University of Alabama will use $3.5M grant to train more nurse educators
The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing will address Alabama's nursing faculty shortage with the support of $3.5 million from the U.S. Department of Labor.
UA said the college plans to use the funds to help grow and diversify Alabama's nursing education workforce.
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The funding was secured by Susan Welch, associate professor with the Capstone College of Nursing, from the department’s Employment and Training Administration’s Nursing Expansion Grant Program. The program supports innovative partnerships and strategies that expand the nation’s pipeline of qualified nursing professionals.
UA said these grants will specifically increase the number of nursing instructors and educators.
![Michelle Cheshire, a registered nurse and professor in the College of Nursing, signs off on a vaccination form for student Sam Griffin at the Good Samaritan Clinic in Northport on Feb. 25, 2021. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3zej8htdgg0E3BKSfbb74w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0Ng--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-tuscaloosa-news/aca967a3e8a9a19cf28c00aaced04ca2)
Welch’s project, BAMA Distance, aims to increase the number of nurse educators in Alabama through sustained partnerships between UA's nursing school, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU's), and academic institutions with nursing student populations from underrepresented groups.
“The National Academies of Medicine’s ‘Future of Nursing’ calls on nursing schools to address the nurse educator shortage from diverse populations to advance health equity,” said Welch. “BAMA Distance aims to prepare a diverse population of registered nurses to enter the nursing education workforce, both addressing the nurse educator shortage and transforming the landscape of health care in our state,” she said.
The project will recruit bachelor of science in nursing-prepared nurses in Alabama to earn a master of science in nursing degree with a nursing education specialty. Throughout the course of their studies, the program will support participants’ transition from clinical experts to clinical nurse educators.
Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: University of Alabama will use grant to ease nurse faculty shortage
