[brian]

HHS Awards $15.5 Million to Expand, Strengthen Nursing Workforce

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced almost $15.5 million in grants to 62 universities, colleges, nursing schools, medical centers and other health care institutions to expand the nation’s supply of qualified nurses and promote diversity in the nursing profession.
“The national nursing shortage threatens the quality of America’s health care,” said Secretary Thompson. “These grants will help us meet future demand for the essential health care services that nurses provide.”

A report issued by HHS in 2002, Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortages of Registered Nurses: 2000-2020, predicted that the nursing shortage is expected to grow to 29 percent by 2020, compared to a 6 percent shortage in 2000. During Secretary Thompson’s tenure, funding for nursing programs has increased dramatically, and six new nursing programs were implemented as part of the Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002.

Most of the funds announced today -- $10.1 million -- will support 38 grants under the Nurse Education, Practice and Retention Program. That program is designed to:

• increase enrollment in baccalaureate nursing programs;
• develop internship and residency programs;
• promote cultural competency among nurses;
• improve access to health care for medically underserved populations; and
• boost nurses’ retention rates.

The remaining $5.4 million will support 24 grants under theNursing Workforce Diversity Program. That program supports student scholarships and stipends and pre-entry preparation and nursing retention activities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“The workforce diversity grants effectively target resources to racial and ethnic minorities who are underrepresented in...

more: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040722.html

[traumaRUs]

How cool Brian. THis is so very needed.

[NRSKarenRN]

Nurse Education, Practice & Retention Program Grants

Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles-

School of Physical Therapy

Los Angeles, Calif.

$209,407

Nursing Workforce Diversity Program Grants

Temple Univ. School of Medicine

Philadelphia, Pa.

$140,862

How are grants to these institutions used to strengthen the nursing workforce??? Think someone assigned money from the wrong program here...... Temple University has it's own School of Nursing.

P.S.: These are programs are funded theough the Nurse Reinvestment Act. ANA helps to lobby each May for this act to get funded yearly. We can use your help to write to your Congressperson.

[Lrosemond]

I applaud the federal goverment for these grants but in my opinion they are missing the point. There does not seem to be an issue getting people to enter nursing school. Where it get hard is KEEPING THEM IN NURSING. The thread above states that they are using 15.5 million to strengthen Nursing Workforce. Where? We need better pay, better work conditions, and better public opinion about how valuable we are. Use the grants to raise wages (so I don't have to work 2 jobs or work overtime to support my family), offer grants to organizations that have been inovative in improving work conditions (equipment to reduce back injuries, no mandatory overtime, etc).