Nurse-Midwifery
Opportunities for Nurse-Midwifery Students
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Grants for Nurse-Midwifery and Dual Nurse-Midwifery/Family Nurse Practitioner Students
What are the goals of the grant?
MEADOW seeks to grow and diversify the maternal and perinatal nursing workforce through support for education and training in rural and underserved communities.
The MEADOW program goal is to train nurse-midwives through trainee scholarships, stipends, curricular enhancement, and community-based training.
Who qualifies for this grant?
Full-time nurse-midwifery and dual midwifery/FNP* students from rural or underserved areas or populations historically under-represented in midwifery.
Full-time nurse-midwifery and dual midwifery/FNP * students who wish to work in rural or underserved areas or with medically underserved populations and/or individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP).
For more information about what sites qualify, please see the page titled, HRSA’s website, along with their tool to The designations most relevant are: primary care HPSA (health professional shortage area), PC MCTA (primary care maternity care target areas), and MUA/P (medically underserved area or population).
Ten students will be selected as MEADOW trainees each fall in 2024, 2025, and 2026 (contingent on continued federal funding), and support will be provided to trainees for three semesters.
*Dual nurse-midwifery/FNP students can qualify for the grant during their nurse-midwifery clinical semesters.
What support does this grant provide?
Grant recipients, known as trainees, receive stipends during the three semesters of midwifery clinicals. This is the spring, summer and second fall semester of the specialty year for MSN students.
Stipends for trainees are approximately $4,000 per month, totaling about $56,000 over the course of three clinical semesters.
Small stipends are also provided to preceptors of the MEADOW trainees.
How does this grant affect midwifery education for recipients?
Trainees receive the same excellent coursework as all midwifery students to be able to provide person-centered, evidence-based care, including incorporation of social and structural determinants of health, culturally and linguistically appropriate care, and improve reproductive health care in the communities they serve.
Placement in rural or underserved areas or with underserved populations for clinical rotations
Coursework dedicated to advanced behavioral health to expand the trainee’s knowledge of treatment of mental health disorders (3-credit hour course; tuition is grant-funded)
Simulations focused on care in rural areas and with underserved populations – including telehealth and regional perinatal referral simulations
Exam fees to become a certified medical interpreter are paid by the grant (if applicable for the student)
Opportunities to learn about employment in rural and underserved areas and with underserved populations from providers working in these areas
How and when do I apply?
You can apply for the MEADOW grant in your first semester of midwifery-focused coursework (pre-specialty and MN students need to complete their nursing coursework prior to applying)
Aspiring trainees can use responses from their original VUSN application to apply, or write new essays
Can I have this grant and other grants?
Yes! This grant is compatible with other grants and financial aid programs, including the National Health Service Corps, federal financial aid, and other HRSA scholarships
Grant leaders:
- Hannah McGrew – Program Coordinator | hannah.c.mcgrew@vanderbilt.edu
- Julia Phillippi – Project Director
Formal grant information:
Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion (MatCare) Training Program HRSA-23-120
What are the goals of the grant?
SDS seeks to transform the healthcare workforce with a focus on preparation of nurse-midwives and family nurse-practitioners to serve rural and underserved populations in the United States
SDS provides tuition scholarships for students from underserved areas, economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or populations historically under-represented in the healthcare workforce
Who qualifies for this grant?
Full-time nurse-midwifery and dual nurse-midwifery/FNP students can qualify for this funding in any semester of their education, including during their pre-specialty year. Recipients must come from educationally/ environmentally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds and have interest in working in rural and/or with underserved populations
The number of awards is dependent on the funds available each year and the number of students who meet the criteria
What support does this grant provide?
Tuition support is up to $40,000 per year.
Can I have this grant and other grants?
Yes! This grant is compatible with other grants and financial aid programs, including federal financial aid, and other HRSA scholarships
How does this grant affect education for recipients?
Placement in rural or underserved areas or with underserved populations for clinical rotations
Simulations focused on care in rural areas and with underserved populations – including telehealth simulations
Opportunities to learn about employment in rural and underserved areas and with underserved populations from providers working in these areas
How and when do I apply?
Recipients are selected from application materials at the time of acceptance to VUSN.
Grant leaders
- Mavis Schorn – Project Director
Formal grant information:
Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students HRSA-20-006
What are the goals of the grant?
Increase the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) primary care workforce in rural and underserved communities through partnerships with statewide health agencies
Who qualifies for this grant?
Dual nurse midwifery/FNP students* who wish to work in rural or underserved areas or with medically-underserved populations or individuals with limited English Proficiency
Dual nurse midwifery/FNP students* from rural or underserved areas or populations historically under-represented in healthcare
*Dual nurse-midwifery/FNP students can receive this grant in the final semester of their dual nurse-midwifery/FNP program of study
What support does this grant provide?
Grant recipients, known as trainees, receive stipends for financial support in the semester they are in FNP clinicals. This is the final spring of the specialty year for MSN students
Stipends for trainees range up to $12,000
Tuition support is up to $10,000
Site payments are also provided to the sites/preceptors of CAP trainees
How does this grant affect family nurse-practitioner education for recipients?
Placement for the FNP-related clinicals will be in a rural or underserved clinic
Comprehensive simulation experience focused on primary care in rural and underserved areas
Focused educational content on behavioral health, social determinants of health, and maternal health
Can I have this grant and other grants?
Yes! This grant is compatible with other grants and financial aid programs, including the National Health Service Corps, federal financial aid, and other HRSA scholarships
How and when do I apply?
Information sessions about the grant are offered to all students during orientation. Interested dual midwifery-FNP students apply for CAP funding in the final fall of their midwifery coursework using an online application link.
Contact Info for Grant Leaders:
- Dr. Shannon Cole – Program Coordinator - shannon.cole@vanderbilt.edu
- Dr. Jannyse Tapp – Project Director
Formal grant information:
Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program HRSA-23-014
Interviews with Practicing Midwives
STEPP Clinic
STEPP clinic is one of the specialty clinics under the larger Shade Tree Clinic umbrella. STEPP (Shade Tree Early Pregnancy Program) is a free monthly clinic directed by medical and nurse-midwifery students who do everything from scheduling the clients, running clinic the days, seeing the clients, and following up on their lab work -- all in collaboration with attending certified nurse-midwives and physicians.
The Vanderbilt Volunteer Doula Program
Prior to coronavirus -related changes, the Vanderbilt Volunteer doula program was comprised of trained doulas both from the Nashville community, as well as enrolled VUSN students and Vanderbilt University students who have trained as doulas. At the present time, only VUSN enrolled students are approved to volunteer at VUMC. Doula training is provided twice yearly, for those who would like to participate in the program, but have not yet undergone training. This program is ramping back up after COVID-related changes in concert with the Vanderbilt Medical Center’s volunteer services office. Questions can be directed to Dr. Jesse Wellette, nashvillevolunteerdoulas@gmail.com .
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Global Health Certificate
Many nurse-midwifery students come to the program with a strong interest in global health issues, as well as a desire to one day practice in the global marketplace. VUSN students have the option to pursue a global health certificate while also completing their MSN. This interdisciplinary graduate-level certificate program in the study of global health is a vital step in initiating and promoting joint training opportunities in global health between various departments and schools at Vanderbilt. Students fulfilling all requirements will be granted a global health certificate at the time of graduation.
Opportunities for Student Leadership
Opportunities for nurse-midwifery students to take on leadership roles abound at VUSN. Students get involved in school committees (Men in Nursing, Students for Choice, Honor Council and School life, to name a few) as well as taking the opportunity to jointly lead (along with medical students) the STEPP (Shade Tree Early Pregnancy Program) clinic. Other students take lead student director roles of the Nashville Volunteer Doula Program. Our nurse-midwifery students are also involved at a national level in the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), filling positions such as the student PAC (Political Action Committee) representative, as well as program representative to ACNM.
Vanderbilt Program for Interprofessional Learning (VPIL)
The future of health care depends on the ability of providers across the spectrum to be able to work together to meet the health care needs of the client. Recognizing the necessity to educate future health care providers who are savvy in interdisciplinary collaboration, the Vanderbilt Program for Interprofessional Learning groups students from various disciplines (nursing, medicine, social work and pharmacy) together in clinical groups, in a variety of clinical settings. Students see clients using a team approach, and thus learn to care for them relying on not only their own expertise, but the interplay and expertise of the other health care team members.
