Saturday, April 19, 2025
4/19/2025
Nurse Faculty Loan Program - Project Title: IUP Nurse Faculty Loan Program Organization Name: Indiana University of Pennsylvania Address: 1011 South Drive, Indiana, PA 15705 Project Director: Dr. Kristy Chunta Phone: 724-357-3091 E-mail: kchunta@iup.edu Web Site: https://www.iup.edu Funding Priority: Funding support for students enrolled in doctoral nursing program Funding Type: Continuation The purpose of this grant application is to obtain continued funding for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) to support graduate nursing students enrolled at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). The NFLP will provide loans for students in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to PhD pathway to become nurse faculty. The DNP to PhD pathway is a unique bridge program that is only one of several in the United States (US). IUP’s graduate nursing programs are designed to prepare students for future roles as qualified nursing faculty in rural Pennsylvania and nationwide. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected approximately 195,400 openings for registered nurses between 2021-2031. Additionally, one-third of nursing faculty are expected to retire by 2025 (AACN, 2022). As the need for well-trained professional nurses continues to grow, nursing schools are unable to match the demand due to nationwide nursing faculty shortages. With limited faculty, nursing schools are restricted in their capacity to educate qualified candidates. Most nursing schools note faculty shortages as the top reason for not accepting qualified candidates into their programs (AACN, 2020). To combat this crisis, IUP is educating the next generation of nursing faculty. IUP is an ideal location to continue funding of the NFLP, because it is one of the few schools of nursing with an intentional focus on preparing nurse educators at both the Master’s and Doctoral levels. The nursing education focused curriculum prepares graduates who are ready to immediately begin faculty positions after program completion. IUP is in a rural and medically underserved area in need of additional resources. More nursing faculty increase the capacity to educate more nurses who will in turn support the need for quality health care services, particularly in underserved areas. IUP’s programs are helping to meet the need for nursing faculty in the Commonwealth of PA and across the US. IUP’s goals for this program are to increase the number of adequately prepared and qualified nursing faculty nationwide, with an emphasis on rural Pennsylvania doctoral candidates, and to decrease the financial barrier of serving as nurse faculty. The NFLP will provide high quality education and financial support for nursing students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in nursing through low-interest loans and loan forgiveness, with the condition that they serve as nurse faculty after graduation. This removes the financial burden of obtaining the required level of education to become a nursing faculty. IUP is requesting funding priority as IUP educates doctoral nursing students, and these students will benefit from the proposed NFLP project.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).