Bridge to Care Nurse Scholarship

Specialize in acute and long-term care, with a focus on rural and underserved communities

St. Catherine University will provide a one-year scholarship and advanced clinical training opportunities to new undergraduate CFW and CFA students in the School of Nursing program.

This unprecedented opportunity for nursing students includes specialized nurse training in acute and long-term care, not only in dynamic clinical environments but also in the heart of rural and medically underserved communities, areas where skilled nurses are in especially high demand. Many health care systems in Minneapolis and St. Paul are considered medically underserved. Beyond filling a critical gap in community healthcare, this limited traineeship program empowers nurses to focus their clinical expertise on the communities they care deeply about and whose needs are greatest.

Trainee Program Requirements

  • Must be accepted to St. Catherine University, in the College for Women Nursing program, or the College for Adults BSN Accelerated program (Spring 2026 start)
  • Trainees must be committed to working in an acute or long-term care setting in a rural or medically underserved area for at least one year following graduation
  • Trainees must be willing to complete all additional learning requirements in addition to their regular plan of study
  • Trainees must participate in a specialized mentoring and preparation program throughout the year.

In addition to the regular plan of study, trainees will receive

  • Additional simulations and seminars focused on specialized care for older adults, acute care, critical thinking, and workforce readiness.
  • Enhanced Clinical Experience: Additional 92 in-person clinical and preceptorship hours in rural and medically underserved areas, focusing on Long-Term Care (LTC) and Acute Care.

Deadline: November 1, 2025, for Spring 2026 start

Join our School of Nursing Legacy

For over 120 years, St. Kate's highly-regarded nursing programs have been preparing nurses to deliver outstanding patient care across diverse healthcare settings. Our legacy of commitment to social justice and community-oriented leadership means graduates are not just prepared for career advancement but also to make a positive societal impact, advocating for equitable healthcare outcomes.

Funding Schedule

This program provides full or partial tuition coverage for year one of the nursing program ($30,000), plus a generous $8,000 stipend per semester for three semesters ($24,000), and is limited to 12 trainees per year. 
*Funded through a Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) grant

 

Traineeship Plan of Study

CFW-Spring Start

(highlighted courses are in addition to regular BSN plan of study)


 

Spring Semester

  • NURS 2000: Foundations in Nursing and Holistic Health Assessment (6cr)
  • NURS 2020: Holistic Nursing Philosophy, Theory, and Practice (4cr)
  • Long Term Care Seminar
  • 1.1 Clinical Credits
  • Sim 0.1 credits

Summer Semester

  • Acute Care Seminar
  • Acute Care Additional Clinical
  • 0.9 Clinical Credits
  • Sim 0.1 credits

Fall Semester

  • NURS 3220: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I: Application in Nursing (4cr)
  • NURS 3221: Acute Care I: Holistic Nursing Across the Lifespan (4cr)
  • NURS 3225: Population and Global Health Nursing (4)

OR

  • NURS 3224: Behavioral Health Nursing (4cr)
  • IPE 4200W Evidence-Based Practice and Research (4cr)
    Junior or senior year
  • Preparing for LTC and Acute Care Nursing Workforce Seminar

Spring Semester

  • NURS 3222: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II: Application in Nursing (4cr)
  • NURS 3223: Acute Care II: Holistic Nursing Across the Lifespan (4cr)
  • NURS 3224: Behavioral Health Nursing (4)

OR

  • NURS 3225: Population and Global Health Nursing (4cr)
  • IPE 4200W Evidence-Based Practice and Research (4cr)
    Junior or senior year

Fall Semester

  • NURS 4222: Complex Holistic Nursing Care (4cr)
  • NURS 4221: Holistic Nursing Care of Children and Childbearing Families (4cr)
  • IPE 4200W Evidence-Based Practice and Research(4cr)
    Junior or senior year

Spring Semester

  • NURS 4220: Transformational Leadership (3cr)
  • NURS 4223: Holistic Nursing Preceptorship (4cr)
  • NURS 4224: Preparation for Nursing Practice (1cr)

College For Adults - Spring Start
(highlighted courses are in addition to regular BSN plan of study)

Spring Semester

  • NURS 2000: Foundations in Nursing and Holistic Health Assessment (6cr)
  • NURS 2020: Holistic Nursing Philosophy, Theory, and Practice (4cr)
  • Long Term Care Seminar
  • 1.1 Clinical Credits
  • Sim 0.1 credits

Summer Semester

  • NURS 3220: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I: Application in Nursing (4cr)
  • NURS 3221: Acute Care I: Holistic Nursing Across the Lifespan (4cr)
  • IPE 4200W Evidence-Based Practice and Research
  • Acute Care Seminar
  • Acute Care Additional Clinical
  • 0.9 Clinical Credits
  • Sim 0.1 credits

Fall Semester

  • NURS 3222: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II: Application in Nursing (4cr)
  • NURS 3223: Acute Care II: Holistic Nursing Across the Lifespan (4cr)
  • NURS 3224: Behavioral Health Nursing (4cr)
  • Preparing for LTC and Acute Care Nursing Workforce Seminar

Spring Semester

  • NURS 3225: Population and Global Health Nursing (4cr)
  • NURS 4221: Holistic Nursing Care of Children and Childbearing Families (4cr)
  • NURS 4222: Complex Holistic Nursing Care (4cr)

Summer Semester

  • NURS 4220: Transformational Leadership (3cr)
  • NURS 4223: Holistic Nursing Preceptorship (4cr)
  • NURS 4224: Preparation for Nursing Practice (1cr)
St. Kate's bachelor's level nursing programs are endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation

Nursing Program Accreditation

St. Catherine University's bachelor's degree nursing programs are endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC). View AHNCC endorsed programs

Important Essential Abilities
For successful admission and continuance in St. Catherine University’s nursing programs, a specific set of essential cognitive, sensory, communication, psychomotor, and behavioral/emotional/spiritual health abilities are required to be performed with or without reasonable accommodations. Read the full requirements.

To learn more
Please reach out to Catherine Graeve with questions.