Developmental Funding Assistance

Nurses are encouraged to explore the UVA Medical Center's and PNSO's funding support options in pursuing professional development opportunities. Their initial options include:

• Funding support through practice areas' operational budgets; nurses should contact their Nurse Manager or Administrator regarding availability of local funds.
• If unit-local funds are not available, their Administrator may request support from the CNO's Nursing Professional Development Funds on the nurse's behalf.
  - If you receive support to attend a conference, please Share Your Knowledge with colleagues when you return!
• Human Resources' Employee Benefits program for Educational Assistance also covers certain types of professional development funding, including individual classes, higher degree programs, certification-preparation courses and exam fees.

 Nursing Scholarship Program

The Nursing Scholarship Program offers scholarship opportunities for qualified Medical Center employees to pursue a higher nursing degree.

All Full-time employees, and Flex Option employees budgeted at 0.6 FTE or higher, with a minimum of one year of service prior to application are eligible to apply.  The program is centrally funded and administered to ensure that all eligible Medical Center employees have equal access, regardless of the budget limitations of their department.

Click for more information on the Nursing Scholarship Program (login required)

Funding Support for Professional Certifications

Funding support for professional certifications, including nursing certifications, is offered through Medical Center Human Resources as part of the educational assistance benefits package for employees.

Applying for Certification Funding Support:
To apply for funding support, eligible employees will need to submit the Educational Assistance Request Form (login required), following the procedures outlined in HR Policy 301 (login required). Please confirm that your certification appears on the list of Eligible Nursing Certifications (login required).  This list is developed by analyzing practice area professional development plans, by soliciting input from practice area representatives, and by examining national trends; it is reviewed annually by the PNSO Professional Development Committee. 

Shared Certification Study Resources: 
The PNSO Professional Development Committee is building a nursing certification study-resource section in the Health Sciences Library, based on donations from nurses who have finished using their own certification materials. Please consider donating study materials!     

Nursing Certification Opportunities:
Learn more about nursing certification opportunities at the American Nurses Credentialing Center website.