$7 Million Grant to Fuel Fast-Track Nursing Educations
Fifty-eight nursing schools in 31 states are sharing $7 million in funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program, which works to bolster the pipeline of new nursing by providing financial aid to students. The money is funding $10,000 scholarships for 706 nursing students in accelerated programs during the 2008-09 school year.
"This scholarship program is designed to ease the shortage of nurses and nurse faculty -- an urgent national problem that potentially jeopardizes the health of all Americans. Fewer students will be turned away by schools of nursing because of the availability of this support for accelerated nursing degree programs," said Dr. John Lumpkin, M.D., MPH, senior vice president and director of the foundation's Health Care Group.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing's president, Fay Raines, Ph.D., RN, said the support is welcome. "As the National Program Office for this groundbreaking initiative, AACN was pleased to see the high caliber of funding proposals submitted by schools of nursing and delighted that so many students who need financial assistance will receive support as they embark on their nursing careers." AACN said it will announce the timeline for the Call for Proposals for the second round of funding to nursing schools from the foundation's program later this month. For information, visit www.newcareersinnursing.org.