American Indian Students United for Nursing
The American Indian Students United for Nursing (ASUN) Project was established in the fall of 1990 by a grant from the Indian Health Service (IHS). The purpose of ASUN is to increase the number of American Indians/Alaskan Natives studying nursing at ASU and the number of nurses providing care to American Indians/Alaskan Natives. ASUN is not a separate nursing program but rather provides scholarship support to American Indian/Alaskan Native students studying nursing at ASU.
The ASUN Project seeks to support and add to curriculum material and clinical opportunities which focus on American Indian health issues. ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation provides students with the best of two worlds: the resources of a large metropolitan university and the closeness and support of a small college. Scholarships which include, in whole or part, tuition and fees, required books and living expenses are available for study at the BSN level. Post-graduate service is required of all recipients with the Indian Health Service, increasing the number of nurses providing care to Indian Peoples. See Brochure (PDF)
The Goals of ASUN are to:
- Recruit American Indians/Alaskan Natives into the various programs at ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation
- Provide programming to empower American Indian/Alaskan Natives students to successfully complete their studies in nursing
- Increase the number of American Indian/Alaskan Natives nurses
- Increase the number of nurses providing care to American Indians/Alaskan Natives
ASUN History
American Indian Students United for Nursing (ASUN) was established at the ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation in the fall of 1990 through a section 112 grant from Indian Health Service (IHS). The grant provides scholarships for students in the Traditional Pre-Licensure Clinical Nursing program (BSN program). Every five years, ASUN is required to submit a competitive grant to continue the project. Although the competition has been intense at times, we have been successful every time we have applied. Our current award extends the ASUN Project until 2013.
American Indian Health Background
Healthcare for American Indians is based on treaties (contracts) between the Federal government and tribes in which land and natural resources have been exchanged for social services that include housing, education, and healthcare. The healthcare system created by these treaties is unique because, although healthcare is not a right for most people in the United States, it is for American Indians.
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is the primary Federal agency responsible for delivering healthcare services to the American Indian population. IHS is severely underfunded, and American Indians have among the worst health disparities in the country. Also, due to underfunding, IHS has a significant health professional shortage, including nurses.
ASUN Scholarship
The ASUN Scholarship is an Indian Health Service (IHS) funded scholarship for full-time study (12+ credit hours) undergraduate American Indian nursing students in the Traditional Pre-Licensure Clinical Nursing program or RN-BSN completion program. The ASUN Scholarship covers tuition and fees, required textbooks, some nursing school supplies and a monthly living stipend. There is a service obligation to the IHS or a tribe within the United States upon graduation and licensure. Learn More
