Nursing CE Central
On August 11th the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) announced over $100 million in federal grants dedicated to growing the country’s nursing workforce. These funds are split across five separate awards that each address the ever-growing demand for nurses.
This year’s federal grants are nearly ten times higher than 2022’s $13 million, showcasing the administration’s increasing effort to combat the country’s nursing shortage.
The HRSA made another effort for the well-being of healthcare workers last year by publishing the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on building a thriving health workforce, “Addressing Health Worker Burnout.” This advisory specifies actions that can be taken by individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to invest in the well-being of all health workers.
For federal, state, local, and tribal governments one recommendation states to “invest in evidence-based practices, plans, and partnerships that ensure the health, safety, and well-being of health workers.” In 2022, the HRSA invested $103 million in these programs.
Today’s investments from the Health Resources and Services Administration demonstrate our ongoing commitment to supporting the nursing workforce, training and growing the next generation of nurses, creating career ladders for nurses, and recognizing the critical role nurses play in primary care, mental health care, and maternal health care
-Carole Johnson, HRSA Administrator
The awards given in 2023 each take on a different responsibility for the training and growth of nurses here in the United States.
The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR)-Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (PRNP) aims to create and support academic training for LPNs and LVNs to become registered nurses. The funds from this award may be used in the following ways:
The 2023 NEPQR-PRNP awards totaled $8.7 million in federal grants split among 9 institutions. These federal grants will be continuingly awarded over the next four years.
The Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) Program aims to increase the number of nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives in clinical settings providing primary care services, mental health and substance use disorder care, and maternal healthcare.
In order to help alleviate health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), funding preference was given to institutions that will train their APRN students to practice in rural communities or local health departments.
The 2023 ANEW awards totaled $34.4 million in federal grants split among 56 institutions. This funding will continue over the course of four years.
Funds from the ANEW award are used to fund APRN trainees through stipends, traineeship awards, and other academic costs such as tuition or books. This may total up to $25,00 per student per year.
The Advanced Nursing Education-Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Program (ANE-NPRF) aims to prepare new APRNs for primary care positions by establishing or expanding nurse practitioner residencies and fellowship training programs.
This program prioritizes the integration of maternal health (adult, family, adult gerontology, pediatric, and women’s health) and behavioral health (psychiatric/mental health) into primary care by helping transition these providers into practice. This can be done by establishing nurse practitioner residency programs, expanding existing programs, or enhancing existing programs to include maternal and behavioral health content.
The 2023 ANE-NPRF awards totaled $30 million in federal grants split among 45 institutions. These funds will be awarded annually for four years.
Funds from the ANE-NPRF award are to be used to fund residency programs and clinical trainings for new primary care nurse practitioners who will provide care integrated with behavioral and maternal health dimensions to communities facing healthcare provider shortages.
The Nurse Faculty Loan Program aims to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty by providing low-interest loans for individuals studying to be nurse faculty and loan forgiveness for those who then go on to work as nurse faculty.
The 2023 Nurse Faculty Loan Program award totaled $26.5 million in federal grants split among 88 intuitions. This program will receive funding annually for the next four years.
Funds from the Nurse Faculty Loan award are to be used to provide low-interest loans that cover a student’s tuition costs, fees, books, lab expenses, and other reasonable education expenses. This may total up to $40,000 per student per year.
There is no loan support duration limit for students in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. However, students must be employed full–time as a nurse faculty member within 12 months of graduation and continue working for the following 4 years to have their loan forgiven.
Loans forgiven through this program are only forgiven for up to 85% of the original loan amount plus interest.
The Nurse Anesthetist Traineeship (NAT) Program aims to increase the number of qualified certified registered nurse anesthetists by providing traineeship support to CRNS students.
The 2023 NAT Programs award totaled $2.2 million in federal grants split among 64 institutions. These federal grants will be awarded annually over the next four years.
Funds from the NAT Program are to be distributed to students in nurse anesthesia programs through traineeship support. This support includes tuition costs, books, and other reasonable living expenses. This may total up to $30,000 per student per year.
These grants each take on a unique perspective on how to grow the nursing workforce in the United States. Whether through direct compensation for students in desired programs, or the creation of programs that benefit the education of nurses, these federal grants showcase the administration’s investment in nurses.
Combined with the $78 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to strengthen and diversify the nursing workforce, the HRSA’s investment will hopefully allow more nurses to pursue career opportunities and serve the communities that need them the most.
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