New
Partnerships and Grant-Funded Initiatives in Nursing Education
In
June 2002, AACN introduced a section in our monthly email
newsletter, AACN News Watch, to share information about
new partnerships and grant-funded initiatives. This section
is used to spotlight new collaborations and initiatives
launched by nursing schools and corporate citizens that
effectively increase student capacity, add new nursing faculty,
increase student diversity, address the nursing shortage,
and enhance the way education is delivered. Below are excerpts
from past issues of AACN News Watch.
May 2009
- The Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has received a $250,000 gift from the RGK Foundation to establish a mobile simulation education program. This innovative program will allow rural interdisciplinary healthcare professionals to receive competency evaluations and continuing education/training opportunities to which they otherwise would not have access. With a July 1 launch date, the mobile simulation program also will help decrease overcrowding in clinical sites and increase nursing student enrollment by supplementing coursework with clinical simulation. See http://www.ttuhsc.edu/son.
April 2009
- The University of Houston-Victoria School of Nursing recently received $25,000 in scholarship funding from the Greater Texas Foundation. The donation will be used to create the Rising to the Challenge scholarships that will pay for tuition, books and fees for nursing transfer students taking classes in Victoria and Sugar Land. “Scholarships are one of our greatest needs at the School of Nursing,” founding Dean Kathryn Tart said. “This generous donation by the Greater Texas Foundation will help us recruit more nurses to advance their education and improve the quality of care for everyone in the communities we serve.” Scholarships enable many nursing students to continue their educations who otherwise would not be able afford to do so. The school also uses such scholarships to recruit students who are underrepresented in the field of nursing, including those under the age of 30, men, Hispanics and other minorities.
March 2009
- On March 9, 2009, the Michigan departments of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth, and Community Health announced the awarding of nearly $5 million in grants to nine Michigan nursing schools and two hospital partners as part of the unique Michigan Nursing Corps. This program was created in 2007 to confront the state’s critical shortage of nurses by preparing additional faculty to educate new nurses by the year 2010. In this second round of funding, the Wayne State University College of Nursing was awarded nearly $2 million to support the school’s accelerated master’s degree program, while also providing an accelerated conclusion to current PhD students preparing for immediate faculty positions at universities across the state. The College of Nursing at Michigan State University received more than $1.1 million to support the school’s PhD, MSN, and accelerated BSN programs. Other grant recipients included Eastern Michigan University ($634,600), Northern Michigan University ($570,000), and Saginaw Valley State University ($103,000).
See
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-8347-210388--,00.html.
- Duke University is the recipient of a $1.9 million HRSA award to partner with Western Carolina University and University of North Carolina-Charlotte to educate faculty on the strategies for the use and integration of innovative educational technologies into the nursing programs at the three institutions. The grant will support state-wide conferences to address both the knowledge and technology gaps between what learners learn and what they need for timely, efficient, and effective nursing practice in healthcare settings. Innovative teaching methods using technology will be highlighted. Consensus recommendations and supporting documents and presentations will be posted online. The open Web site will also host an inventory of electronic teaching/learning tools used in nursing programs and the assessment of the usefulness and applicability of tools. See http://nursing.duke.edu.
- To improve the effectiveness of nursing instruction as well as implement new methods of instruction, the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing is offering five courses this summer that focus on developing nurse educators in classroom and clinical settings. These programs include a Novice Nurse Educator Institute in August and September 2009; as well as a course on The Shifting Instructional Paradigm: Teaching to Learning, a role seminar and practicum on The Competent Nurse Educator, and a mid-summer course on Transforming Curricula & Student Evaluation in Nursing. These courses from the college’s Nurse Educator Career Development Pathway are offered in conjunction with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, a collaborative community of scholars in the greater Cincinnati area whose interest is in improving teaching and learning in nursing. Registration and information on the courses can be found at http://www.nursing.uc.edu.
February 2009
- The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Nursing has been awarded a HRSA grant of nearly $1.75 million for a program to increase the numbers of baccalaureate-level registered nurses serving populations in rural areas. The three-year grant will fund the implementation of the RN-BSN Rural Nursing Initiative (RNI). The RNI program is designed to impact the rural nursing shortage through the School of Nursing’s innovative and expanding national distance education baccalaureate (RN-BSN) program. “The nursing shortage is particularly severe in rural areas of the country,” said Lora Lacey-Haun, PhD, RN, dean of the UMKC School of Nursing. “The goal of this initiative, which is already underway, is to make our RN-BSN distance education program more accessible to students in rural areas by using new and creative technologies in delivering our on-line program.” See http://nursing.umkc.edu/newsdetail.cfm?News_ID=92.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Largo Medical Center – part of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) West Florida Division – have committed financial support to continue providing the Florida International University College of Nursing’s Foreign-Educated Physician to Nursing Program (FEPN) in the Tampa Bay region. Dr. Divina Grossman, Dean of the College, said: “We knew we were sitting on a gold mine of opportunity with the program in Tampa. We have a diverse candidate pool to choose from. We have the technological and academic structure in place to deliver the program. We have hospitals coming to us to help fill their nursing workforce shortages. And we have a track record of success, with five years’ worth of graduates integrating quickly and effectively as nurses in health care facilities. What we did not have were the financial resources to ensure the program’s existence in the region, until now.” See http://chua2.fiu.edu/Nursing.
January 2009
- The University of Maryland School of Nursing has received a pledge of $1 million from Mary Catherine Bunting, a 1972 MSN graduate, to establish the Mary Catherine Bunting Scholarship for Maryland residents enrolled in the School’s Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program. “Ms. Bunting’s generosity opens the door to a nursing career for those who could not otherwise afford it,” says Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing. “This gift presents a wonderful opportunity for our students while benefitting the entire state by bolstering the professional nurse workforce.” See http://nursing.umaryland.edu/news/2009/1-6.htm.
- The Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation is partnering with Idea Crossing, a digital innovation firm, to conduct the first national Healthcare Innovation Challenge® from January 5 to May 1, 2009. Linda Mottle, director of the Center of Healthcare Innovation & Clinical Trials at ASU, said, “The purposes of the challenge are to foster collaboration and attract tomorrow’s leaders as well as to solve real-world healthcare challenges. Our goal in partnering with Idea Crossing is to be a catalyst in bringing innovation which produces better evidenced-based quality patient care, efficiency, and lower costs to healthcare.” Challenge category question areas will include Information Technology in Healthcare, Re-engineering Care and Use of Interdisciplinary Teams, and Healthcare Finance & Health 2.0. For complete details on this unique cross-disciplinary effort, see http://nursing.asu.edu.
- The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) has established a partnership with the Eclipsys Corporation® to provide tomorrow's nurses with healthcare information technology experience. Faculty plan to use the partnership to develop and implement curriculum that incorporates Eclipsys' advanced information technology solutions, hardware and clinical expertise. "At a time of great need to counter the growing nursing shortage, Penn Nursing is providing nursing students with a solid background that helps them more quickly and fully prepare to enter the profession," said Dean Afaf Meleis. "As Penn Nursing celebrates its 30-year legacy in providing the highest level of nursing scholarship through doctoral education, it is important that we continue to seek ways to advance the science of nursing with emphasis on technology tools that are widely deployed and highly adopted." See http://www.nursing.upenn.edu.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield executives recently presented a check for $637,000 to Tennessee Better Birth Outcomes, a collaborative project with the Vanderbilt University Schools of Nursing and Medicine as well as Nurses for Newborns, a non-profit nurse visitation program serving at-risk mothers and babies. The Blue Cross Blue Shield funds will support year three of the randomized clinical trial studying high-risk pregnant women from early pregnancy through postpartum. The goal is to decrease the number of premature births in Tennessee, which nationally ranks 48th in infant mortality and 47th in preterm births. See http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/media/release98.html.
December 2008
- The Duke University School of Nursing has received $100,000
in funding from The Duke Endowment to support The Campaign
for Difference in Nursing initiative. This award will
be used to create a nursing workforce for North Carolina
that matches the population of those needing health care.
This initiative will be advanced by the School of Nursing's
Office of Global and Community Health Initiatives, which
works eliminate health disparities locally and nationally.
Through this campaign, the nursing school will establish
a recruitment network for groups under-represented in
nursing to assist them in exploring opportunities in the
profession. Beginning this summer, the Campaign will also
sponsor eight undergraduate students for a six-week on-campus
summer internship program designed expose students to
patient care and scientific activities in nursing. See
http://nursing.duke.edu.
- The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Anita
Thigpen Perry School of Nursing has partnered with the
Midland Memorial Foundation and Midland Memorial Hospital
to establish the Advancing Clinical Excellence project
aimed at furthering the education of nurses. The Midland
Memorial Foundation and Midland Memorial Hospital have
committed $720,000 to be distributed over three years
among 90 Midland Memorial nurses pursuing their Bachelor
of Science degrees in nursing, and 30 pursuing their Master
of Science in Nursing degrees. See http://www.ttuhsc.edu/son.
November 2008
-
Shenandoah University (SU) has formed
a collaborative affiliation with Inova Health System in
support of SU's second-degree BSN program. "This
agreement will enable the Division of Nursing to increase
enrollment numbers for second-degree BSN students, helping
to increase the number of qualified nurses available for
the workforce," said SU President Tracy Fitzsimmons."
Under the agreement, enrollment in the second-degree BSN
program willincrease from 30 to 60 students in 2009, and
from 60 to 90 students by 2010; and tuition will be reduced
by 15% for students awarded scholarships. In return Inova
Health System will provide $7,500 scholarships for up
to 25 qualified second-degree BSN students in 2009, and
up to 30 qualified students in 2010 who make a two-year
employment commitment to Inova. The health system will
also contribute $500,000 during a two-year period to fund
new classrooms, nursing skills/simulation laboratories
and/or administrative spaces and provide additional clinical
rotation slots at three Inova hospitals. See http://www.su.edu/temp_news.cfm?urlnum=1214.
-
Tuskegee University's Nursing Program
in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Allied
Health has been awarded a $1,279,302, three-year Nursing
Workforce Diversity grant from the Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA). Funding will be used to
increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses who
are from ethnic minority and/or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Funding will be used to support four goals: provide educational
enhancement and supportive activities designed to increase
the awareness of minorities and/or disadvantaged middle
and high school students of health professional careers;
increase the retention rate of students; prepare culturally
competent nurses and provide needed financial support.
See http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=9218841.
-
On September 15, Pennsylvania Governor
Edward G. Rendell announced the state's investment of
$750,000 that will leverage at least $870,000 in private-sector
matching funds to address the nursing shortage. Through
Nurse Education Initiative grants, the state will help
increase educational quality and enable institutions to
expand programs by providing faculty coordination and
training services. The initiative also enables nursing
programs to hire one faculty member who is dedicated to
incorporating simulation technology into the curriculum,
thereby providing the most productive and efficient use
of simulation labs and increasing the number of students
nursing programs can enroll. Additionally, the grants
help support partnerships between healthcare employers
and nursing education programs to add faculty and increase
student enrollment. The grants provide financial incentives
to healthcare employers to lend qualified nurses as faculty
to nursing programs that demonstrate a critical need for
new faculty to expand their enrollment. See http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/cwp/view.asp?Q=249637&A=3&pp=3.
-
On September 22, Norton Healthcare in
Kentucky announced a plan to provide up to $1.75 million
in nursing student loan relief through the new Best in
Care Nursing Loan Forgiveness Plan. Under the terms of
the plan, currently employed and newly-hired RNs who have
student loans with The Student Loan People and meet other
criteria will receive $2,500 in student loan forgiveness
for each year worked as a full-time nurse at Norton Healthcare.
"This is a win-win situation for nurses and the community,"
said Tracy E. Williams, senior vice president and system
chief nursing officer, Norton Healthcare. "By helping
to alleviate the financial burden faced by many of our
area nurses, we can make it easier for them to pursue
their healthcare careers and that ultimately benefits
our patients." See http://www.nortonhealthcare.com/about/media/mediaroom.aspx.
-
A $1.2 million renovation at the Linfield-Good
Samaritan School of Nursing in Portland, OR will provide
more classroom space to accommodate increased enrollments
in the school's nursing program. Funding for the classroom
renovations includes $200,000 from The Collins Foundation;
$100,000 from the William G. Gilmore Foundation; $300,000
from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation; $50,000
from the Ann and Bill Swindells Charitable Trust; and
$25,000 from the Wessinger Foundation. In addition to
the renovation, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust recently
awarded Linfield $148,000 to expand equipment and staff
in the high fidelity nursing simulation laboratory. Read
the complete story online at http://www.linfield.edu/press/detail.php?id=998.
- The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing (FSMFN)
received three grants totaling over $1.6 million from the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources
and Services Administration (HRSA) in 2008. These grants
will provide support to establish the Doctor of Nursing
Practice (DNP) distance education program, implement new
technologies within the School to improve student learning
outcomes, and provide scholarships to students. The support
of these grants will provide critical start-up and capital
expenses to implement programs that will have a positive,
long-term impact on the students at Frontier. See http://www.frontierschool.edu.
-
On August 14, Florida International University
College of Nursing & Health Sciences and Florida Memorial
University (FMU) finalized an agreement designed to increase
diversity in the nursing workforce. These two leading
South Florida minority-serving institutions are partnering
on several new programs, including a dual-degree Bachelor
of Science in Biology & Nursing degree for honors
students at FMU. This academic collaboration represents
the inaugural project of the Florida Alliance for Health
Professions Diversity - an alliance of 12 institutions,
including Florida state and private universities and stakeholder
organizations, which was formed in 2007 to develop partnerships
to foster diversity in the health professions. See http://health.usf.edu/nocms/nursing/florida_alliance.
- The West Virginia University School of Nursing has been
awarded more than $1.5 million from the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) for projects to expand nursing education.
Among the three funded projects, nursing dean Georgia L.
Narsavage will serve as principal investigator for a five-year
project to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses
in critical care. Funding will be used to implement a competency-based
program for new nurses in acute and critical care. Nurses
will develop skills through mentoring, hands-on patient-care
and instruction, including 30 hours of training in high-tech
simulation labs. The goal is to orient at least 100 nurses
in less than three years to lessen nursing shortages in
intensive care units. See http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/son.
- The Wayne State University College of Nursing has been
awarded a $50,000 national grant from the Aetna Foundation
to help expand the College's capacity to offer advanced
practice nursing degrees through its established and successful
distance and on-demand learning programs. Nursing Dean Barbara
K. Redman remarked: "The Aetna Foundation's diligent
attention to issues impacting the future of nursing education
and the quality of nursing care in America resonates with
our students and faculty. We are very grateful for this
opportunity to enhance the good work Aetna is doing by offering
advanced practice nursing students a more personal and flexible
learning experience." See http://www.nursing.wayne.edu.
- The Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation, in partnership with
the Senior Health Alliance of Greater Rochester and the
Wegmans School of Nursing at St. John Fisher College, has
been selected as one of 18 foundations nationwide to receive
funding in the third year of Partners Investing in Nursing's
Future, a unique national initiative to lessen the U.S.
nursing shortage. Led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
and the Northwest Health Foundation, Partners Investing
in Nursing's Future assists local foundations to develop
strategies for creating and sustaining a viable nursing
workforce in their own communities. This specific project,
Nurses as Leaders in Long-Term Care: Building Competencies
and Commitment, will focus on specific management skills
to prepare RNs for the future demands of geriatric skilled
nursing leadership. The expected outcome is the development
of a leadership program that can be adapted to meet specific
needs of the nurse, the long-term care organization and
the aging population. For more details about this project,
see http://home.sjfc.edu/nursing.
For more information about Partners Investing in Nursing's
Future, go to http://www.PartnersinNursing.org.
- The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON),
in collaboration with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, is
offering the CareFirst Project RN Scholarship for the 2008-2009
academic year. The scholarship, now offered for the second
year, awards $40,000 in tuition and living expenses to a
full-time MSN student at the JHUSON who intends to become
a nurse educator upon graduation. By providing a scholarship
to nursing students committed to teaching, CareFirst hopes
to increase the number of educators for future nurses and
aims to address the growing nursing shortage across the
nation. See http://www.son.jhmi.edu/apply/finaid/aid/grants.aspx.
-
On July 2, BlueCross BlueShield of South
Carolina Foundation announced plans to award $1.5 million
over the next three years to support students pursuing
graduate nursing degrees. Administered by the South Carolina
Nursing Foundation, the fellowship program will provide
financial assistance for tuition, fees and living expenses
to students pursuing advanced degrees at the University
of South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina
and Clemson University. Students enrolled in doctoral
programs will be eligible for up to $40,000 annually,
while students enrolled in master's programs can receive
up to $20,000 annually. In exchange for the funding, students
must commit to teaching at a South Carolina nursing program
for three or more years. The schools expect to announce
the names of the students selected to participate in the
fellowship in August.
June 2008
- The Wayne State University College of Nursing has been
awarded a $331,000 grant from Michigan Governor Jennifer
Granholm’s Michigan Nursing Corps initiative to
fund the development of an accelerated, 15-month master’s
degree program designed to help combat the critical shortage
of nursing educators in the state. Under the provisions
of the award, the College will fast-track a cohort of
MSN students specializing in acute care, who upon graduation
will be committed to teach in Michigan for at least five
years. The grant is part of $1.5 million in the state
budget designated for the Nursing Corps in fiscal year
2008. Gov. Granholm has recommended the Michigan Department
of Labor and Economic Growth include a $10 million line
item for the program in the fiscal year 2009 budget, currently
under consideration by the state legislature. See http://www.nursing.wayne.edu.
May 2008
- The School of Nursing and Health Studies at Georgetown
University Medical Center and Washington Hospital Center
have partnered to establish a $2 million scholarship program
for students enrolled in the school’s 16-month accelerated
baccalaureate program. The program was developed to recruit,
educate, and retain a front-line nursing workforce. With
230 nurses expected to complete the program over the next
few years, graduates will work for at least three years
at Washington Hospital Center, including on the geriatrics
unit. See http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.nurses05may05,0,6944804.story.
- On May 6, Capital Health Plan (CHP) announced it will
invest $1.5 million over the next five years in nursing
education programs at Florida State University (FSU),
Florida A&M University (FAMU), and Tallahassee Community
College. The initiative is aimed at alleviating a growing
nursing shortage in Florida. At FSU, the funding will
create a 12-month accelerated baccalaureate nursing program
for students who have a degree in another field and have
completed prerequisite courses. At FAMU, CHP's investment
will create the Capital Health Plan/Edwin Thorpe Endowed
Scholarship Fund, which will provide scholarships for
undergraduate, upper-division students who are graduates
of high schools in Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla and Jefferson
counties. The scholarship will pay up to full tuition
for recipients for a maximum of four semesters. For more
details, see http://www.chp.org/news/2008050601.php.
April 2008
- A new source of financial support is available for doctoral
students at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
who are committed to teaching future generations of nurses
in the New York City metropolitan area. The funds,
awarded through the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence
Nursing Scholars Program, provide up to $280,000 in forgivable
loans to support efforts to prepare and retain qualified
nurse educators. "The nursing profession is in great
need of faculty members to educate the nurses of the future,"
says Dr. Marie T. Nolan, director of the school’s
PhD program. "We need to attend to the nurse
faculty shortage in order to address the shortage of nurses
caring for patients in all health care settings across
the lifespan. The Jonas Nursing Scholars Program
was designed to do just that." See http://www.son.jhmi.edu/newsevents/news/news.aspx?ID=613.
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC)
School of Nursing has partnered with Hendrick Health System
to establish a second-degree nursing program in Abilene.
“This accelerated program is a wonderful opportunity
for people who would like to become baccalaureate prepared
nurses but do not have the time to go through traditional
nursing program,” said Dr. Alexia Green, dean of
the School of Nursing. “This is just another step
TTUHSC has made toward helping to alleviate the nursing
shortage in Texas.” See http://www.ttuhsc.edu/son.
- The University of Texas at El Paso School of Nursing
has been awarded $100,000 by St. David’s HealthCare
of Austin, and the Las Palmas and Del Sol Medical Centers,
partners in the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)
Inc., to create a new program aimed at reducing nursing
shortages. The grant will create an innovative 15-week
program officially known as the HCA Central/West Texas-UTEP
Bridge Program for Mexico Nurses to Increase Diversity.
The program will give degreed and licensed Mexican nurses
an opportunity to prepare to pass the Texas Nurses Certification
and Licensing Exam, the national exam to become a registered
nurse. See http://nursing.utep.edu.
March 2008
- On March 3, Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge
released a report calling for the creation of a statewide
Nursing Task Force to address challenges facing Iowa’s
nurses, such as low wages and a lack of workers. The report
made a number of recommendations, including expanding
programs in the public and private sectors to provide
forgivable loans and scholarships for nursing education
at all levels; increasing the number of nursing faculty
through innovative employment; strengthening recruitment
efforts and increasing salaries; and increasing the efficiency
and effectiveness of education programs and improve their
ability to provide easy articulation between programs.
Read the report online at http://www.governor.iowa.gov/news/2008/03/03_1.php.
- New York University College of Nursing (NYUCN), has
received an eight-year, $4.1 million grant from the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation to study newly licensed registered
nurses in order to track changes in their careers. The
new grant extends from 4 to 10 the number of years these
nurses will be studied. "Following the same nurses for
the first 10 years of their careers will provide an unprecedented
opportunity to learn about how they make decisions about
their work," said NYUCN's Dr. Christine Kovner, the study's
principal investigator. "We deeply appreciate the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation's continued unwavering support
for the study of the important issues of RN retention
and job satisfaction," said NYUCN Dean Terry Fulmer. "The
findings will in turn help leaders in the field make informed
decisions about where in the system we need to make greater
investments in educating, hiring, and retaining excellent
nurses, which is so critical to the health of our nation."
See http://www.nyu.edu/nursing.
February 2008
- On February 7, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley
announced the allocation of $3.4 million to the University
of Maryland School of Nursing from the state’s Higher
Education Investment Fund to help address the nursing
shortage. “Nurses are the backbone of Maryland’s
healthcare system and play an invaluable role in delivering
the best patient care,” said Governor O’Malley.
“To ensure that all Marylanders have access to the
highest quality of care, an adequate supply of well-trained
and committed nurses is absolutely critical.” See
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/press.asp.
January 2008
- On January 31, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell
announced the investment of $1.8 million to expand nurse
education opportunities and increase the number of nurses
in Pennsylvania. “By training more nurses –
and by using state-of-the-art equipment for that training
– Pennsylvania will have more graduates on the job
who are qualified from day one to deliver the quality
care our citizens need and deserve,” said Governor
Rendell. Several AACN member institutions received
funding through this initiative, including DeSales University,
Holy Family University, Messiah College, University of
Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and Villanova
University. See http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=471236.
- The Simmons College Department of Nursing is pleased
to announce the creation of The Legacy Fund for Faculty
Nurse Scholars, which was established by a $1 million
gift from an anonymous family of donors. This funding
will be used to support a variety of departmental activities
aimed at promoting faculty scholarship, recruitment, and
retention. The Legacy Fund will help finance everything
from course-release time (to pursue doctoral course work,
dissertation research, tenure preparation, and more) to
stipends for independent scholarship. Funds also will
be available for professional development opportunities.
Dr. Judy Beal, nursing department chair, was instrumental
in engendering support for this generous gift and creating
The Legacy Fund. See http://www.simmons.edu/academics/undergraduate/nursing.
November 2007
- On November 5, leaders from Maryland hospitals and nursing
education announced a bold new strategy for solving the
state’s nursing crisis by doubling the number of
nurses now educated in Maryland. With Maryland facing
a shortage of 10,000 RNs by 2016, the plan calls for an
increase of 1,800 in the number of enrollees of first-year
nursing students beginning in 2009 and continuing into
the foreseeable future. This goal will require 360 additional
faculty members; faculty salaries that reflect market
conditions; additional funding for nursing education programs;
and, additional classroom and clinical sites to accommodate
expanded enrollments. The group placed a price tag on
the plan in year one of $34 million, and $25 million in
the following year. After an initial investment of public
and private sector dollars, organizers expect that the
expansion will begin to pay for itself. See http://www.mdhospitals.org.
- The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded
more than $7 million to Texas nursing schools under the
Professional Nursing Shortage Reduction Program. Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School
of Nursing had the largest increase of graduates in the
state in 2007 and received the largest sum of funds with
$702,151. TTUHSC increased their number of graduates by
90 students from 360 in 2006 to 450 in 2007, making it
the number two producer of degrees by a nursing school
in the state, second only to Texas Woman’s University.
“The evolving nursing shortage has significant implications
for all of us – nurses, patients, health care providers,
educators and the public,” said TTUHSC nursing dean
Alexia Green. “Our School of Nursing is strategically
addressing this critical need.” See http://www.ttuhsc.edu/son.
- A collaborative effort between the University of Maryland
School of Nursing and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has
resulted in the development of a new regional scholarship
to promote graduate nursing education. An advanced
degree will qualify graduates to become faculty members
who can teach nursing students at all levels. Dubbed “Project
RN,” the scholarship program will help students
complete their degree within two years by providing them
with financial support. For details, see http://nursing.umaryland.edu/news/2007/10-30.htm.
October 2007
- The Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA)
awarded the University of North Dakota College of Nursing
two grants to support new Master’s degree tracks
specializing in Gerontology and Public/Community Health
Nursing. Enrollment for both degree options began
in fall 2007 with options to earn an RN to MS degree,
MS degree, or post-nursing master's certificate. “We
at the College are thrilled with this news”, shares
Dr. Chandice Covington, dean of nursing. “Education
in the areas of gerontology and public/community health
is in high demand in North Dakota and the nation.
The faculty directing these programs are dedicated to
success and seeing an impact on health in our region.
We at the College applaud their hard work and commitment.”
See http://www.nursing.und.edu.
- Funded by the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing,
the Vine Hill Community Clinic and its four satellite
sites have achieved status as a Federally Qualified Health
Center (FQHC) by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The clinic is the flagship of the University Community
Health Services, a network of eight area health clinics,
and the $650,000-a-year, three-year grant will go toward
expanding services at Vine Hill and funding other health
outreach efforts. “Achieving designation as a federally-qualified
health center opens many doors for our nurse practitioner
and nurse midwife faculty to provide more services to
more patients,” said Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, dean
of the School of Nursing. Read more at http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu.
- Earlier this month, Northeastern University announced
that Dr. Carol Glod, research director and professor of
nursing, received a $625,000 HRSA traineeship grant to
expand the university’s child psychiatric nursing
program. Aiming to help eliminate the severe shortage
of nurses for underserved populations, the three-year
project will prepare advanced practice registered nurses
in child and adolescent psychiatric nursing to provide
culturally competent care to vulnerable children, adolescents
and their families with acute and chronic mental illness.
See http://www.northeastern.edu/bouve/nursing.
September 2007
- On September 12, the New Mexico Higher Education Department
announced the awarding of $3.5 million to support nursing
programs at the state’s public colleges and universities.
A total of 17 New Mexico colleges and universities, including
New Mexico State University and the University of New
Mexico, received funding in amounts ranging from $50,000
to $500,000 to help address the state’s critical
nursing shortage. In addition, the Department will disburse
an additional $500,000 later this month to enable nursing
schools to provide a supplemental compensation package
for nursing faculty and staff. See http://hed.state.nm.us.
- The San Diego State University's School of Nursing has
received a $1 million “naming” gift from Sharp
HealthCare to help support the school’s Human Patient
Simulation Center. “Our state’s nursing shortage
is well known, and our support of the Human Patient Simulation
Center will help give nursing students the best education
possible in the most efficient setting,” said Mike
Murphy, President and CEO of Sharp HealthCare. “This
Center will enhance what already is an excellent nursing
program at SDSU.” For more details, see http://nursing.sdsu.edu.
- The College of Nursing at Texas Woman’s University
was recently awarded $714,600 in state appropriations
from the 80th Texas Legislature to enhance the capacity
of the MS in nursing program to graduate more nurse educators.
The goals of the special appropriations include revising
the current 36 semester credit hours program into an entirely
online degree that can be completed in one calendar year.
Funds will also be used to provide stipends to cover the
cost of tuition, fees, and educational expenses for up
to 12 full-time enrolled students. Ultimately, TWU plans
to graduate more nursing education majors who can then
commit to teaching in a Texas college or university. For
complete details, see http://www.twu.edu/nursing/programs/ms/ms_nurse_educator.htm.
August 2007
- The University of Maryland School of Nursing and the
U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) have initiated an innovative
partnership to help address the nurse faculty shortage.
The pilot program calls for up to eight ANC officers to
be utilized as undergraduate nursing faculty, at no cost
to the school, for a maximum of two academic years. The
first six ANC nurse educators will begin teaching this
fall. “Faculty shortages across the nation are limiting
student capacity,” says Dr. Janet D. Allan, dean
of the School of Nursing. “This mutually beneficial
program will help us tackle our faculty shortage, allow
us to continue educating large numbers of undergraduate
students, and help the Army enhance officer training.
It is a win-win situation for both parties.” See
http://nursing.umaryland.edu/news/2007/6-18.htm.
- A new partnership between the schools of nursing at
University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University
of Nevada-Reno (UNR) is focusing on ways to recruit and
retain nurse educators, a critical step towards addressing
the nursing shortage in Nevada. The surge in nursing school
applications throughout the nation has sparked the demand
for more doctorally-prepared nurse educators. To address
this issue, UNLV School of Nursing Professor Lori Candela
was awarded a $710,000 grant from the Health Resources
and Services Administration (HRSA) to develop a program
accelerating the progression of master’s-prepared
nursing students at UNLV and UNR into the existing PhD
program at UNLV. The three-year project calls for exposing
existing master’s students to doctoral courses,
streamlining curriculum, and actively recruiting the current
nursing workforce to attract and retain eligible doctoral
students. See http://nursing.unlv.edu/about_news.html.
- Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
has received a pilot grant from the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses
(QSEN) to create and implement an innovative quality and
safety curriculum. The QSEN program is aimed at fostering
revolutionary changes in the education of nurses across
the more than 700 U.S. collegiate schools of nursing.
"This nation is facing a crisis in healthcare quality
and safety," says Dr. Marla Salmon, dean and professor
of the school of nursing. "The QSEN program is setting
the stage for nurses to play even more central roles in
providing safe and positive care experiences for patients
and their families. We are honored to have been selected
to be among the leading schools of nursing nationally
in this important work." For more details, see http://www.nursing.emory.edu/nursing.
- Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON)
faculty are partnering with four hospitals from the Greater
Baltimore Metropolitan area in efforts to address the
state’s nursing shortage. With funding from Maryland’s
Health Services Cost Review Commission, the new partnerships
are developing innovative programs and research that create
both the leadership and an environment conducive to effective
nursing practice. One partnership, implemented by Dr.
Mary Terhaar in collaboration with the Greater Baltimore
Medical Center (GBMC), will provide complete tuition for
four administrators and executives to participate in JHUSON’s
Doctorate of Nursing Practice program and for ten nurse
leaders to earn their Master of Nursing Science. The program
uses an evidence-based practice model to help improve
the orientation and preceptor programs at GBMC. For more
details on this and other efforts, see http://www.son.jhmi.edu/newsevents/news/news.aspx?id=571.
- The PhD Program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
was recently awarded a $843,232 HRSA grant to enhance
the capacity of the program to graduate more nurse scholars
who can educate future generations of nurses. The project’s
goals include expanding the number and diversity of PhD
students, enhancing the capability of the program’s
distance education activities, and formalizing a nursing
educator component. The PhD program will also welcome
the first distance education class this fall. Until this
year, the program has been taught using a traditional
classroom environment. By offering non-traditional classes
that include Web-based and Web-enhanced methods, the program
will increase the opportunity for students to pursue advanced
nursing careers, which is an important step in addressing
the nursing shortage. See http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/nursing.
- On August 8, the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority
(RISLA) announced an ambitious program to offset the state’s
nursing crisis by enhancing the organization’s Nursing
Reward Programs. Through this initiative, RNs and LPNs
may apply for zero percent interest on Stafford Loans
over the first four years of repayment, with the added
benefit of $1,000 per year of principal forgiveness during
the same four year period. Similarly, through the Nurse
Educator Program, borrowers receive zero percent interest
on Stafford Loans for the first four years of repayment,
as well as $5,000 per year of principal forgiveness over
the same four years. To qualify, borrowers must agree
to work in an educator/faculty position at any of the
accredited nursing schools in Rhode Island. For more details,
see http://www.RISLA.com.
- On July 25, the Kansas Board of Regents announced that
it had awarded $600,000 to bolster nursing faculty and
educational offerings at 17 public higher education institutions
across the state that offer RN programs. Funding was provided
as part of the state’s ten-year initiative to address
the nursing shortage. Several AACN member schools were
awarded funds to add new faculty or bolster faculty salaries,
including Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State
University, University of Kansas Medical Center, Washburn
University, and Wichita State University. For more
information, see http://www.kansasregents.org.
- The Wayne State University College of Nursing received
a $336,467, three-year federal training grant to initiate
a Workforce Diversity Program aimed at improving recruitment
and retention of BSN students from minority or economically
disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition to providing scholarships,
funding will be used to create a comprehensive support
system for minority students, including a new Learning
Community Retention Program. For more details, see
http://www.nursing.wayne.edu
July 2007
- On July 25, Jim Kissler, CEO of Norco Inc., presented
Boise State University with a $2 million gift on behalf
of the Kissler Family Foundation to be used toward the
construction of a new building that will house the Department
of Nursing and the Student Health Wellness and Counseling
Center. The Kissler Family Foundation gift was matched
by $1 million gifts from both Saint Alphonsus Regional
Medical Center and St. Luke’s Health System. In
addition, generous support was given by Allen and Billie
Noble, Ed and Shirley Bews, and the estate of Jody DeMeyer.
“This building is so critical to the nursing department,”
said Dr. Pam Springer, chair of the Nursing Department.
“It will allow us the space we need to increase
admissions to the program by 30 percent.” See http://www.boisestate.edu.
- The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing
(FSMFN) has recently been awarded two grants from the
U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
to enhance educational programs and provide student scholarships.
With $685,000 in funding, FSMFN will expand its ADN-MSN
bridge program which allows nurses with associate degrees
to complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
Expanding the school’s capacity to admit students
through this option will allow FSMFN to educate an increased
number of advanced practice nurses which are needed to
serve across settings, including medically underserved
and rural areas. For more information on this program
and the scholarship funding, see http://www.midwives.org/home.html.
- The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College
of Nursing has received a $932,000 HRSA grant to help
reduce the shortage of public health nurses in Illinois.
The grant will be used to recruit and train nurses in
either a graduate degree in nursing through UIC's advanced
community health nurse program or a joint master's degree
in public health. "We need more and better prepared
advanced public/community health nurses to care for our
communities in such places as health departments, hospices,
parish nurse programs, occupational health programs and
schools," said the project’s principal investigator
Dr. Kathleen Baldwin. For more details, see http://www.uic.edu.
June 2007
- The North Texas Consortium of Schools of Nursing, in
collaboration with area hospitals, developed 10 patient
care teaching/learning modules to share with schools of
nursing in Texas. These modules are based on high risk/high
volume patient diagnoses likely to be encountered in nursing
practice. The goal is to increase patient safety as well
as the clinical competence and confidence of new nurses
graduating from initial licensure programs in the state.
All modules will be placed on the Texas Nurses Association’s
website for local, state and national accessibility at
a later time. The Consortium has been spearheaded by Dr.
Elizabeth Poster, Dean of the School of Nursing at The
University of Texas at Arlington and Dr. Paulette Burns,
Dean of the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences
at Texas Christian University. See http://www.uta.edu/nursing/news.
- University of Oklahoma College of Nursing professor,
dean emeritus Dr. Patricia Forni, has been awarded a $3
million grant to prepare nurse educators to teach in Oklahoma.
Funded by an anonymous donor, through the Communities
Foundation of Oklahoma, this is the largest single grant
in the history of the College of Nursing. The grant
will be used to combat the shortage of nursing faculty
in Oklahoma by requiring scholarship recipients to work
in an Oklahoma nursing program for a minimum of two years
after graduating. See http://www.nursing.ouhsc.edu
May 2007
- On May 14, Pace University’s Lienhard School of
Nursing and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
(HHC) announced a $1.3 million program to provide nursing
scholarships for 30 students in exchange for a commitment
to work at an HHC facility for four years. The program
is designed to quickly move nursing graduates into the
profession and serves as a model for addressing the national
nursing shortage. Pace's nursing program is the city’s
first to offer a residency program and include a service
commitment to public hospitals. Scholarships worth $40,000
will be given to individuals who want to change careers,
already have a bachelor’s degree, and wish to earn
their undergraduate nursing degree in one year through
Pace’s combined degree program. See http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=558.
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health
System has given the UAB School of Nursing $1 million
to start an intensive 24 to 36 month master's program
for persons who have a bachelor's degree in any field.
This second degree program is designed to introduce 45
new nurses annually into the workforce. "Graduates
from intensive master’s nursing program such as
these are a good nursing workforce match to the missions
of institutions like UAB Hospital and its magnet status,
as well as all of our clinical partners,” said Dean
Doreen Harper. “These students are highly talented
and eager to enter the clinical nursing pool and faculty
positions.” See http://main.uab.edu/sites/nursing/108587.
- The University of West Florida (UWF) has announced an
endowment gift of $600,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Florida to the UWF Foundation. The gift will provide
support for launching a Master of Science in Nursing degree
program at UWF with tracks in nursing education and nursing
administration. With an anticipated match through the
State of Florida’s Major Gifts Challenge program,
the gift will create a $1.02 million endowment to support
UWF’s nursing program. See http://uwf.edu/nursing.
- A $500,000 award from the University of Texas (UT) System
will enable the School of Nursing at the University of
Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to create a multipurpose
interdisciplinary research area crucial to the recruitment
of research faculty. The funds for the research area come
from the UT System’s Enrich Nursing Through Exceptional
Recruitment (ENTER) program. “In a time of fiscal
constraints and a faculty shortage, the ENTER grant is
a godsend for the School of Nursing,” said Dean
Pamela G. Watson. “We have been able to obtain financial
support to provide research-related facilities and equipment
to encourage talented, doctorally-prepared faculty to
join us.” See http://www.son.utmb.edu.
April 2007
- The new BSN-to-PhD in Nursing Track at The University
of Texas at Arlington is now accepting students with BSN
degrees for fall 2007 classes. “We originally planned
to accept the next entering BSN-to-PhD class in 2008,”
said Dr. Jennifer Gray, associate dean of the PhD program.
“However, the need for doctoral-prepared faculty
to help alleviate the nursing shortage is so vital that
we will admit a class this year.” For details including
admission requirements, see http://www.uta.edu/nursing/PhD/program.php.
- The University of Mississippi School of Nursing has
launched an accelerated degree program to address the
shortage of nurses in the state’s health care workforce.
This 15-month second degree program is made possible by
a three-year, $750,000 grant from the Department of Health
and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA). A major goal of this program is to increase enrollment
of baccalaureate prepared RNs by 25 percent in three years
with special focus on recruiting a more diverse student
population. For more details, see http://son.umc.edu/news.htm
March 2007
- On March 6, the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill and Duke University staged a patient safety training
exercise for medical and nursing students, the first of
its kind collaboration between the two universities. Approximately
460 medical and nursing students participated in this
event along with more than 100 faculty and staff from
both schools. Four different methods of instruction were
used in this patient safety training to help the organizers
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each. This joint
training was the first of four projects funded by a $1.65
million grant to UNC and Duke from the North Carolina
GlaxoSmithKline Foundation. See http://nursing.unc.edu/new/press_releases/release.html?pr=1172811600.
February 2007
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) has established
a $3.5 million endowment at the University of Florida
to open the BCBSF Center for Health Care Access, Patient
Safety and Quality Outcomes. The new center will be housed
in the College of Nursing and the College of Public Health
and Health Professions and will work to significantly
improve the health of Florida’s citizens. “The
University of Florida is grateful for the generosity of
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and its dedication
to improving Florida’s health care,” said
UF President Bernie Machen. “With this new center,
the state is positioned to become a national leader in
health-care delivery, demonstrating that safe, high-quality
care can be provided, and that health-care costs can be
reduced by preventing medical errors and complications.”
See http://news.ufl.edu/2007/01/26/bcbs-center.
- On February 15, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
awarded $3 million in grants to 16 different California
nursing schools to help educate more nursing students
in the state. “As we focus on reforming California’s
broken health care system, we must ensure that we have
the workforce to meet the growing demand for nurses. These
grants will help expand enrollment in nursing programs
and attract students from within the communities the nursing
programs serve,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. See
http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/5432.
- On February 6, Northern Illinois University School of
Nursing received a $450,000 grant from the Illinois Board
of Higher Education to expand student enrollment, attract
new faculty, and enhance the use of simulation technology.
Funding will be used to hire one additional professor
and two instructors, allowing the school to increase enrollment
by 20%. In addition, the grant will allow the university
to purchase three on-campus Human Patient Simulation Laboratories
to ease the current shortage of educational sites. See
http://www.niu.edu/PubAffairs/RELEASES/2007/feb/nursinggrant.shtml.
Janurary 2007
- New York University's College of Nursing has announced
the names of 20 Fellows who will participate in the second
annual Leadership Institute for Black Nurses. The goal
of the institute is to empower nurses who seek career
advancement in education, research, and administration.
"This program was established in keeping with a long
tradition of commitment to black nursing leadership,"
says Dr. Terry Fulmer, dean of the College of Nursing.
"Through education and mentorship, the institute
serves as a resource to assist nurses who have shown great
potential as health care leaders and seeks to expand the
opportunities available to them." See http://www.nyu.edu/public.affairs/releases/detail/1386.
- In response to the nurse faculty shortage, Tennessee
Governor Philip Bredesen and state health officials launched
a campaign on January 22 to raise funds for a scholarship
program that would help current RNs earn graduate degrees
needed to teach nursing. The Graduate Nursing Loan Forgiveness
Program - which the governor signed into law in 2006 -
calls for $1.4 million in funding to pay for 100 RNs to
return to school to complete graduate programs. After
graduation, nurses receiving support would be expected
to teach in an undergraduate nursing program in Tennessee
for four years. See http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/governor/Newsroom.do?id=1.
- With approval by the State Board of Education, Boise
State University will begin offering a master's level
nursing program in fall 2007. Students may earn either
a master of nursing or master of science in nursing degree,
with an emphasis in public health. The program is designed
to advance the careers of nurses already in the field,
and will also prepare more nurses for teaching positions
at Idaho universities. In a show of collaboration and
support, Boise State University has also signed an agreement
with Idaho State University to better coordinate the delivery
of graduate nursing programs to Idaho students. See http://nursing.boisestate.edu/news/index.shtml.
December 2006
- The Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing at William
Carey University in Mississippi was awarded a $1 million
grant from the Asbury Foundation of Hattiesburg to construct
an addition onto the existing nursing building located
on the Hattiesburg campus. "What an amazing trust,"
said Dr. Mary Stewart, dean of the school of nursing.
"The Asbury Foundation continues to be a strong supporter
of our School of Nursing; we have the deepest gratitude
for their partnership." The addition will provide
space to educate more nurses at a time when the nursing
shortage is nearly a crisis. See http://www.wmcarey.edu/asp/viewpr.asp?item=338.
- The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida
International University (FIU) recently named the Jorge
and Darlene Perez Nursing Laboratory at the Health and
Life Science Building at FIU's University Park campus.
The naming and dedication ceremony was held on November
14, 2006 to honor Related Group Chairman and CEO Jorge
M. Perez and wife Darlene Boytell-Perez for their $250,000
gift to the College. The Perez donation, coupled with
a 50 percent state match, will provide the College with
a total of $375,000 to add to its nursing endowment. "This
generous gift will help support the advancement of the
nursing programs at FIU and keep the laboratory on the
cutting edge of health education," said nursing dean
Divina Grossman. See http://chua2.fiu.edu/Nursing.
- On November 15, Kaiser Permanente in Northern California
announced its award of $6 million to support two baccalaureate
nursing programs and a workforce diversity initiative
lead by the Hispanic College Fund. Through this initiative,
almost $5.5 million will be given to Samuel Merritt College
over a four-year period to expand its accelerated BSN
program to 96 new students per year. In addition, a $150,000
loan forgiveness program was created at San Jose State
University for 10 BSN students, and the Hispanic College
Fund was given $260,000 over three years to support 10
nursing students in Northern California. See http://www.kaisersantarosa.org/news/kaiser/nursinggrant.
- The Department of Health and Human Services awarded
D'Youville College a $28,800 grant to help increase the
number of qualified nursing faculty. The funds will be
used to establish a special Nurse Faculty Loan Program.
Upon completion of an advanced degree program, recipients
may cancel up to 85 percent of the loan over a designated
period while serving as a full-time faculty member at
a school of nursing. "This funding is an important
step to help in the shortage of qualified nursing faculty.
Many students are unable to enter nursing because there
are no faculty to teach the courses," said nursing
department chair Verna R. Kieffer.
November
2006
- Carrying out a goal set by Illinois Governor
Rod R. Blagojevich to stem the state's nursing shortage,
officials from his administration opened the Illinois
Center for Nursing in Springfield on November 2. The Center
is responsible for assessing the current supply and demand
for nurses in Illinois and developing a strategic plan
to ensure that the state can educate, recruit and retain
nurses. The center's advisory board will also work with
state, regional and local businesses and governments to
provide support for programs to expand opportunities for
nurses in the state. See http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/PressReleasesSearch.cfm.
- On October 23, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell
unveiled two workforce development initiatives that will
increase the number of nurse educators and expand clinical
education opportunities for the growing student nurse
population. The $4 million "Loaned Faculty"
initiative provides funding so health care employers and
nursing education providers can loan qualified teachers
to nursing schools experiencing faculty shortages. The
"Clinical Education" expansion initiative provides
$3 million in grants to help nursing schools and health
care providers expand clinical education opportunities
for the growing number of nursing students in the state.
See http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=457355.
October
2006
- The School of Nursing at The College of
St. Scholastica (MN) received two federal grants totaling
$1.5 million for two nursing education programs. The grants
will support the development of a new DNP degree as well
as a multifaceted initiative to increase workforce diversity.
"We are delighted with the federal support that will
enable us to initiate two important projects. We believe
these efforts will significantly increase the positive
impact of nurses and on health care," said School
of Nursing Dean Dr. Martha T. Witrak. See http://www.css.edu/x1576.xml.
- The University of Maryland School of
Nursing has received a five-year, $1 million grant from
MedStar Health to support of the Governor's Wellmobile
program. Managed by the School of Nursing, the Wellmobile
travels throughout the state providing primary health
care services to underserved and uninsured citizens. The
program also provides a venue for students - at both the
undergraduate and graduate level where clinical skills
are honed - to gain experience in a community health setting.
See http://nursing.umaryland.edu.
- Florida International University School
of Nursing has partnered with Miami Dade College to operationalize
a $1.2 million SUCCEED grant from the Florida Department
of Education for the Expanded Nursing Capacity and Diversity
Initiative (ENCDI). This initiative addresses the critical
shortage of RNs and nursing faculty, the need for more
nurses from minority backgrounds, and the need to innovative
nursing education. Under ENCDI, both institutions will
be able to increase nursing student enrollment, as well
as implement innovative practices in nursing education
through new technologies. See http://chua2.fiu.edu/Nursing.
- The University of South Florida (USF)
College of Nursing, in partnership with Bethune-Cookman
College (BCC) has established an initiative to boost the
number of doctorate-level minority nursing faculty. Launched
earlier this semester, five nursing instructors from BCC,
a historically black college and university (HBCU), have
been enrolled in USF's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
program. To support the program, USF is using $450,838
of a $1.28 million SUCCEED Florida Career Education Grant
awarded to the school last year for the state's first
DNP program. See http://hsc.usf.edu/nocms/nursing/newsannounce/newsannounce.html.
- The Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) has awarded a $1.3 million grant to the Arizona
State University (ASU) College of Nursing & Healthcare
Innovation to fund a project to improve nurse retention
and patient care. ASU's ultimate goal of the Nurses-to-Nurses
project is to implement a working model for creating and
sustaining a healthy and effective nursing work environment
that can be adapted by health organizations across the
United States. ASU will partner with Abrazo Health Care
(AHC) of Arizona on the five-year initiative through 2011.
See http://nursing.asu.edu.
September
2006
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST)
Health Foundation has awarded Vanderbilt University a
$2.48 million, four-year grant to study premature births
in high-risk women. This is the largest grant ever made
by BCBST, and it will make a significant collaborative
project possible that may save babies' lives and millions
of dollars in health care money for Tennesseans. The grant
funds Tennessee Connections for Better Birth Outcomes,
a research project led by Dr. Patricia Temple, professor
of Pediatrics and medical director for Nurses for Newborns,
and Dr. Melanie Lutenbacher, associate professor of Nursing
and Pediatrics and director of the PhD in Nursing Science
Program at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.
See http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/nursing/media/release720.html.
- The University of Maryland School of Nursing
has received the first year of funding, in the amount
of $200,000, on a three-year program to develop a comprehensive
higher education program for increasing awareness about
the fight against breast cancer. "The Komen Maryland
Affiliate Nursing Partnership: Advancing Education and
Practice" - an innovative partnership with the Maryland
Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
- is the first of its kind in the nation linking the Komen
Foundation with a nursing school. "This funding initiative
is intended to model a unique and innovative way for the
Komen Foundation to emphasize critically important roles
that nurses play in the fight against breast cancer,"
says Robin Prothro, executive director of Komen's Maryland
affiliate and an alumna of the School of Nursing. See
http://nursing.umaryland.edu/news/2006/8-28.htm
-
The University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill School of Nursing and the North Carolina
Area Health Education Centers program have created a
new partnership to improve the health of North Carolina's
elderly population by bringing education in geriatric
care to nurses in rural or underserved areas. "North
Carolina's elderly population is growing rapidly, but
few nurses are formally trained in geriatric nursing,"
said Dr. Mary H. Palmer, UNC Umphlet Distinguished Professor
in Aging in the School of Nursing. "Our program
uses innovative geriatric clinical simulations to train
nurses how to recognize and respond to changes in acutely
ill older patients, and improve the quality of their
responses, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes."
See http://nursing.unc.edu/new/releases/ns_AHEC_geriatric082906.html.
-
Recognizing the need for better-trained
nurses to care for patients in the central Alabama area,
Baptist Health and Auburn University-Montgomery (AUM)
have joined forces to increase the number of nursing
professors, and thereby nursing graduates, in this area.
With a total contribution of more than $500,000 over
a four-year period, Baptist Health will enable AUM to
create two additional nursing professor positions. "Baptist
Health's investment in AUM's School of Nursing was an
easy decision to make because of the quality of its
graduates," said W. Russell Tyner, Baptist Health
president and CEO. See http://www.aum.edu/administration/university%5Frelations.
-
Led by Drs. Linda Aiken and Richard "Buz"
Cooper from the University of Pennsylvania, the newly
created Council on Physician and Nurse Supply will bring
a group of national health care leaders together to address
the growing problem of nurse and physician shortages.
The Council is based in the University of Pennsylvania's
Consortium for Health Workforce Research and Policy, a
joint program of the Schools of Nursing and Medicine and
the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. The Council
will monitor data and act as an advocate for change, advising
legislators and others on ways that the supply of nurses
and physicians can be altered to meet the public's needs.
The Council's goals are to bring objectivity to the study
of physician and nurse supply and to shape public policy.
This group is the only multidisciplinary organization
in the nation dedicated exclusively to addressing issues
of nurse and physician supply. In addition to Dr. Aiken,
representatives from nursing education also include Dr.
Kathleen A. Long, dean of the College of Nursing at the
University of Florida, and Dr. Marla Salmon, dean of the
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University.
-
On June 1, the Kansas Board of Regents
unveiled a ten-year, $30 million plan to address the state's
nursing workforce shortage. All 22 public nursing programs
in Kansas are eligible to participate in the program which
includes funding in three areas: Nurse Educator Scholarships,
Nursing Faculty and Supplies, and Equipment and Facility
Upgrades. Legislators in Kansas understand that increasing
capacity in nursing programs is a complex process that
consists of acquiring additional qualified nursing faculty,
securing additional clinical instruction sites, and increasing
classroom space and equipment. For more details,
see the Whats New section at http://www.kansasregents.org.
-
Maryland's Health Services Cost Review
Commission awarded seven nursing institutions grants totaling
$6 million over five years as part of the first round
of funding in the state's newly launched Nurse Support
Program. This unique venture teams hospitals and colleges
to create partnerships to address the critical shortage
of nurses. The projected outcomes of this first round
of funding include increasing undergraduate nursing enrollments
by 500 students and graduate nursing enrollments by an
estimated 250-300 students. Of the 26 proposals submitted,
awards were given to Coppin State University, University
of Maryland and Villa Julie College among other recipients.
For more information, see http://www.mhec.state.md.us/Grants/NSPII/NSPII.asp.
-
Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Higher
Education Foundation (PHEF) announced the creation of
six new nursing education initiatives, the result of a
cooperative effort with the Leadership Council of the
Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers. Designed primarily
to address the faculty shortage, these programs were created
to encourage current nurses to return to school, earn
graduate degrees, and teach the next generation of nurses.
The initiatives include the Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness
Program, the Graduate Nurse Education Grant Program, and
the Nurse Faculty Lines Program among others. For more
details including applications and eligibility requirements,
see http://www.FuturesInNursing.org.
-
To combat the nurse faculty shortage,
Emory Universitys Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of
Nursing created the innovative Emory Summer Nursing Teaching
Institute. This post-masters certificate offers
clinicians an efficient program to become skilled educators.
The teaching practicum builds on the clinical knowledge
of nurses and ensures that participants learn the techniques
to deliver educational materials in a skilled and effective
manner. Applications are now being accepted for the summer
2006 program. For details, see http://www.nursing.emory.edu/nursing.
-
The University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill School of Nursing is expanding enrollment opportunities
for students seeking BSN degrees. The school will continue
to offer a traditional 24-month nursing option and an
accelerated 14-month option, but will admit students to
each option twice a year starting in 2007. This change
will allow the school to graduate 220 new nurses each
year as compared to its 125 new nurse graduates in 2000-2001.
"By moving to twice-a-year admissions and teaching
BSN students year-round, we can maintain the quality of
our prelicensure program while meeting the needs of the
state through expanded enrollment," explained Dean
Linda Cronenwett. See http://nursing.unc.edu.
-
On February 7, Illinois
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich unveiled a plan to increase
the number of nursing faculty, provide scholarships to
nursing students and create a new Center for Nursing.
This comprehensive plan includes $1.3 million in faculty
scholarships to attract nurses into teaching careers and
$1.5 million in grants to nursing schools to expand student
enrollment. For complete details, including other provisions
included in this plan, see http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowbyM.cfm?SID=3.
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On February 9, South
Carolina State Senator Joel Lourie (District 22) introduced
S.1137 which is titled the Nurse Faculty Scholars Act.
This bill would establish the South Carolina Nursing Scholars
Commission to provide scholarship loans to nurses to obtain
baccalaureate and masters degrees in nursing. The
state legislation also would establish the South Carolina
Center for Professional Nurse Retention and Recruitment
to address issues concerning recruitment, retention and
utilization of professional nurse resources. See http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/bills/1137.htm.
-
In response to the
nursing shortage, the California State University-Fresno
Department of Nursing has developed a new accelerated
entry-level masters (ELM) nursing program. The California
State University Chancellors Office is funding this
one-time offering to enable students who have a baccalaureate
degree in a non-nursing field to transition into nursing.
Launching in May 2006, program graduates are expected
to fill leadership positions in nursing and serve as nursing
faculty at institutions throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
See http://www.csufresno.edu/nursing/ELM/ELM.html.
January 2006
- The Maryland Health Services Cost Review
Commission, the state agency charged with setting rates
for Maryland Hospitals, in collaboration with the Maryland
Higher Education Commission, has approved funding for
a Nurse Support Program (NSP) in the amount $9.4 million
a year over the next 10 years to support two initiatives
to help alleviate Marylands critical shortage of
nurse faculty and bedside nurses. Funding will be used
to expand the pool of nurses in Maryland by increasing
the capacity of nursing programs. The first statewide
initiative will provide funding for graduate nursing faculty
scholarships and living expenses, new nursing faculty
fellowships, and state nursing scholarship and living
expenses grants. The second program, the competitive institutional
grants initiative, will expand the states nursing
capacity through shared resources, increase the states
nursing faculty, improve nursing student retention, and
increase the pipeline for nurse faculty. See http://nursing.umaryland.edu/news/2005/12-21.htm.
- On January 10, Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Florida (BCBSF) announced the donation of $600,000
each to the University of North Florida (UNF) and the
University of Florida (UF) in an effort to address critical
issues in nursing education. The State of Florida will
match each gift at $420,000. UNF and UF were also awarded
a $1.2 million SUCCEED grant from the state to increase
the number of nurses who enter Florida's workforce. Dr.
Robert I. Lufrano, chairman and CEO of BCBSF said Through
our Generation RN program, we are able to support nurse
education plus address a critical workforce and health
care need in Florida." Generation RN is a public/private
partnership initiated by BCBSF to build an expanded, stable
and culturally diverse nurse workforce in Florida. Combined
with state matching dollars and other private support,
BCBSF-endowed scholarships fund the education of more
than 200 nursing students each year.
- On January 12, St. John Fisher College
in New York announced that businessman Robert B. Wegman
gave $8 million to the college to fund a new School of
Nursing. The largest gift in Fishers history, the
proposed school will be called the Wegmans School of Nursing.
I am very pleased that St. John Fisher College has
chosen to use this gift for the creation of a School of
Nursing, explained Mr. Wegman, chairman of Wegmans
Food Markets, Inc. I am concerned about the future
of health care, particularly the cost, and believe that
addressing the nursing shortage is an important goal.
See http://www.sjfc.edu.
- The University of Miami School of Nursing
and Health Studies will launch a fast-track program to
prepare nursing instructors aided by a one-year, $1.28
million grant from the Florida Department of Educations
SUCCEED Florida Nursing Education Program. The six-month
certificate program, which begins this month, will help
Florida nursing schools to expand enrollment by increasing
the number of clinicians who are qualified to teach. See
http://www.miami.edu/nur.
December 2005
- Florida International University and Miami
Dade College have received a $1,282,500 grant titled Expanded
Nursing Capacity and Diversity Initiative from the
Florida Department of Education. The grant is part of
the Succeed Florida RFP Program approved by the Florida
Legislature this year. The grant is a collaborative effort
between the schools to address the critical shortage of
registered nurses and nursing faculty in the region. Through
this project, 222 new students will be admitted into the
programs while the schools work to recruit, develop and
retain nursing faculty through the Grow Our Own
Nursing Faculty project. See http://chua2.fiu.edu/Nursing.
- In an effort to increase the supply of
doctorally-prepared nurses, the University of Kansas School
of Nursing announced the creation of an online PhD program
earlier this month. There are many nurses who want
to study at the doctoral level but have been unable to
do so because of distance from the university, said
Dr. Rita Clifford, associate dean for student affairs.
Now they will be able to complete the program from
their own localities. The new online PhD program
includes the type of content and requirements typically
found in traditional classroom programs. Both the BSN
to PHD and the MS to PHD programs will be offered online
and in the classroom depending on the students needs
and choices. See http://www2.kumc.edu/son.
- After a decade-long hiatus, the undergraduate
nursing program at University of CaliforniaLos Angeles
(UCLA) will reopen in fall 2006. The UCLA School of Nursing
had offered an undergraduate program since it opened in
1949, but the program was dropped in the mid-1990s due
to budget cuts. The school currently offers master's and
doctoral degree programs in nursing. In November, the
school also announced that it is adding a master's degree
program for second-degree seekers. These programs were
funded by the University of California Board of Regents,
which gave the nursing school an additional $5.2 million
in the 2006-2007 academic year. See http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=35093.
November 2005
- On November 15, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski
announced a new program called Care
for Oregon which provides student loan repayment to
nursing school graduates once they enter the state's workforce.
In partnership with the student loan company Sallie Mae,
the Care for Oregon loan assistance program will repay
up to 10 percent of federal Stafford loan balances for
nurses who earn their degree at an Oregon institution
and remain in the state to practice.
- The Kansas City Metropolitan Health Care
Council recently launched the Nurse Expansion Project
to increase the number of nursing educators in an effort
to reduce nurse vacancy rates at local hospitals. With
the goal of adding 40 full-time faculty members and expanding
capacity by 200 students by fall 2006, local hospitals
will allow their nurses to serve as adjunct faculty at
area nursing schools.
- The
University of Buffalo School of Nursing has received
a $440,000 grant to study the reasons behind the critical
shortage of nurses across the U.S through research funded
by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The five-year national
study will survey 5,000 recent graduates of registered
nurse programs periodically over the first four years
of their careers to track the underlying reasons for their
work decisions. For more details, see http://www.buffalo.edu/news
(click Nursing under the "By Topic Area" button.
- The
University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing
is planning to launch a new BSN to PhD program in fall
2006. "We are committed to addressing the critical
need for nurse faculty and scientists by consolidating
the time needed to complete the PhD in Nursing,"
said Dean Elizabeth C. Poster. "The BSN to PhD program
will allow nursing professionals to have longer careers
during which they can make significant contributions to
research, education, administration, clinical practice
and health policy leadership, nationally and internationally."
-
Arizona
State College of Nursing has been awarded a $1.2 million
grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) to launch a new Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS)
program. A major goal of the program is to increase the
number of doctorally prepared nurses, clinical researchers,
and nursing faculty to meet the health needs of Arizona,
the Southwest, and a rapidly changing and ethnically diverse
nation. The first cohort of students was admitted into
the program in August 2005.
-
The
University of Cincinnati College of Nursing has received
a $775,000 HRSA grant to help ease the national shortage
of nursing educators, and ultimately increase the number
of applicants who can be admitted to nursing school. The
grant will be used to recruit faculty members, provide
additional courses to faculty and increase the number
of courses offered to students both on campus and online.
-
Northern Michigan University (NMU) School
of Nursing and Marquette General Health Care Systems (MGHS)
were awarded $1.9 million dollars for their Accelerated
Healthcare Career Training proposal. The proposal, authored
by Dr. Kerri Durnell Schuiling, provides funding to support
accelerated educational formats for registered and practical
nurses in NMU's School of Nursing. Additionally, preceptor
education will be offered to 70 RNs with BSN degrees who
are currently working at MGHS and interested in becoming
clinical associates for students in the accelerated programs.
Most of the didactic courses will be offered in an online
format and clinical experiences will be taught using a
combination of an RN preceptor and an NMU faculty member.
-
The
Osteopathic Heritage Foundation in Columbus, OH awarded
$991,000 in funding to five area colleges of nursing as
a continuation of its healthcare workforce initiative.
The awards to the nursing programs at The Ohio State University,
Mount Carmel College of Nursing, Columbus State Community
College, Otterbein College and Capital University are
intended to help increase student capacity, primarily
by preparing more instructors and equipping training facilities.
For details on specific awards and the Foundations
commitment to nursing, see http://www.osteopathicheritage.org/fund_award_aug_05_2.htm.
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The Virginia Tobacco Commission recently
awarded the University
of Virginia School of Nursing a $248,828 grant to
provide a nursing career ladder in the economically disadvantaged
areas of Southside and Southwest Virginia. The program
will serve graduates of hospital-based RN programs looking
to earn baccalaureate and graduate degrees in nursing.
In addition to satisfying the educational needs of RNs,
this grant program will improve access to quality health
care for the area's citizens and play a positive role
in attracting business and industry to this region as
well.
July 2005
- The University
of West Florida recently received a $100,000 endowment
for student scholarships from Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Florida (BCBS). The award was presented during the
graduation ceremony for the first graduates of the schools
new BSN program. The contribution was made through a public/private
partnership called Generation RN, which strives to create
educational and career opportunities for nurses, particularly
those from culturally diverse populations.
-
Work-Force 1, a non-profit organization contracted
by the Texas Workforce Commission to oversee workforce
development in 12 Texas counties, announced that it will
fund a nursing faculty position at Texas A&M University-Corpus
Christi to enable the school to produce more graduates.
The new faculty position will allow the school to expand
and accept 19 more students this fall.
June 2005
-
The University of
Maryland School of Nursing is partnering with Shady Grove
Adventist Hospital (SGAH) on a new initiative called Teach
for the Health of It which will move a significant
number of RNs into faculty positions in a short period
of time. The School of Nursing and SGAH have established
an agreement where the School will use the hospitals
masters prepared specialists as clinical faculty
for the traditional baccalaureate program. This agreement
will allow the school to admit an additional eight BSN
students in fall 2005.
-
Georgia
Baptist College of Nursing is partnering with Piedmont
Healthcare in Atlanta to help recruit, educate and
ultimately place more nurses in the health system and
the community at large. The partnership includes efforts
to increase the number of nursing graduates, an enhanced
nursing clinical practice at Piedmont, and additional
faculty opportunities. Both partners will share resources
and costs, hold community activities to promote healthcare/nursing
careers, and establish an annual nursing research conference.
A Piedmont Scholars program is being established to attract
highly qualified applicants into nursing.
May
2005
- Late last month, Kaiser Permanente in
Southern California announced that it was awarding $580,000
to Mount St. Marys College and Azusa Pacific University
(APU) to help students defray the cost of nursing school
and ease nursing shortages at Kaiser Permanente hospitals.
These forgivable loan awards include $440,000 for 17 accelerated
BSN students at Mount St. Marys College; $120,000
for APUs accelerated MSN students; and $20,000 for
APUs Second Careers and Nursing (SCAN) students.
Read more online at http://ckp.kp.org/newsroom/scal/archive/scal_050422_nursinggrants.html.
April 2005
- On March 30, Intermountain Health Care
(IHC) announced that it will make donations in the amount
of $4.4 million to nursing schools at eight Utah universities
and colleges to help train more than 600 additional registered
nurses. The funds will be used to support several AACN
member schools, including Brigham Young University, Weber
State University and Westminster College. For more details,
see http://www.ihc.com/xp/ihc/aboutihc/news.
- On April 6, the Global Scholarship
Alliance (GSA) announced the arrival of 28 foreign nurse-scholars
as part of the companys innovative cultural exchange
program. The four and a half year program combines intense
academic study at two American universities with part-time
clinical experience in partner hospitals. The 28 nurse-scholars
from the Philippines will pursue Master of Science in
Nursing (MSN) degrees at Xavier University in Cincinnati
and Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY. GSAs
mission is to help ease the global nursing crisis by developing
the next generation of nurse leaders and educators. See
http://www.globalscholarship.net.
March 2005
- The Missouri Hospital
Association is offering 83 two-year scholarships totaling
$500,000 in 2005 for students in Missouri pursuing careers
in nursing and the allied health professions. The scholarships
are limited to students who are within two years of completing
their professional education, including nursing students
enrolled in baccalaureate programs. Applications must
be received May 26, 2005. Download applications at http://web.mhanet.com/asp/Workforce/Health_Scholarships.asp.
February 2005
-
Clemson
University School of Nursing is engaged in a partnership
effort to address the shortage of both registered nurses
and nurse faculty. This initiative, titled the "LPN
to Professor" program, involves four hospitals
(AnMed Health, Canon Memorial Hospital, Oconee Memorial
Hospital and Palmetto Baptist Medical Center Easley)
and the Duke Endowment providing funding to Clemson
and Tri-County Technical College to hire more faculty
and expand student capacity. By 2009, this collaborative
effort is expected to create at least 48 master's prepared
nurse educators, 72 baccalaureate-educated RNs, and
90 associate degree-prepared nurses. Read more online
at http://www.hehd.clemson.edu/news/Nonline.htm.
January 2005
- The Missouri Hospital Association's Center
for Education has awarded six grants to partnerships of
hospitals and nursing schools to expand the number of
registered nursing students who can be accepted into educational
programs. The $1 million grant program was created to
address the barriers that limit the ability of the state's
nursing schools to accept a growing number of qualified
applicants. The University of Missouri-St. Louis was among
the nursing schools that received funding through this
program. See http://web.mhanet.com/asp/Communications/News_Releases.asp.
December 2004
- The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, in
collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department
of Nursing, has developed two innovative academies for
practicing nurses. The Nurse Educator Academy addresses
the crushing need for nursing faculty to educate the nurses
of tomorrow and the growing demand for staff to educate
todays practicing nurses. The Patient Safety Academy
meets the urgent need to prepare nurses to lead interdisciplinary
initiatives that will reduce medical errors and increase
patient safety. Both week-long programs offer learning
experiences that reach beyond a traditional classroom
education. See http://www.son.jhmi.edu/newsandmedia/newsdetail.asp?ID=223.
- The University of Maryland School of Nursing
has received $248,000 in federal funding to create the
Institute for Nurse Educators. The Institute will prepare
nurses with the essential knowledge and skills to assume
teaching roles in Maryland and the surrounding region.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Reps. Elijah Cummings and Steny
Hoyer pursued funding for this project to help address
the critical shortage of nurse faculty.
- The Nursing Division at Villa Julie College
(MD) has received federal funding to expand the school's
distance learning program. The money will be used to fund
technology, faculty and staff engaged in the schools
RN to BS program. Dr. Judith Feustle, director of the
colleges nursing division, is grateful to Sen. Barbara
Mikulski, Rep. Benjamin Cardin and the Maryland congressional
delegation for supporting Villa Julie's efforts to address
the severe nursing shortage in Maryland. For more details,
see http://www.vjc.edu/newsandevents/#5404.
November 2004
- The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
awarded two grants totaling $5.5 million to San José
State University's School of Nursing for programs to increase
the number of new nursing graduates and to educate additional
nursing faculty. "Not only will this program assist
the local nursing shortage by increasing the number of
new nursing graduates each year," said Jayne Cohen,
director of the School of Nursing. "It will also
increase the number of potential nurse leaders and educators
who are academically prepared to begin graduate level
study. These students will be able to take advantage of
the nursing educators for tomorrow program, also funded
by the grant." For details, see http://www.sjsu.edu/news/news_detail.jsp?id=950.
- HCA's MidAmerica Division has joined with
Belmont University (TN) in a new educational partnership
to address the growing shortage of nurses in Tennessee.
HCA has committed $7.5 million toward the construction
of a College of Health Sciences which will house the school's
Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Social Work programs.
This unique partnership will also create a new nursing
consortium intended to help meet the needs of Middle Tennessee
for highly educated nursing professionals. See http://forum.belmont.edu/umac/archives/2004/10/hcas_midamerica_1.html.
October 2004
- The Orvis School of Nursing at the University
of Nevada, Reno (UNR) was awarded a three-year, $219,000
grant, from the Department of Health and Human Services
to recruit additional nurses into the Nurse Educator graduate
program at UNR to prepare them for teaching roles. Nevada
ranks last in the nation in the ratio of nurses to population.
The grant also targets potential students who represent
the state's diverse population through an Ambassador to
Health Careers Program. The Ambassador Program is in collaboration
with the Nevada Nurses' Association that involved nursing
students in outreach recruitment activities at high schools,
colleges, and health care agencies.
- Broadlands Regional Medical Center awarded
$100,000 to Shenandoah University School of Nursing to
underwrite the salary of a full-time nursing professor
at the school's Northern Virginia Campus. "We are
proud to forge this partnership with HCA's newest member
of their family of hospitals and health care services
in Northern Virginia," said Dr. Sheila Ralph, professor
of nursing and director of the school's Division of Nursing.
"Their gift will help Shenandoah University to meet
a critical need for registered nurses in Loudoun County
by expanding our programs to educate more nursing students
more quickly
- The University of Maryland School of Nursing
is launching an Institute for Nurse Educators this fall
to address the critical and growing shortage of nursing
faculty in Maryland and across the nation. The Institute
will centralize nurse education resources to prepare nurses
with the essential knowledge and skills they need to assume
educator roles in both academic and clinical settings.
The Institute will provide classroom and web-based courses
for an education minor as part of a master's degree, a
doctoral degree, or a post-master's certificate for nurses
or other health care professionals.
September 2004
- Dr.
Karen M. Schaefer, nurse faculty at Temple University
in Philadelphia, has secured grant-funding from the Department
of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) to launch a program designed to
increase the number of African American and Hispanic students
entering the nursing profession. The Developing Diverse
Diamonds Project (DDDP) will open doors for those whose
financial, academic and personal circumstances limit their
educational pursuits. "The success of the project
will be measured using admission, retention, attrition
and graduation rates," said Schaefer, who expects
diversity within Temple's nursing school to increase by
5 percent over the next three years. For more details,
see http://www.temple.edu/news_media/tah0408_020.html.
- Baptist
Memorial Health Care in Memphis will award $1 million
in educational grants to nursing and allied health students
within the next year. The grant program will cover the
last two years of tuition for full-time students enrolled
in a four-year program and both years for students enrolled
in a two-year program. Students, including Baptist employees
and family members, must already be accepted to an approved
program or school and agree to work for Baptist after
graduation to qualify for a grant. The grant program is
an extension of a program started at the Baptist College
of Health Sciences in 2002. "We are investing in
this grant program because it's the right thing to do
for our patients and communities," said David Hogan,
executive vice president and chief operating officer for
Baptist Memorial Health Care. "We hope our investment
will encourage other organizations to do the same."
See http://www.baptistonline.org.
- Boise
State University was awarded a $730,800 HRSA grant to
develop a statewide cultural competency program for nurses
and nursing students. Through Greater Awareness for Idaho
Nurses (GAIN) initiative, a cultural competency continuing
education course will be developed for registered nurses
across Idaho, and a college course will be developed for
student nurses. All of the state's nursing schools will
be involved in planning and implementing the project,
allowing for outreach to nurses and isolated areas of
the state. Nurses and students will learn about cultural
competency, connect with peers via live videoconferencing,
and be able to practice their new skills in clinical settings.
See http://nursing.boisestate.edu.
- Dr.
Wendy Barr, Associate Clinical Professor with the School
of Nursing at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA),
has been appointed as the coordinator for the Bridges
to Doctoral Study project funded by The National Institute
of Health. The project, an inter-institutional partnership
with The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San
Antonio, Texas, is intended to increase the number of
qualified under-represented minority nurses with doctoral
degrees. The initiative will increase the competitiveness
of UIW graduates applying for doctoral study by providing
doctoral level distance education courses, mentorship,
and various research oriented workshops and training sessions.
Each year two Bridges Fellows will be appointed to receive
financial and academic support. See http://www.uta.edu/nursing/news.
- The
University of North Dakota (UND) was awarded a three-year,
$567,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human
Services' Bureau of Health Professions Nursing Workforce
Diversity Program to bolster its efforts to recruit American
Indian students into nursing. The funds will be used to
expand its Recruitment and Retention of American Indians
into Nursing program (RAIN), which has trained more than
100 American Indian nurses during the past 15 years. UND
expects about 40 American Indian students will be admitted
to the program during the three-year period. Of those,
30 will be undergraduate students, six will be master's
students, and three will enter the doctoral program. See
http://www.und.edu/dept/nursing/rain.html.
August 2004
- The
Department of Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System
and California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) have
announced a $1.3 million partnership to provide individuals
with baccalaureate degrees in science-related professions
the opportunity to receive a baccalaureate degree in nursing
through an innovative new program. The Accelerated BSN
Program curriculum is offered in a concentrated 60-week
program with didactic courses offered by the CSULB Department
of Nursing and clinical experiences provided predominately
at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System. "For everyone
concerned, we believe this partnership is a win-win,"
said CSULB President Robert C. Maxson. "Patients
will especially benefit, and the VA and the university
are very enthusiastic about how our collaboration will
advance nursing education in the Long Beach area."
July
2004
- Arizona
State University (ASU) and the Mayo Clinic are partnering
to increase enrollment capacity for nursing students statewide
through the combined resources and clinical strengths
of both institutions. Through this initiative, nursing
students will be educated using ASU's curriculum which
will be taught master's-level nurses from the Mayo Clinic
in classroom and laboratory learning space at Mayo Clinic
Hospital. "This innovative partnership is a wonderful
example of professional collaboration for the benefit
of the community," says Dr. Barbara Durand, dean
of the ASU College of Nursing. For more details, see http://www.asu.edu/asunews/academics/mayonursingprogram_070204.htm.
- On
July 7, Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN announced
that the Hospital Corporation of America awarded a $500,000
grant to the school to support the new Lipscomb/Vanderbilt
Nursing Partnership. The grant will cover the initial
costs associated with launching a new BSN program at Lipscomb
with classes provided by Vanderbilt. "We deeply appreciate
the fact that HCA shares our vision for nursing education
and is willing to provide the financial support necessary
to make this monumental venture possible'" said Lipscomb
President Stephen Flatt. Read more online at http://www.lipscomb.edu/filter.asp?SID=4&fi_key=85&co_key=5755.
June 2004
- Through
the newly formed Partnership for Education and Clinical
Excellence, a coalition of hospitals in South Carolina
has agreed to give $1 million over three years to boost
nursing education at the University of South Carolina
(USC) and Midlands Tech. The donation of money and services
from Providence Hospitals, Palmetto Health and Lexington
Medical Center is designed to increase the number of nurses
with bachelor's degrees. "The hospitals' donation
involves greater cooperation between Midlands Tech, USC
and hospitals in nurse training," said Trip Gregory,
a senior vice president of Palmetto Health. The donations
will support adding two faculty members to the USC nursing
school, and will allow 16 extra nurses to graduate from
the school annually, starting in two years. For more details,
see http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/business/8663106.htm.
May 2004
- On
May 3, Dominican College (NY) signed a comprehensive articulation
agreement with an associate degree program offered at
the Mount Vernon Hospital at Mount Vernon, NY. The agreement
allows students graduating from the Dorothea Hopfer School
of Nursing with an Associate Degree in Nursing to transfer
up to 58 credits, including a maximum of 31 credits in
nursing, towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Dominican.
Transferring students will begin at Dominican with junior
status and will complete their BSN in Dominicans
Weekend or ACCELerated Evening College format. Dominican
College currently has articulation agreements with Westchester
Community College, Orange Community College, SUNY-Rockland
Community College, and the Helene Fuld College of Nursing.
April 2004
- On
April 14, 2004, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine
Chao announced the recipients of $13.5 million in High
Growth Job Training grants to help prepare workers for
skilled jobs in the health care industry. The grants are
part of a new $24.3 million Health Care Initiative that
Secretary Chao kicked off last month in Baltimore. Health
care is the first industry for which solutions have been
developed and announced under the President's High Growth
Job Training Initiative. Grant monies will fund a variety
of programs, including nursing initiatives led by Excelsior
College (NY), Florida International University and Johns
Hopkins University. The complete list of grant-funded
projects is online at http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA2004655a.htm.
March 2004
- Last
week, the U.S. Department of Labor launched a $24.4 million
national initiative to train health care workers that
includes funding to increase the pool of nurse educators.
Labor Secretary Elaine Chao kicked off the program, part
of the president's High Growth Job Training Initiative,
during a visit to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
In addition to funding to educate personnel needed for
positions experiencing critical worker shortages, the
state of Maryland received a $1.5 million grant to provide
scholarships for nurses to pursue graduate level education
needed to teach at the college and university level. For
more information, see http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA2004397.htm.
- On
March 8, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) announced the establishment
of the IBC Nurse Scholars Program, a $2.25 million scholarship
initiative to combat the critical shortage of nursing
educators and nurses in Southeastern Pennsylvania. G.
Fred DiBona, Jr., IBCs President and CEO, said by
focusing a large portion of our investment on attracting
new teachers, we believe we ultimately can put more nurses
on the front lines right here in Southeastern Pennsylvania
and more nurses corresponds to better care.
Read more at http://www.ibx.com/jsps/article.jsp?id=/about_ibc/news/index.html.
- The
University of Texas at Arlington Dreamakers Scholarship
Program is enlisting public and private support to fund
$1,000 scholarships for at least 25% of the school's BSN
students this year. With a goal of $100,000 for scholarships
in 2004, the School of Nursing has already received funds
and pledges totaling over $113,000. Donations will support
baccalaureate students and help them fulfill their dreams
of becoming successful professional nurses. See http://www.uta.edu/nursing/dm-2004.
- Two
nursing schools are opening accelerated baccalaureate
programs to accommodate the rising interest in the nursing
among career changers. This fall, Nevada State College
will use $500,000 in federal funding to offer an accelerated
BSN program for individuals with previous four-year degrees.
Texas Christian University's (TCU) Harris School of Nursing
has also launched an accelerated BSN track for non-nursing
college graduates which is supported by a $286,182 grant
from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. TCUs
15-month program offers a novel approach to fast-track
nursing education that features the same number of clinical
hours as traditional programs. Read more at http://www.hsn.tcu.edu/acceleratedbsn/index.htm.
February 2004
- On
February 4, 2004, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation
announced the distribution of $604,000 in grants to area
nursing programs through the Foundations Nursing
Education Grants Program. This funding will help address
the nursing shortage in Pennsylvania by assisting schools
in their efforts to recruit and retain nursing students.
The funding was distributed to 15 nursing schools, including
College Misericordia, the University of Scranton and Wilkes
University. For details, see http://www.misericordia.edu/news_archives/news_full.cfm?news_id=460.
January 2004
- California
State University at Long Beach has signed a five-year,
$15 million dollar contract with Long Beach Memorial Medical
Center (LBMMC) to double enrollment in the schools
Trimester BSN program. Students in the program
attend classes full-time, year round, and graduate with
a BSN (132 semester units) in two years after being admitted
to the program in their sophomore year. The grant consists
of both funds and in-kind contributions. LBMMC will provide
all clinical instructors, some classroom space, and use
of a newly built, six-bed, simulated laboratory as part
of the agreement.
- San
Francisco State University (SFSU) has teamed up with Sequoia
Hospital to launch a new program that will train at least
30 additional students each year and increase the University's
undergraduate enrollment by 40 percent. With space limited
at the university campus, classes will be held at Canada
College in Redwood City with courses taught by SFSU professors.
The Sequoia Healthcare District, part owner of Sequoia
Hospital, approved the 10-year, $7.5 million deal in December.
The first students will begin classes in September 2004.
December 2003
- Advocate
Health Care and the University of Illinois at Chicago
College of Nursing were awarded a $1.6 million HRSA grant
to fund a new program titled "Career-Building for
Nurse Retention and Care Excellence." The partners
will use the funding to conduct research to determine
factors that are most likely to increase nurse retention
rates and will facilitate new approaches to recruitment
and retention. The overall objective of this project is
to improve the retention of nurses within a health care
system, thereby improving patient care with respect to
quality (clinical competence), cost-effectiveness and
cultural competence. For more details, see http://www.uic.edu/nursing/RetentionGrant.doc.
November 2003
- The
University of Virginia (UVA) School of Nursing has received
a three-year, $651,153 HRSA grant to fund a collaborative,
two-pronged effort aimed at deepening and diversifying
the local pool of professional nurses. Funding will be
used toward increasing faculty resources at both UVA and
Piedmont Virginia Community College. For more information,
see http://www.nursing.virginia.edu/dean/release.asp.
- Indiana
University School of Nursing, the American Association
of Critical-Care Nurses and Clarian Health Partners received
a grant from the Department of Education, Fund for the
Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE), to develop
three online critical care courses (adult, pediatric and
neonatal). The courses include a didactic component, a
clinical practicum, and a Virtual Center of Best Practice
which includes practice guidelines and research briefs.
The clinical practicum uses an online preceptor model
to facilitate clinical application of course content.
The courses are offered for academic credit as well as
continuing education credit and confer a professional
certificate from the collaborating organizations. This
grant will increase the numbers of nurses prepared for
critical care, and expands the opportunities for students
to have experiences in these clinical settings.
- The
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston
received a $355,000 HRSA grant to educate nurses and nursing
assistants on ways to overcome the health disparities
faced by geriatric patients and to improve leadership
skills. Dr. Linda Rounds, associate professor and coordinator
of the school's Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Program,
will use the funding to develop a continuing education
series directed at health care professionals working with
older populations in medically underserved areas of East
Texas. Dr. Rounds will also work with UTMB's East Texas
Geriatric Education Center, in partnership with the East
Texas Area Health Education Center, to develop the Program
for Education and Leadership in Geriatrics.
October 2003
- On
September 30, 2003, New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson
launched the Nurse Bridge Program to address the states
severe nursing shortage. One component of this new initiative
is the Nurse Educators Program which provides registered
nurses with graduate degrees needed to serve as nurse
educators. The Nurse Educators Program will be conducted
at the University of New Hampshire, offer six graduate
credits, and cost nothing to the taxpayer. See http://www.state.nh.us/governor/pr_09_30_03_ga.html.
- The
University at Buffalo School of Nursing received a $1
million HRSA grant to expand the schools offerings
in adult care nursing and to increase the number of nurse
educators. Funds will be used to institute an Adult Clinical
Nurse Specialist masters degree program and a 15-credit
Advanced Certificate in Nursing Education for masters-prepared
nurses.
- The
Maryland Council of Deans and Directors of Nursing Programs
has approved a new articulation program that will make
it easier for nurses to pursue advanced degrees without
the loss of credits. The program, the Maryland RN to BSN
or RN to MSN Articulation Model, will guarantee RNs wishing
to earn a bachelors or masters degree in nursing
a minimum of 30 upper division nursing credits when they
enter a four-year college or university program. Full
implementation of the models will be completed by fall
2004.
- The
College of Nursing at Marquette University in Milwaukee
received a $1.2 million HRSA grant to launch a new doctoral
program to prepare nurse educators and develop scholars
to study vulnerable populations. Funding will also be
used to increase the number of faculty from underrepresented
populations.
September 2003
- The
Rural Health Outreach Program (RHOP) at The University
of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing received grant
funding of $50,668 from the Office of Rural Community
Affairs (ORCA) to provide educational programs for nurses
and other providers in rural communities. RHOP has been
providing more than 4000 contact hours of continuing education
programs annually in rural communities since 1975. This
grant will result in at least 20 new continuing education
courses that are designed to enhance patient care in Critical
Access hospitals. ORCA's objective is to increase the
satisfaction and professional knowledge of the health
care workforce in rural areas by providing supplemental
educational opportunities.
August 2003
- The
Duke Endowment made a gift of $350,000 to the Medical
University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing
enabling the institution to create new online nursing
programs. MUSC developed the online education program
in response to the nursing shortage facing South Carolina
and the nation. Beginning in fall 2003, the college will
offer an online curriculum to enable registered nurses
to earn their four-year bachelor's degrees without leaving
their current nursing positions. Also in fall 2003 the
College will have all of the core master degree courses
online and the neonatal nurse practitioner program entirely
online. In 2004, the college plans to introduce other
online classes that will allow working nurses to pursue
their master's degrees in preparation for careers in nursing
administration and nursing education.
- The
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) has signed
an agreement with Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
(MTSA) to offer graduates of Vanderbilts Acute Care
Nurse Practitioner Program an early interview and potential
acceptance in MTSAs highly competitive Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist program. VUSN and MTSA
are establishing a one of a kind relationship, said
Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, dean of VUSN. It is a
cost-effective and cost-efficient way to enhance the educational
offerings of both schools without duplicating efforts
between the two schools, and will result in increased
access for patients needing quality anesthesia care.
Read more at http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/nursing/media/releases.html.
- The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded
$739,467 in funding to support the new PhD in Nursing
program at The University of Texas at Arlington. This
grant will be used to recruit faculty, including those
from diverse backgrounds who bring differing perspectives
to the classroom. Faculty will assist in developing online
courses to increase access to the PhD program for nurses
in rural areas and other states. Grant monies will also
be used to develop a recruitment, retention and mentoring
plan for doctoral students. For more information, see
http://www.uta.edu/nursing.
July 2003
- The
School of Nursing at the Catholic University of America
(DC) was awarded a 3-year, $868,900 grant from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services for a new academic
program aimed at recruiting more Hispanic nursing students.
The schools initiative, the Latino Nursing Career
Opportunity Program, is designed to spur interest in the
nursing profession among students in grades 7-12.
- To
better meet the demand for nurses with professional level
education, Robert Morris University (PA) will begin offering
both a BSN and MSN program this fall. Students interested
in these nursing programs are now eligible to enroll with
classes beginning in August 2003. The university will
partner with West Penn/Allegheny Health Systems for clinical
experiences. For more details, see http://www.pghhospitalnews.com/060307RMU.htm.
June 2003
- The
Tennessee Board of Nursing approved a plan by The Vanderbilt
University School of Nursing (VUSN) and Fisk University
to expand their current relationship and offer courses
to meet requirements of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
degree (BSN) to be awarded by Fisk. Students will complete
a specified liberal arts curriculum at Fisk and all nursing
curriculum at VUSN in order to receive a BSN from Fisk.
Fisk will administer the program, and Dr. Linda Norman,
Senior Associate Dean for Academics at VUSN will coordinate
Vanderbilt's courses into the Fisk curriculum. Dr. Colleen
Conway-Welch, VUSN Dean, said the ability to package
and offer the bridge to liberal arts schools who would
themselves give the bachelors degree in nursing
allows Vanderbilt some additional ways to help address
the nursing shortage and crisis, and allows undergraduate
colleges, where nursing fits their mission, to offer a
baccalaureate program in Nursing without the ordinary
additional expense. For more information, see http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/nursing.
- The
Florida International University School of Nursing was
recently awarded a $250,000 federal grant from DHHSs
Bureau of Maternal and Child Health to establish a Center
for Leadership in Pediatric and Family Nursing. Led by
Dr. Sandy Lobar, the center will seek to improve care
provided to children and families by preparing nurse practitioners
who can influence public policy, manage complex health
needs, and use multiple resources to maximize the potential
of children and families from minority backgrounds.
May 2003
- In
response to the growing faculty shortage, the Nell Hodgson
Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta
is launching a fast-track program that will train expert
clinical nurses in education in less than three months.
The 2003 Emory Summer Nursing Teaching Institute, a post-master's
certificate program, is being launched this summer with
a goal of attracting and retaining top teachers in nursing.
For more information, see http://www.nurse.emory.edu/Admissions/MSN/PostMSN_Teaching.asp.
- The
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved
the creation of a doctoral nursing program (PhD) at the
University of Texas at Arlington to prepare nurse scientists
and increase the number of qualified faculty to meet the
health needs of a diverse society. The Texas legislature
recently passed a bill which provides registered nurses
in postgraduate nursing degree programs, who plan to teach
in a program in Texas, in-state tuition rates regardless
of the length of time they have resided in Texas.
April 2003
- Providence
Health System in Oregon has partnered with the University
of Portland to provide 75 of the university's juniors
with full-tuition scholarships for the final five semesters
of their BSN program in exchange for a three-year work
commitment. Providence has committed $2.5 million to each
new crop of students over the next six years.
- To
bring more nurses into the health system, University of
Missouri Health Care (UMHC) has joined with the Sinclair
School of Nursing to develop an accelerated BSN for students
with bachelor's degrees in other fields. Through this
partnership, UMHC will provide students with scholarships
in exchange for a three-year work commitment. This 15-month
program will welcome its first class in May 2003.
- The
Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) will offer $500,000
in scholarships for the second consecutive year in an
effort to attract new recruits to nursing and other health
professions. MHA launched the scholarship program in 2002
with $1 million in funding from Missouri hospitals. The
program awarded 91 scholarships totaling $500,000 last
year and plans to award 83 scholarships totaling the same
amount this year. Recipients do not have to be Missouri
residents or attend school in Missouri, but must agree
to work for one or two years in an MHA-member hospital
after graduation. See http://web.mhanet.com.
March 2003
- The
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has raised
over $4 million to increase the number of baccalaureate,
master's and doctorally prepared nurses in South Carolina.
Funds will be used to create the South Carolina Nursing
Collaborative which will focus on addressing the state's
severe nursing shortage. Six clinical partners contributed
to the initiative that will enable the MUSC College of
Nursing to add eight new faculty, develop online programs,
and double the number of students enrolled in the BSN
program. To find out more about this collaboration and
the clinical partners, see http://www.charleston.net/stories/031103/bus_11nurs.shtml.
- The
Medical Center of Central Georgia has collaborated with
the nursing school at Georgia College and State University
to develop a critical care internship for senior BSN nursing
students. The 15-week internship program, which began
in January 2000, consists of a minimum of 64 hours of
core classroom content, and 200 to 220 preceptored hours
of mentored, evaluated, and structured clinical experiences
on critical care units.
February 2003
- Palm
Beach Atlantic University announced this month that it
is establishing a nursing school with $1.2 million in
donations from Tenet Healthcare Corp. and the Palm Healthcare
Foundation. The nursing program, slated to receive its
first students in fall 2003, will be the fourth four-year
nursing program in Palm Beach County.
January 2003
- The
University of Arizona College of Nursing is teaming up
with two clinical partners - Carondelet Health Network
and University Medical Center - to offer a 14-month accelerated
BSN program for college graduates. Beginning in June 2003,
the program will provide financial support to a total
of 48 students who will have their tuition entirely covered
by either Carondelet or UMC in exchange for a two-year
work commitment. Total cost to the health organization
partners is $27,500 per student. "This community
partnership can be seen in the context of a national trend
in which hospitals are playing a larger role to help expand
nursing programs," said Dean Marjorie Isenberg, DNSc,
RN, FAAN. See http://www.ahsc.arizona.edu/opa/news/dec02/2ndnews.htm.
- Late
last year, the Virginia Partnership for Nursing (VPN)
launched the "Nurses Change Lives" campaign
to inspire K-12 students to consider a nursing career.
The campaign features a Website - http://www.nurseschangelives.com
- and a series of posters that depict nurses and their
healing powers. To find out more about this campaign or
to order the posters, visit the Web site or call 1-866-VPN-CHAT.
VPN is a statewide nursing workforce initiative and part
of the Colleagues in Caring Initiative funded through
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
December 2002
- Intermountain
Health Care, a Utah hospital management firm, has contributed
$2 million to seven of the state's nursing schools to
bolster the ranks of future registered nurses, medical
technicians and other health care workers. Funds will
also be used to enable RNs to return to school and pursue
careers as nursing faculty. Among the schools receiving
assistance are Brigham Young University, University of
Utah, and Weber State University.
- The
College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN was awarded $1.8
million from the U.S. Department of Education to integrate
sophisticated clinical software computer systems throughout
its health science programs, including nursing. This innovative
five-year project will result in the school serving as
a national model for health care educators.
November 2002
- Emory
University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing received
a $5 million endowment from the Helene Fuld Health Trust
to provide scholarships to second-degree students entering
the school's newly launched direct-entry master's program.
Funds will be distributed over a five-year period beginning
this September. For more details, see http://www.emoryhealthcare.org.
- Jacksonville
University has formed a partnership with Flagler Hospital
in St. Augustine, FL, to address the state's critical
shortage of nurses. The School of Nursing began offering
its BSN-to-MSN program at the hospital this semester and
will begin an RN-to-BSN program in January. The program
is open to Flagler nurses as well as other area nurses,
including those at Putnam Community Medical Center in
Palatka, FL. For more information, go to http://www.ju.edu/news/press/Nov02/112002.htm.
- Michigan
Governor John Engler signed legislation creating the Michigan
Nursing Scholarship Program and allocating $4 million
to the program for 2003. Scholarships will be available
to students in RN and LPN programs in exchange for a work
commitment in a Michigan health care facility. Students
may apply for up to $4,000 in scholarship money for a
maximum of four years.
- The
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and its
American Education Services division have established
a $13.3 million nursing loan forgiveness program in partnership
with hospitals and other employers. The program is designed
to increase enrollment in the state's undergraduate and
graduate nursing programs and the number of nurses practicing
in the state. Participants must graduate from an approved
nursing education program and work after graduation as
a direct care nurse or nurse educator for a minimum of
one year. See http://www.pheaa.org/News_Media/index.shtml.
October 2002
- Alaska's
five largest health care providers - Providence Health
System of Alaska, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Yukon-Kuskokwim
Health Corp., Alaska Regional Hospital and the Alaska
Native Trible Health Consortium/ANMC - have committed
$1.8 million over the next three years to share the cost
of expanding the University of Alaska's nursing education
programs. The university is matching that commitment through
capital and other resources. The donations and legislative
appropriations will enable the school to implement its
plan to double the number of nursing graduates by 2006.
See http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/index.cfm?fuseAction=newsItem&news_id=254.
- The
Hampton University School of Nursing (HU) was recently
awarded a $1.1 million grant from the National Institute
of Nursing Research and the National Center for Minority
Health and Health Disparities to develop the Hampton Penn
Center for Reducing Health Disparities. Funding will be
used to narrow the gap in health disparities by extending
an existing partnership between HU and the University
of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. HU was also awarded
$1.2 million grant from the federal Division of Nursing
to fund a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Distance Education
Program. The HU School of Nursing will significantly expand
its existing pediatric nurse practitioner specialty program
by creating and implementing an Internet-based distance
education program that student can access nationwide.
For information, see http://www.hamptonu.edu/News_Publications.
- Congressman
Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) recently announced that federal
funding would be allocated for the first year of a three-year
initiative to expand Coppin State College's Bachelor of
Science Nursing Program from 170 to 273 students. The
expanded nursing program will increase the number of qualified
nurses working to improve the health of Baltimore's medically-underserved
residents. The project is consistent with the Healthy
People 2010 goal of eliminating health disparities between
minority and non minorities, and will increase access
to primary health care particularly in high poverty areas
in Baltimore City, where 80 percent of Coppin nursing
graduates practice. See http://www.coppin.edu/newsdesk/current.asp.
September 2002
- Over
the summer, nursing leaders at three institutions that
do not offer doctoral programs in nursing -- Florida A&M
University, Florida State University, and the University
of North Florida -- finalized arrangements with the University
of Florida to form a cooperative doctoral degree program
in nursing science. Beginning this fall, students from
the three partner schools will be able to access the University
of Florida's doctoral program via interactive distance-delivery
system through sites in Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
This innovative partnership will help to ease the nursing
faculty shortage by providing new avenues for students
to complete a PhD in nursing.
- The
Visiting Nurses Association of Wisconsin and Marquette
University College of Nursing formed a collaborative partnership
to establish the Institute for End-of-Life Care Education.
The Institute will be a state-of-the-art education center
that will provide new clinical opportunities for undergraduate
and graduate students to apply classroom learning from
various disciplines, such as nursing, medicine, social
work and theology.
August 2002
- Two
local hospitals have pledged a total of $2.6 million over
10 years to create scholarships for nursing students at
the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Penrose-St.
Francis Hospital and Memorial Hospital will each provide
about 384 scholarships to nursing students who agree to
work for one of the hospitals for two years after graduation.
Read more online at http://web.uccs.edu/ur/pr.htm.
- North
Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem is contributing
$750,000 a year to a new accelerated baccalaureate program
in nursing at Winston-Salem State University. The hospital
will pay for all program costs, including the students'
tuition, books and other fees as well as provide space
for clinical experiences. In exchange, students agree
to work at the hospital for three years after graduation.
With the first class beginning in January 2003, the 13-month
BSN program will graduate 35-40 students each year. See
http://www.wfubmc.edu/news_sys/fullstory.php?articleid=2521.
- The
Intercollegiate College of Nursing/Washington State University
College of Nursing was awarded a $1.8 million federal
grant to bring health care outreach services to thousands
of families throughout Spokane County. The Health Resources
and Services Administration grant is the largest grant
awarded to the College of Nursing in its 34-year history
and will fund the expansion of academic nursing for disadvantaged
areas over the next five years. Read more online at http://www.nursing.wsu.edu/marcom/71602a.htm.
- The
Emma Eccles Jones Foundation has donated $1 million to
the University of Utah to support a nursing research center.
Graduate study, faculty preparation and clinical nursing
research will be facilitated by the presence of the center.
For more information on the university's Office of Research
and Scholarship, see http://www.nurs.utah.edu/research.
July 2002
- Georgia
Governor Roy Barnes announced a $4.55 million public-private
partnership with hospitals to increase the number of nurses
and other health professionals. The state will provide
$2.1 million in grants to expand health education programs
at 13 schools in the University System of Georgia, while
Georgia providers will make cash and in-kind contributions
of equipment, staff time, and laboratory/classroom space
valued at $2.45 million. AACN member schools involved
in this partnership include Armstrong Atlantic State University,
Clayton College & State University, Columbus State
University, Georgia State University, and Kennesaw State
University. In all, this partnership will prepare 294
new nurses at the baccalaureate level and 180 nurses at
the associate degree level. For more information, see
http://www.gagovernor.org.
- The
Neighborhood Nursing Center of La Salle University (PA)
received a $200,000 grant from the Independence Foundation
2002 to continue to provide health care and educational
services to many uninsured residents of Northwest Philadelphia.
The nursing center provides primary care to city residents
who live in the city's most underserved area. For more
details, see http://www.lasalle.edu/academ/nursing/n_nursing/index.htm.
La Salle also recently received over $35,000 in funding
from HHS to provide scholarships to students from disadvantaged
backgrounds who are pursuing BSN degrees.
- The
Maryland Department of Human Resources awarded $386,719
to the University of Maryland School of Nursing to fund
a pilot program for the development and implementation
of a statewide system of health care consultation and
training for child care providers. To this end, a Child
Care Health Consortium and Training Office has been established
to respond to child care providers' inquiries for advice
and health care information. For more information, see
http://nursing.umaryland.edu.
- The
University of Kansas School of Nursing and Cerner, Inc.
have created a first-of-its-kind program to educate future
nurses using clinical information systems. This program
is designed to give graduates a competitive advantage
due to the first-hand experience with specialized technology
that enables clinicians to practice higher quality patient
care. Read the press announcement at http://www2.kumc.edu/son/pr/fullrelease.asp?prID=1016565314.
June 2002
- Texas
Christian University' Harris School of Nursing in Fort
Worth will use their online master's degree program and
$166,000 in state grant money to recruit and train nurses
for faculty positions at Tarleton State University, Vernon
College, Angelina College, Kilgore College, and Panola
College. This project will fill the void of nurse educators
with alumni who live in rural areas and have close ties
with their communities.
- The
Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno
will admit an additional 24 students this fall thanks
to a $233,000 grant from NevadaWorks, a state agency that
provides state and federal funding to programs designed
to expand the skilled workforce of the state. The new
students will enter an accelerated bachelor's degree program
that will allow them to graduate in December 2003.
- Tenet
Healthcare Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Tenet Healthcare
Corp., has awarded a $1 million grant to The East Los
Angeles Community Union Education Foundation to provide
financial support to Latino nursing students enrolled
in local colleges and universities. Part of the funds
will be used to develop outreach videos and educational
materials and conduct career fairs at local high schools.
- Florida
International University's School of Nursing has recognized
six community health care organizations for contributing
$1.78 million toward the school's training initiative
to ease the state's nursing shortage. Baptist Health Systems
committed $360,000 towards funding four-year nursing education
scholarships. Tenet South Florida Healthsystem committed
$230,000 towards a full-time medical surgical nursing
faculty member to enable the school to increase its admissions
to 60 students. Miami Children's Hospitals made an in-kind
contribution of $230,000 for three years to fund a full-time
pediatric nursing faculty member. Mercy Hospital (Miami)
and HCA Health Care, East Florida Division donated a combined
$600,000 to fund and co-sponsor a foreign physician-to-nurse
re-education program. Miami Beach Anesthesiology Associates
at Mt. Sinai Medical Center donated $360,000 to help the
school launch its nurse anesthetist program.
Sign
up to receive AACN News Watch each month by contacting
Laura Guetter at lguetter@aacn.nche.edu.
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