Nurse education, practice, quality and retention - workforce expansion program - the purposes of the university of north carolina at greensboro's (UNCG) proposed nursing workforce expansion program…

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) received a $979,449 Project Grant award from the Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professionals under the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) Grants program (CFDA 93.359) for its Nursing Workforce Expansion Program. The award, dated September 30, 2025, supports a four-year project period through September 29, 2029. UNCG will expand its nursing education capacity by increasing enrollment and graduation rates in baccalaureate and prelicensure entry-level Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs by 29% above baseline, projecting an additional 160 graduates over the grant period. The program targets recruitment and retention of 30-50% of student scholars from underrepresented minority groups and rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.

The grant funds comprehensive student support services including financial aid, academic mentoring, and peer support paired with practicing nurse mentors, with particular attention to social determinants of health. UNCG will develop specialized didactic and clinical training in acute and long-term care settings through collaborative academic-practice-community partnerships that expand clinical faculty and preceptor capacity. The program integrates culturally appropriate training addressing social determinants of health impacting rural and medically underserved populations, preparing graduates for interprofessional practice in these communities.

Nurse education, practice, quality and retention - workforce expansion program - the purposes of the university of north carolina at greensboro's (UNCG) proposed nursing workforce expansion program are to increase nursing enrollment and nursing graduates who plan to work in rural (non-METROPOLITAN) and medically underserved areas and enhance nursing education and clinical experiences in acute and long-term care settings. This program will increase the number of nursing students enrolled in, retained, and graduated from UNCG's baccalaureate and prelicensure entry level master's nursing (MSN) degree programs by 29% above current baseline (40 per year which equals 160 over the 4-year grant period). A focus will be on recruitment, enrollment, retainment, and graduation of 30-50% of student scholars from underrepresented minority groups, and rural and disadvantaged backgrounds. This program will increase the number of undergraduate and prelicensure MSN nursing students receiving additional specialized didactic and clinical training in acute and long-term care settings with a focus on clinical excellence and quality improvement while increasing the number of students committed to practicing in acute and long-term care settings post-graduation. Student support will consider social determinants that impact student success. Student scholars will receive financial, academic, and peer support, including a mentoring program with practicing nurses. Collaborative partnerships (academic, practice, and community) will increase the number of preceptors and clinical faculty to train nursing students in UNCG's baccalaureate and prelicensure entry level MSN degree programs. Culturally appropriate and relevant didactic and clinical training will integrate the social determinants of health (SDOH) that impact the health and well-being of patient populations residing in rural (non-METROPOLITAN) and underserved areas. Graduates of this program will be prepared to practice in interprofessional care teams that provide care to patients with acute and/or chronic health conditions in acute and long-term care settings. This nursing workforce expansion program meets hrsa funding priorities as a state with the great nursing shortage as north carolina is a top ten greatest shortage state by the hrsa publication "nurse workforce projections, 2021-2033". North carolina is #5 in nursing workforce shortage at 23%. Funding priority 2 is also met as UNC greensboro is a public entity, state university with 501C3 status. This proposal also meets funding preferences "substantially benefits rural populations" and "substantially benefits underserved populations."