Nursing

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) scholarships

The American Association of College of Nursing maintains a database of scholarships, grants and loan forgiveness programs that are specific to nursing.  

View scholarships and financial aid opportunities from AACN

Health Resources & Services Administration Nurse Corps scholarships

As a student accepted or enrolled in a diploma, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree nursing program, you can receive funding for tuition, fees, and other educational costs. In exchange, you must work at an eligible facility with a critical shortage of nurses—a Critical Shortage Facility (CSF)—upon graduation.

Award
We give funding preference depending on your financial need.

Eligibility
You must be:

• a U.S. citizen (born or naturalized), a national, or a lawful permanent resident;
• enrolled—or accepted for enrollment—in a professional nursing degree program at an accredited school of nursing in the U.S.;
• beginning classes no later than September 30;
• free from any federal judgment liens;
• free from an existing service commitment;
• not overdue on a federal debt.

Apply for the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship

The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP) addresses access to health care by developing a Native Hawaiian health care workforce of professionals committed to serve the unique health needs of Hawaiian communities. The program recruits and nurtures professionals in-training for primary health care disciplines and specialties most needed to deliver quality, culturally competent health services to Native Hawaiians throughout the State of Hawai‘i. 

The merit-based program awards generous scholarships to eligible individuals that appear to be dedicated to providing primary health services to Native Hawaiians and their families in Hawai‘i.

Apply for the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship

Nursing Fund Scholarship

Nursing scholarship funds are set aside each year to assist students with nursing school finances.

Eligibility
To be eligible for an award, a student must be in good academic standing in the RN-BSN or BSN program.

Apply for the Nursing Fund Scholarship

Pierce County Nurses Association Scholarship

PCNA offers four different types of scholarships to nursing students. Scholarship funds are sent directly to the accredited school.

Eligibility
PCNA scholarships are available to students living or attending school in Pierce County as well as within our expanded jurisdictional boundaries of Thurston, Kitsap, Grays Harbor, Mason, Clallam and Jefferson counties.

Apply for the Pierce County Nurses Association Scholarship

Providence Saint Peter Foundation Scholarship

The Providence Foundation scholarship is from the Foundation’s Greatest Need Fund.

Amount
Amount of the awards are based on a combination of need (FAFSA) and overall potential contribution to the nursing profession.

Eligibility
To be eligible for an award, students must meet employment criteria at Providence Southwest Region, submit an essay addressing specified criteria, and be enrolled, at least half-time as a student in Saint Martin’s University RNBSN program, and be in good standing in the program.

Apply for the Providence Saint Peter Foundation Scholarship

Washington State Nurses Foundation Scholarship

The Washington State Nurses Foundation (WSNF) awards scholarships annually to qualified students who meet the eligibility requirements as outlined on the application website.

Amount
The minimum amount of each scholarship is $1,000. 

Apply for the Washington State Nurses Foundation Scholarship

Is there a separate nursing application?

• No. Transfer nursing students submit the same online transfer application as other Saint Martin’s transfer students.
• There are specific essay question prompts for nursing applicants.

What is holistic admissions?

Saint Martin's has a holistic admission review process that considers academic factors in conjunction with:

• A student's unique talents and experiences
• Extra curricular activities (leadership positions, service activities, hobbies, jobs, clubs, family commitments, experience in or with health care, etc.)
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• Nursing application essays

Other factors may be considered include: being a first generation college student or being economically or environmentally disadvantaged.

How many transfer students will be admitted to the traditional BSN program?

• Transfer students are admitted on a space available basis into the upper division nursing program.
• The number of transfer students admitted each year will vary.

What is the deadline for submitting an application for the traditional BSN program?

• Feb. 1 for both fall and spring cohorts.
• Transfer students will be offered admission to either the fall or spring cohort when accepted.

What is the deadline for submitting an application for the LPN to BSN program?

• Feb. 1 (only one cohort per year).

What are the application deadlines for the RN to BSN program?

• Applications for the RN to BSN program (for those who already have or are completing a nursing degree) are accepted year round.
• Students may start the RN to BSN program any semester.

What if I do not have a 3.0 GPA or a 3.0 GPA in the pre-requisite sciences?

• Nursing is a competitive, academic rigorous major. Most competitive applicants will have a higher GPA than the 3.0 GPA minimum.

I received a B or lower in a pre-requisite course. May I repeat it for a higher grade?

• Applicants may repeat one pre-requisite science course one time.
• Applicants with multiple repeated courses or withdrawals from courses will be less competitive.
• An explanation of lower grades or withdrawals (i.e. deployment) may assist in the admissions review.
• Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher in all course work, and a 3.0 GPA or higher in a pre-requisite science courses.

Do I have to have all the prerequisites done before applying for the BSN program as a transfer student?

• No, you do not have to have all the pre-requisite courses completed before applying to the nursing program. 
• You do need to have enough of the science courses done to demonstrate you are able to get a 3.0 GPA or higher in the pre-requisite science courses. 
• In your application you will provide a reasonable timeline of when you plan to complete your pre-requisite courses.
• Applicants must complete all pre-requisite courses before beginning the nursing coursework at Saint Martin’s.

I did Running Start in high school. Will my Running Start credits count toward my BSN degree?

• All college level courses taken as a Running Start student that meet the nursing minimums will be accepted toward the BSN degree. Running Start first year students who enter as first year students are required to be a Saint Martin's student for a full academic year before entering the upper-division nursing clinical courses.
• Running Start students may take two non-clinical nursing courses (NUR100 Intro to Nursing and NUR310 Health Policy) before they enter the upper division. Running Start students are encouraged to explore a minor in another field such as Public Health, Music, Native Voices, Psychology, Spanish or other area of interest.

Do I need to be a Certified Nursing Assistant before applying to the BSN program?

• No. We will not require NAC certification for our BSN program.

Do you require the TEAS test?

• No.

How many clinical hours are in the BSN program?

• The BSN nursing curriculum includes 650 hours of direct patient-care clinical practicum, and 480 hours of lab and simulation learning in the Bruno and Evelyne Betti Nursing Education Center in Old Main hall.

What are the acceptance rates for the nursing programs?

• Traditional BSN First Year and Running Start: Approximately 2/3 of applicants are offered admission to the Nursing major
• Traditional BSN transfer students: 16%-30% acceptance rate
• RN-BSN students: 100% acceptance rate
• LPN-BSN students: 50% acceptance rate

What is the NCLEX pass rate?

• Traditional BSN: 81% (range 72% to 95% based on cohort)
• LPN to BSN: 92% (based on first cohort)

What are the additional costs in Nursing?

• Additional costs for the Nursing program include professional program surcharge and Nursing program fees (see the Tuition & Fees page for details).  Additionally, students should plan on the costs for clinical requirements including required immunizations, initial and renewal of American Heart Association Provider Basic Life Support, transportation to clinical sites, uniforms and supplies. 

What are the due dates for clinical requirements?

• All clinical requirements for the semester are due by July 1st for fall semester and December 1st for spring semester.  No annual or biennial requirements may expire during the semester and are due by July 1st for requirements expiring during fall semester and by December 1st for requirements expiring in spring semester.