Nebraska Methodist College Receives $600,000 Grant to Address Nursing Faculty Shortage
Published: Sept. 8, 2023
In an effort to address a shortage of nursing faculty, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has provided Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) a $600,000 grant.
“The HRSA grant is essential for NMC to be able to support nurses wanting to teach – many of whom would not be able to go back to college without it,” said Deb Carlson, president and CEO of Nebraska Methodist College. “Our nursing faculty members are the heart and soul of the college and shape the next generation of nurses. This grant allows us to develop our faculty and maintain a strong nursing program. Nurse educators play a vital role in addressing nursing shortages and maintaining a skilled and competent nursing workforce. Our college depends on nurse educators, and so does the future of health care.”
Earlier this month, the HRSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced that it had awarded more than $100 million in school grants to train more nurses and grow the nursing workforce.
More than $26 million of the grants will go toward the federal Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP), which is aimed at addressing a nursing faculty shortage by providing low-interest loans to individuals pursuing a graduate degree and faculty position within an accredited nursing program.
After graduating, NFLP participants qualify for cancellation of up to 85% of their loan principal and interest in exchange for four consecutive years as a full-time faculty member of an accredited nursing school.
NMC has received over $5.8 million in HRSA funds since 2003, and nearly 400 NMC graduates have benefitted from those funds.
“Graduate students typically don’t have many options for scholarships, and this provides a means to advance their nursing education,” said Marla Kniewel, the Master of Science in Nursing program director at Nebraska Methodist College. “We’re proud that so many of our current faculty members received NFLP funds.”
NMC nursing students can qualify for NFLP funds when they’re enrolled in nurse educator tracks – specifically in the BSN to MSN; RN to MSN; nurse educator post-master’s nursing certificate; or DNP/EdD - Education & Leadership in Healthcare programs.
Learn more about the Nurse Faculty Loan Program at methodistcollege.edu/nurse-faculty-loan-program.
