University Receives Large Federal Nursing Grant

Clarke University Receives Large Federal Nursing Grant

Clarke University announced today that its nursing department has been awarded a $348,842 two-year grant to support their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has provided the grant to support Clarke as it transitions from a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, over to Doctor of Nursing Practice. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has recommended or encouraged programs to make such transitions by 2015.

The primary goals of the HRSA grant are to help nursing programs improve recruitment and retention of DNP students entering the primary care workforce after graduation and to prepare DNP’s who will serve rural areas and underserved communities.

“Above all, this effort will substantially benefit rural and underserved populations, and that is very close to the Clarke mission,” said Roberta Lavin, Ph.D., APRN, chair and professor of nursing at Clarke. “The grant has already enabled us to implement a traineeship program to recruit and educate candidates.”

Clarke’s Traineeship program will target nurses from rural areas, who are usually on a lower pay scale than their urban counterparts, and give special consideration for graduates who practice in areas with a shortage of health professionals. Clarke will use the grant to provide those candidates with financial packages that will range from 50-100 percent of tuition and books.

“In real life terms, this grant enables us to assist our graduate students as they balance family responsibilities, work and ongoing education without incurring large debts,” said Joanne Burrows, SC, President of Clarke University.

In addition, Clarke’s three-year DNP program is being offered in hybrid format (online, on-campus and clinic) to give working nurses more flexibility and opportunity to pursue this advanced practice degree.

grant, nursing