Nurse Faculty Loan Program - The purpose of this Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) competing continuation application is to secure additional loan funds to support current and projected enrollment of doctoral nursing students in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs at Michigan State University College of Nursing (MSU CON). The program aims to reduce financial barriers and prepare graduates for nurse faculty and preceptor roles. The United States and Michigan face persistent shortages of registered nurses, primary care providers, and nurse faculty, driven by workforce attrition, retirement, and burnout. In Michigan, 21% of registered nurses plan to leave the profession within five years, and projections indicate demand will exceed 100,000 nurses by 2038 while supply meets only 80–86% of need, with more than 6,000 annual openings projected through 2030. Concurrently, there are two issues, faculty and preceptor shortages and clinical training sites available. Both factors limit nursing program capacity, resulting in tens of thousands of qualified applicants being denied admission nationally, including the higher-than-average shortfall in Michigan. These challenges are particularly acute in rural and underserved communities such as across Michigan, in which 73% of counties are designated as rural, and Health Professional Shortage Area designations are present in all 83 counties. This program targets doctoral nursing students at MSU CON, including PhD and DNP students, with an emphasis on those preparing for faculty and preceptor roles and those from rural, underserved, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. MSU CON will expand NFLP participation through targeted recruitment, enhanced communication strategies, and strengthened academic–clinical partnerships, integrating financial support with structured career preparation, including an Educational Mini-Series focused on teaching competencies, inclusive pedagogy, and precepting, as well as opportunities for more in-depth teacher training through the Certificate in College Teaching in Nursing and preceptor development modules. Program objectives target increasing the number of NFLP applicants and awardees, enhancing awareness of nurse educator career pathways, strengthening preparation in teaching and precepting competencies, and improving completion of required service as nurse educators or preceptors. Program performance will be monitored through established standard operating procedures, annual HRSA reporting, and longitudinal tracking of participants, including program completion, employment outcomes, and service fulfillment. Expected outcomes include an increased number of doctorally prepared nurses entering faculty and preceptor roles, expansion of nursing education capacity through a larger educator workforce and strengthened workforce pipelines. MSU CON requests $250,031 in federal capital contribution with an institutional contribution of $31,254 to support continuing and new doctoral students. Continued NFLP funding will sustain program growth, strengthen the nurse educator workforce, and advance access to high-quality care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
