What is AORN?
Do I have to be interested in the field of perioperative nursing to be eligible to apply?
Who is eligible to apply?
Are high school students eligible to apply?
Are international students eligible to apply?
How much does the Scholarship Committee award?
What expenses does the scholarship cover?
Is the scholarship award based on financial need?
When will I receive my scholarship?
When can I apply?
How do I get an application?
What are the selection criteria?
Can I send in the application materials after the indicated deadline?
How do I know that my application was received?
How long before a winner is determined?
If I'm a winner, how am I notified?
How can I be sure if my program is accredited?
What if I've lost my original letter of acceptance into my program?
Is the deadline a postmark date or does it need to be in the scholarship administrator's office by this date?
What if my mailing or college information changes; how can I update it?
Are scholarships taxable?
Where do I send my completed application packet?


What is AORN?
AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses) is the professional organization of perioperative registered nurses whose mission is to support registered nurses in achieving optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. The AORN Foundation is the fundraising arm of the Association. The mission of the AORN Foundation is to advance patient safety by supporting nurses who make surgery safe through education, research, and patient safety initiatives. The Foundation secures funding for the scholarship program from individual and corporate donors and administers the program.

Do I have to be interested in the field of perioperative nursing to be eligible to apply?
Because we are the member association for perioperative nurses, the Scholarship Committee would like to see some interest in this specialized field.

Who is eligible to apply?
Nursing students (applicant must be in a program leading to initial licensure as an RN), baccalaureate, master, and doctoral candidates.

The applicant must possess an interest in the field of perioperative/surgical nursing. This interest and/or experience must be clearly demonstrated in the personal statement.

Are high school students eligible to apply?
The Scholarship Committee does not award scholarships to high school students who are just entering college.

Are international students eligible to apply?
Yes.

How much does the Scholarship Committee award?
Awards vary annually depending on the funding provided by scholarship contributors.

What expenses does the scholarship cover?
Allowable expenses covered by the AORN Foundation scholarships are tuition charges, related fees, and the cost of books.

Is the scholarship award based on financial need?
Awards are not based on financial need.

When will I receive my scholarship?
Scholarships are awarded within 45 days of the June 15 deadline. The scholarship is paid upon successful completion of course work and submission of required documentation.

When can I apply?
The deadline for application for 2009-2010 scholarships has passed. Applications for the 2010-2011 scholarship awards will be available online as of January 1, 2010.

How do I get an application?
Click to download the 2010-2011 scholarship application.

What are the selection criteria?
The selection of winners is based on academics/transcripts, essay, and accurate completion of the Scholarship application.

Can I send in the application materials after the indicated deadline?
Only letters of acceptance may be sent in after the June 15 deadline.

How do I know that my application was received?
Applicants that have sent in completed applications will be notified by email.

How long before a winner is determined?
Winner(s) will be notified by September 1, 2010.

If I'm a winner, how am I notified?
Official award letters will be mailed to scholarship recipients by September 1, 2010.
Note: Only scholarship recipients will be notified.

How can I be sure if my program is accredited?
Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate education programs preparing effective nurses.

What if I've lost my original letter of acceptance into my program?
The nursing program department or your academic advisor may have the original in your file that they could copy for you. If the original letter cannot be located, you will need to ask your department chair or academic advisor to recreate a letter for you.

Is the deadline a postmark date or does it need to be in the scholarship administrator's office by this date?
Completed scholarship applications and supporting documents must be received by midnight MDT, June 15. The only exception is your letter of acceptance into the program.

What if my mailing or college information changes; how can I update it?
Contact the AORN Foundation at (800) 755-2676 or foundation@aorn.org.

Are scholarships taxable?
Tax laws vary by country. For example, in the United States, scholarship funds used exclusively for the payment of tuition or textbooks are normally not taxable. The scholarship recipient is responsible for taxes, if any, that may be assessed against your scholarship award. We recommend consulting your tax advisor for more guidance.

Where do I send my completed application packet?
Mail your complete application packet with all supporting documents postmarked by the appropriate deadline listed on the cover page to: