The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has announced three funding opportunities in the field of nursing: Nursing Workforce Diversity Program, Nurse Faculty Loan Program, and Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships.
HRSA’s Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Program serves to increase nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented among registered nurses) by providing scholarships or stipends for (1) diploma or associate degree nurses to enter degree completion programs, and (2) accelerated nursing degree programs, pre-entry preparation, advanced education preparation, and retention activities. Applicants may include accredited schools of nursing, nursing centers, academic health centers, state or local governments, and other private or public entities deemed appropriate, including faith-based and community-based organizations. Applicants proposing projects that will substantially benefit rural or underserved populations, or help meet public health nursing needs in State or local health departments, will be given a funding preference. HRSA anticipates making 12 NWD grant awards. Applications are due November 16, 2015.
HRSA’s Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) seeks to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty to facilitate education of the nurses needed to address the nursing workforce shortage by providing funding to schools of nursing to support the establishment and operation of a NFLP loan fund. Participating schools of nursing make loans from the fund to assist registered nurses in completing their graduate education to become qualified nurse faculty. HRSA anticipates making 100 NFLP grant awards. Applications are due November 30, 2015.
HRSA’s Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships (NAT) increase access to nurse anesthetist care for underserved populations. NAT grants provide funding for traineeships for licensed registered nurses enrolled as full-time students beyond the twelfth month of study in a master’s or doctoral nurse anesthesia program. Eligible applicants are education programs in accredited schools of nursing, academic health centers, and other private or public entities that provide registered nurses with full-time nurse anesthetist education and are accredited, or have initial accreditation. Traineeships will pay all or part of the costs of the tuition, books, and fees, and the reasonable living expenses of the individual during the period for which the traineeship is provided. HRSA anticipates making 80 NAT grant awards. Applications are due November 20, 2015.
