McKendree's Division of Nursing Awarded $980,000 Federal Grant to Address Nursing Education Shortage in Rural, Underserved Areas in Southern Illinois
Lebanon, IL (10/07/2024) — McKendree University's Division of Nursing was recently awarded $980,000 from Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS), which Senator Dick Durbin secured as part of the 2024 fiscal year's Consolidated Appropriations Act. This grant pays the tuition cost for 60 students who have been enrolled in McKendree's MSN nurse educator program.
The Building a Rural Nurse Educator Workforce through Academic-Practice Partnerships grant's goal is to ensure an adequate number of nurse educators within the academic and healthcare practice arena. Its proposal is to provide BSN-prepared nurses with a master's in nursing education degree in order to serve the 45 counties located in the south and south-central regions of Illinois in rural and underserved communities. The addition of 60 nurse education-prepared graduate nurses can make a significant impact on these communities in preparation of the next generation of the nursing workforce.
"The Division of Nursing is excited about the opportunity to embark on this journey with our students and practice partners," said Dr. Kendra Taylor, assistant professor of nursing and director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and chair of the Division of Nursing at McKendree. "I want to thank everyone who has helped secure this funding as we work together to improve the nursing workforce in rural Illinois by increasing the number of available nurse educators and mentors within our communities."
McKendree has a history of robust academic-practice partnerships. For this grant proposal, the Division of Nursing has partnered with Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), John A. Logan College, Kaskaskia College, Lake Land College, Olney Central College, Rend Lake College, Shawnee Community College, Southeastern Illinois College, Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH), and Southwestern Illinois College.
McKendree University's Division of Nursing predominantly provides nursing education at the RN to BSN level; the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) level with tracks in education, management, and population health; the Master of Health Administration (MHA) level; and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) level to rural nurses and healthcare leaders in southern Illinois. The Division of Nursing has provided the MSN in nurse education degree since 2005.
For more information, please visit the university's website.