Nurse Faculty Loan Program - The Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies (HSONPA) proposes to implement a Nurse Educator Development Pathway through the Health Resources and Services Administration Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). The project will support up to 15 graduate nursing students who are preparing for careers as nurse faculty, clinical educators, simulation educators, laboratory instructors, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) preceptors. The project is designed to reduce financial barriers to graduate nursing education while strengthening the pipeline of qualified nurse educators needed to educate the future nursing workforce. The project addresses the ongoing shortage of nurse faculty and preceptors that limits nursing education capacity nationwide. NFLP support will provide eligible students with assistance for tuition, university fees, and educator development activities. Financial support will be paired with structured preparation in teaching and learning, curriculum development, learner assessment, clinical instruction, simulation, preceptorship, and academic role development. Students will receive individualized faculty mentorship and professional development to support successful transition into qualifying nurse educator and preceptor roles. Students will participate in educator-focused learning activities through existing graduate nursing coursework and National League for Nursing (NLN) faculty development resources. Educational opportunities will include preparation activities associated with the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNEcl), and Certified Nurse Educator Novice (CNEn) pathways, as appropriate. Students will also participate in Simulation Innovation Resource Center (SIRC) learning activities and educator development programming, including attendance at the NLN Education Summit. A distinguishing feature of the project is the academic-practice partnership between Hofstra University and Northwell Health. Through this partnership, students will complete the Northwell Health Passport to Preceptorship Program and participate in clinical educator development opportunities that strengthen readiness for future faculty and preceptor roles. In addition, HSONPA's undergraduate nursing program provides extensive educator development opportunities. Approximately 30 undergraduate nursing laboratory sections are offered annually and will serve as supervised practicum settings where students can develop competencies in teaching, learner coaching, assessment, feedback, simulation facilitation, and educational leadership under faculty supervision. Project goals are to: (1) expand the nurse educator pipeline by supporting up to 15 graduate nursing students annually; (2) reduce financial barriers to graduate nursing education; (3) develop educator competencies through coursework, mentorship, simulation, preceptor development, and supervised teaching experiences; (4) strengthen academic-practice partnerships through educator and preceptor preparation; and (5) increase graduate placement into qualifying nurse faculty, academic clinical educator, and APRN preceptor roles. Expected outcomes include support for up to 15 graduate nursing students, 100 percent participation in faculty mentorship and educator development activities, 100 percent completion of supervised educator practicum experiences, at least 85 percent completion of preceptor development activities, and at least 80 percent demonstrated growth in educator competencies and intent to pursue educator careers. Graduates will be tracked for qualifying employment, educator role placement, retention, and progress toward NFLP loan cancellation requirements. Through financial support, educator preparation, mentorship, supervised teaching practice, and academic-practice partnership development, the project will strengthen the nurse faculty workforce and expand nursing education capacity.
