The Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced more than $100 million in funding to enhance nurse training and expand the nursing workforce. These financial injections aim to tackle the surging demand for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and nurse educators, accordin gto an Aug. 10 news release.
"Nurses are an essential part of our nation’s health care system," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release. "Now more than ever, we need to double down on our investments in nurses who care for communities across the country."
The nursing workforce occupies a pivotal position in enhancing health outcomes and healthcare distribution across various settings – encompassing hospitals, nursing homes and other establishments – as well as in community-based practice such as nurse-administered clinics, provider offices, healthcare centers, educational institutions and home-based and community-centric care, the release reported.
"Nurses constitute the vanguard in delivering life-preserving healthcare services, and in safeguarding the well-being of us all," Johnson said in the release. "The current funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration underscores our unwavering commitment to bolstering the nursing workforce, cultivating the next generation of nurses, erecting career pathways for them, and acknowledging the pivotal role they play in primary care, mental health care and maternal health care."
The HHS, together with the complete Biden-Harris administration, remains steadfast in their dedication to bolstering nurses in this essential endeavor, and in building the workforce through strategies like the current allocations, according to the release.
The present grants revolve around key focal points, including assisting licensed practical nurses in transitioning to registered nurses. A total of $8.7 million is allocated for the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention - Pathway to Registered Nurse Program, aimed at training licensed practical and vocational nurses to attain registered nurse status, the release reported.
There will be $34.8 million available through the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program to escalate the count of primary care nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives to deliver primary care services, mental health and substance use disorder care and/or maternal health care, the release said.
The Advanced Nursing Education - Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Program will receive $30 million to fostering comprehensive residency and fellowship training regimens to augment the number of adept advanced practice nurses in primary care, according to the release.
A total of $26.5 million is apportioned through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, enabling recipient schools to offer low-interest loans and loan forgiveness, enticing individuals to pursue careers as faculty members in nursing schools, the release reported.
