HHS Invests $13 Million to Grow and Strengthen the Nursing Workforce

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has awarded $13 million to bolster nursing education and training to grow the nursing workforce and improve access to nursing education. The awards are part of a series of investments across HHS and the Department of Labor to support pathways into good-quality nursing jobs. Investing in the nursing workforce pipeline is a key pillar of an action plan to improve the safety and quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes.

“Nurses are an essential part of our nation’s healthcare system,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We are committed to growing the next generation of nurses and ensuring the education and training they receive prepares them to provide high-quality culturally competent care. Supporting nurses and other frontline health professionals providing care in our communities is critical to improving our nation’s health and well-being.”

One significant factor constraining admissions to nursing schools is the limited availability of nursing preceptors (experienced licensed clinicians who supervise nursing students during their clinical rotations). Nursing preceptors are a critical bridge between training and practice, providing direct instruction to nursing students in the clinical setting. Without sufficient preceptors, nursing schools cannot admit as many students, new students are delayed in starting their clinical rotations and prospective nursing students may be stymied and choose other career paths.

This investment works to reverse this trend. HRSA is awarding more than $8.4 million to 10 awardees through the Clinical Faculty and Preceptor Academies Program. These awards will support partnerships among academics, clinicians and the community designed to support clinical nursing faculty and preceptors, which will help increase the capacity of programs to train more nurses.

HRSA is also awarding $4.75 million to 14 awardees through the Registered Nurse Training Program to increase the number of nursing students trained in acute care settings. This program aims to improve health outcomes and health equity by strengthening the capacity and skillset of undergraduate student nurses prepared to provide high-quality, culturally sensitive care in underserved communities.