Student Opportunities

IHS Nurse Residency Program

The IHS Nurse Residency Program (IHS-NRP) is a work study program designed to strengthen the nursing workforce in the Indian Health Service, Tribal or Urban health programs through advanced education and improvements in quality management, access, and customer service by increasing nursing knowledge and leadership development.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Clinical and Preventive Services - Division of Nursing at 301-443-1840.

American Indians into Nursing Program

This program is authorized under Section 112 of the Indian Health Service Care Improvement Act. The purpose of the Nursing Grant Program is to increase the number of nurses, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and nurse practitioners who deliver health care services to Native American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.

The primary objectives of this grant award are to:

1. Recruit and train AI/AN individuals to be nurses (Graduate and Undergraduate)
2. Provide scholarships to AI/AN individuals enrolled in schools of nursing
3. Provide a program that encourages AI/AN nurses (Graduate and Undergraduate) to provide or continue to provide, health care services in AI/AN health care programs
4. Provide a program that increases the skills of, and provides continuing education to AI/AN nurses.

Participating Schools

• Arizona State University Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• University of North Dakota Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• Montana State University Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• South Dakota State University
• Salish Kootenai College Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Division of Health Professions Support

Sharon Farris
Program Officer
Phone: 240-460-5565

IHS Scholarship Program

The IHS Scholarship Program provides qualified American Indian and Alaska Native health professions students with financial support in exchange for a minimum two-year service commitment within an Indian Health program in a chosen health professional discipline.

Scholarships:

• Preparatory Scholarship: Pre-Nursing- Courses leading to a BS in Nursing
• Health Professions Scholarship in a Professional Nursing Degrees
• Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN-RN)
• Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN-RN)
• Advance Practice Nurse Graduate Degrees
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP)
  • Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

Visit the IHS Scholarship Program website for application and program information.

Nurse Extern Program

The IHS Extern Program offers IHS scholarship recipients, as well as other health professions students, the opportunity to gain valuable clinical experience in an Indian health facility. This experience allows students to develop their clinical skills under expert supervision while contributing to an interdisciplinary team of health professionals. Externships are available to health professions students who are:

• US Citizens
• Enrolled in a priority health professions degree program
• In good academic standing : Undergraduate students with a 2.0 GPA or above.

Visit the IHS Externship Program website or contact the branch office at 301-443-6197 for more information on the IHS Extern Program.

Loan Repayment Program

Indian health professionals have a number of loan repayment program options through which they can receive financial support. The Indian Health Service (IHS) and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) support two such programs for health professionals interested in a career in Indian health. Nurses are also eligible for loan repayment through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program.

Visit the IHS Loan Repayment Program website for more information on the program and how to apply for an award.

Visit the Nurse Corps Loan Payment Program website Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  for more information on the program and how to apply.