academic or professional references addressed to the NLN Foundation.
• Applicant must demonstrate commitment to use their advanced degree in the geriatric population.

Criteria for $1,000 scholarships (5 scholarship awards):

• Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program focusing in geriatrics and have completed at least one academic year.
• Applicant must have 2 years’ experience in the geriatric field.
• Applicant must provide proof of current or recent work in geriatrics/gerontology.
• Applicant must write a 500-word essay (described below) highlighting their goals to become a geriatric nurse or gerontologist.
• Applicants must provide one academic or professional reference addressed to the NLN Foundation.
• Applicant must make a commitment to use their degree in the geriatric population.

Essay requirements

Please complete an essay discussing what led you to seek a nursing degree with focus on geriatrics and/or gerontology. This essay should also include a brief review of your geriatric career, your future professional goals in this field and how this scholarship would assist you in meeting those goals. The essay should be a maximum of 500 words.

We are proud to be the first member organization providing scholarships specifically to nurse educators. The NLN Foundation for Nursing Education offers scholarships of up to $8,000 each year to support the NLN’s mission to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community. 

These scholarships are awarded to nurses pursuing advanced degrees to advance their career as a full-time nurse educator. 

The funds are for master's or doctoral students enrolled in accredited programs who have completed at least one full year of study by June 2025 and for whom program/project completion is feasible (i.e. IRB approved for research, dissertation proposal defended, capstone project approved, QI or change initiative approved).

Application Requirements

Each proposal must include the below content areas. Carefully review this NLN Nursing Education Scholarship Review Rubric. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. 

1. Introduction: Describe your need for support and clarity of purpose.
2. Description of your Program of Study (i.e. dissertation, capstone, scholarly project, pilot project; quality project; change initiative).
3. Include specific outline, timeline and projected graduation date. If you have competed a dissertation proposal defense or had a DNP project approved, please include defense date. If project has been IRB approved, indicate.
4. Describe how your study links to NLN’s Mission and  Core Values.
5. Describe your goals as a nurse educator.
6. 2 Letters of recommendation (addressed to the NLN Foundation).
7. Budget Narrative: Be sure that each line item on the budget is clearly justified.
8. Biosketch Form (also available on SM Apply)

Please note that there is not a specific application template, however, each application should attempt to follow the order of the checklist and use headings indicative of these requirements. 

NOTE: If you have questions related to the application process, please contact Emma Casey at ecasey@nln.org or foundation@nln.org.