FLORENCE – The Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University
of North Alabama has received two grants totaling more than $1 million, the school announced. The money will fund scholarships for nurse practitioner students and nurse educators in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program.
The Nurse Faculty Loan Program is a federal grant in the amount of $517,795 for 2023-24 for students seeking a graduate or doctoral degree and plan to work as a nurse educator. The Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program is provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration; the College of Nursing will receive $501,510 beginning in the fall for academic scholarships for nurse practitioner students.
“I am extremely proud of our faculty for pursuing these external funding opportunities to assist students enrolled in the nurse practitioner tracks and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program,” said Dr. Tera Kirkman, dean of the college. “The benefits of the ANEW and NFLP grants are twofold. Funding from these grants will provide financial support for students seeking to complete their graduate degrees at UNA, thus increasing the number of graduate-prepared nurses qualified to practice in underserved and rural communities, state and local health departments, and in academia following graduation.
The preparation and graduation of highly skilled practitioners are critical to meeting the health and social needs of our communities.”
The NFLP grant is renewable annually and is designed to increase the number of nurse educators in a given region. Dr. Stephanie Clark, an associate professor in the College, said there is a sizeable deficit in the United States.
“Through this program, our Doctorate of Nursing Practice students who are committed to
teaching as nurse faculty at an accredited school of nursing upon program completion are
eligible to receive a loan covering their annual tuition and fees,” she said. “In return, upon
program completion, students have one year to secure a full-time nurse faculty position.”
Over the course of four years, the loan is 85 percent forgiven, which means that nurse educators can complete their program at just 15 percent of the total cost, said Clark.
The ANEW grant will also assist with increasing numbers of healthcare providers in certain
areas of the country, according to Dr. Hilary Glover, an assistant professor. This grant will renew annually for four years, which will have a total impact of more than $2 million in funding for academic scholarships for nurse practitioner students.
“This grant will fund Project IMPACT, or Improving Access, Care, and Treatment in the Rural
South, which aims to increase the number of nurse practitioner students who train for practice in rural and/or underserved areas, increase diversity in the healthcare workforce, and build and support existing partnerships that will increase experiential learning opportunities in rural and/or underserved areas,” she said. “We are delighted to provide this opportunity for our students and increase access to healthcare in the Shoals and surrounding communities.”
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