Continuing education scholarships available for rural nurses
May 16, 2024
Applications are now available for scholarships to the 2024 Nurse Scholar program. SIU School of Medicine’s Farm Family Resource Initiative, Farm Credit Illinois and AgriSafe sponsor the program.
To be eligible to receive a scholarship, nurses must:
• Be employed by a rural health clinic, FQHC, government agency, nonprofit hospital or organization or work in academia
• Demonstrate an interest and ability to integrate learnings into their practices
• Work in a rural and medically underserved area, as defined by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) 
"Rural nurses are the backbone of health care in remote areas, often serving as the first point of contact for individuals and families," said AgriSafe CEO Natalie Roy. “They provide essential care for rural Americans. By supporting their continued education, we are ensuring they stay rooted in their communities.”
Individuals living in rural areas are more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke than those in urban areas. In 2019, death rates for rural Americans were about 20% higher than their urban counterparts (NCHS Data Brief, 2021).
Additionally, fewer health care professionals are available in rural areas. In 2021, about 64 Registered Nurses and eight Nurse Practitioners cared for 10,000 people in rural areas, compared to 95 RNs and 10 NPs in urban areas, according to the HRSA.
AgriSafe launched the Nurse Scholar program in 2018 to address these gaps and prepare nurses working in rural communities to meet the occupational health needs of farmers and ranchers. Since 2018, AgriSafe has trained 274 nurses across 41 states. Based on a 2022 program evaluation, 91% of Nurse Scholar participants reported an intent to make a change to their practice and/or personal life after completing the program. These changes will result in better care for rural communities.
CHS, Bayer and Kroger provide funding for the Nurse Scholar program. In Illinois, Farm Credit Illinois provides the scholarships. Those interested in supporting AgriSafe’s programming can contact Allison Flynn, aflynn@agrisafe.org. For media inquiries, contact Laura Siegel, lsiegel@agrisafe.org.
About AgriSafe Network
AgriSafe Network is a national 501©3 non-profit that educates health care professionals and agricultural communities about important health and safety information for those working in the agriculture, fishing, forestry and logging industries. We bring together national experts to develop educational materials that can be delivered both digitally and in-person. For more information, visit agrisafe.org.
About the Farm Family Resource Initiative
The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development (CRHSSD) is leading the effort to build a network of support and resources for Illinois farm families through the Farm Family Resource Initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to provide a range of resources including a helpline to assist with farmer and farm-related issues that include mental and physical health needs. Additionally, the initiative offers ongoing outreach, education and training to rural clients and partners working to improve the health and safety of farm families. For more information, visit siumed.org/farm.
