Nurse Faculty Loan Program - Project Title: Nurse Faculty Loan Program Applicant: University of Washington School of Nursing Address: 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195 Project Director: Dr. Jennifer Sonney Project Director Contact: 206-685-2161, jsonney@uw.edu University of WA, Box 357260, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195 Organizational Web Address: www.nursing.uw.edu Grant Program Funds Requested: $1,937.364 (plus UW 1/9th matching funds of $215,263) Project Summary: The University of Washington School of Nursing (UW SoN) will address the critical shortage of nurse faculty by training a minimum of 65 graduate-level nursing students to become nurse faculty through the proposed Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). The UW SoN offers four graduate-level nursing programs across our three campus locations in Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell – broad geographical areas that increase accessibility for students from across the state of Washington. The UW School of Nursing has the following objectives for the proposed project: 1) Maintain an interest-bearing NFLP student loan fund account and provide fiscal oversight in accordance with NFLP requirements; 2) Recruit, fund, and support 65 diverse graduate nursing students prepared for nursing faculty roles; 3) Engage, sustain, and expand academic-practice partnerships, with emphasis on rural and medically underserved communities, to support student nurse educator training, development, and post-graduation faculty employment; and 4) Graduate a minimum of 65 NFLP students who are fully prepared to become nurse faculty after graduation from four graduate-level nursing degree programs. How the Project will be Implemented and Accomplished: The UW School of Nursing and UW Office of Student Fiscal Services have collaboratively administered the NFLP Loan Program for over 20 years to support students in their efforts to become faculty, thereby reducing faculty shortages and subsequently positively impacting the nursing shortage both regionally and nationwide. The SoN’s graduate degree programs (MN, DNP, and PhD) prepare students for roles as nursing faculty members and clinician educators. The project will be led by the UW School of Nursing in partnership with UW’s Student Fiscal Services to ensure proper monitoring, auditing, and reconciling of funds. The SoN will follow all NFLP standard operating procedures currently in place and in compliance with HRSA requirements due to having a successful history of administering NFLP funds for graduate nursing students. The NFLP loan will be available to students who plan to become faculty, instructors, or preceptors after graduation, and will cover educational expenses (including tuition, fees, books, and supplies) in accordance with NFLP programmatic rules. The UW SoN is a collaborative organization with support from every level of the UW administration, including a commitment to match one-ninth of NFLP funds awarded. All SoN programs are intentionally designed to promote health equity and transform the workforce by targeting needs in alignment with HHS and HRSA priorities.
