[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 24006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11078]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Fiscal Year 2003 Application Cycle for the Nursing Scholarship 
Program 93.908

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces that applications will be accepted for the Nursing 
Scholarship Program for Fiscal Year 2003.
    Authorizing Legislation: These applications are solicited under 
section 846(d) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended by 
Pub. L. 107-205.
    Purpose of Award: The Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP) provides 
scholarships to individuals for attendance at schools of nursing. In 
exchange, the scholarship recipients agree to serve for a period of not 
less than 2 years at a health care facility with a critical shortage of 
nurses.
    Eligible Applicants: An ``eligible applicant'' is a U.S. citizen or 
national who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a professional 
program as a full-time or part-time student in an accredited school of 
nursing.
    A ``school of nursing'' is a collegiate, associate degree or 
diploma school of nursing in a State.
    Statutory Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: None.
    Funding Preferences: Section 846(e) of the PHS Act provides that a 
funding preference shall be given to qualified applicants with the 
greatest financial need. To evaluate financial need, the HRSA will use 
the Department of Education's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) 
determination. The EFC measures a student's family's financial strength 
and is used to determine eligibility for federal student aid.
    The following funding preferences will apply in Fiscal Year 2003:
    (a) First funding preference will be given to qualified applicants 
who have a zero EFC, have agreed to complete their nursing program as a 
full-time student, and are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an 
undergraduate nursing program;
    (b) Second funding preference will be given to the remaining 
qualified applicants who have a zero EFC;
    (c) Third, qualified applicants who have an EFC that exceeds zero 
will be grouped according to their EFC in increments of $500 from 
highest to lowest need (i.e., applicants with EFC of $1-$500, 
applicants with EFC of $501-$1,000, etc.), and these groups will be 
funded, to the extent monies remain available, in order of decreasing 
need. Within each group, applicants who have agreed to complete their 
nursing program as a full-time student and are enrolled or accepted for 
enrollment in an undergraduate nursing program will be funded first, 
then the remaining qualified applicants within that group will be 
funded.

If there are insufficient funds to award a contract to all qualified 
applicants who meet a given funding preference, applicants will be 
randomly selected within that preference level until all funds are 
expended.
    Estimated Amount of Available Funds: $3,800,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 76.
    Service Requirement: In exchange for an NSP scholarship, a 
participant agrees to provide full-time clinical service for not less 
than 2 years at a health care facility with a critical shortage of 
nurses. Under certain circumstances, an individual may complete his or 
her service obligation on a part-time basis.
    Pursuant to section 801(11) of the PHS Act, a ``health care 
facility'' includes the following: (A) An Indian Health Service Health 
Center, (B) a Native Hawaiian Health Center, (C) a Hospital, (D) a 
Federally Qualified Health Center, (E) a Rural Health Clinic, (F) a 
Nursing Home, (G) a Home Health Agency, (H) a Hospice Program, (I) a 
State or Local Public Health Department including a Public Health 
Clinic within these Departments, (J) a Skilled Nursing Facility and (K) 
an Ambulatory Surgical Center. Each year, HRSA will determine which 
health care facilities with a critical shortage of nurses have the 
highest need. NSP participants will only be allowed to fulfill their 
service obligation at those health care facilities with a critical 
shortage of nurses which have been identified by the HRSA as having the 
highest priority need.
    Application Request and Award Process: Application materials are 
expected to be available on May 16, 2003. Individuals may only request 
additional application information by calling 1-866-867-6856. In order 
to be considered for this scholarship, completed applications must be 
received, or postmarked, on or before, June 30, 2003. Applications 
received and postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. 
Awards will be made no later than September 30, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CAPT. Bruce Baggett, Division of 
National Health Service Corps, Bureau of Health Professions, HRSA, Room 
8A-55, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. 
Central telephone is 1-800-435-6464; e-mail [email protected]; Fax 
number is (301) 594-4981.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: The application for the NSP has been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act. The OMB clearance number is 0915-0146.
    The program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (as implemented 
through 45 CFR Part 100). This program is also not subject to the 
Public Health Systems Reporting Requirements.

    Dated: April 16, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-11078 Filed 5-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P