Northeast Oklahoma Recruitment and Advancement of Native Americans into Nursing Program (NEORAAIN) - Northeastern State University (NSU), located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, respectfully requests funding for a cooperative agreement Indian Health Services project with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) and Inter-Tribal Council, Inc (ITC) to strengthen the success of Native American nursing students in Northeast Oklahoma. Founded in 1846 as the Cherokee National Female Seminary, NSU is the oldest institution of higher learning in Oklahoma and one of few such institutions with historic links to the Cherokee Nation and Indian Territory. Designated by the federal government as both a Minority-Serving Institution and a Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI), NSU enrolls 6,477 students across three campuses in Oklahoma. This comprehensive project will utilize a holistic approach to recruitment and advancement of AI/AN into nursing, addressing multiple academic and social components of American Indian and Alaska Native students, including: • Increasing American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) student enrollment in nursing at both the community college and university levels, including associate degree nursing (ADN), baccalaureate of science in nursing (BSN), and master of science in nursing (MSN) • Recruiting, training, graduating, and increasing the number of registered nurses who deliver health care services in Northeast Oklahoma • Provide scholarships to AI/AN people to cover tuition, books, fees, technology, stipends for living expenses, stipends for paid clinical and practicum, travel, and unforeseen difficulty • Improving campus climate and sense of belonging for Native American students at both institutions • Strengthening institutional capacity to provide financial support to Native American nursing students This cooperative agreement IHS Grant between NSU, NEO and ITC will increase and improve access and support services for Native American students to successfully navigate higher education in nursing in rural Oklahoma across the reservation areas. This project will meet the following goals and objectives. Goal 1: Improve postsecondary attainment of Native Americans into nursing by increasing enrollment by 5% into traditional and fast-track programs as well as RN to BSN and MSN tracks. Goal 2: Strengthen the NEO-RAAIN Pathway between NEO and NSU while increasing retention by 5% at both NSU and NEO and increasing transfers by 5%. Goal 3: Provide advisement, mentorship, and professional opportunities for networking for Native American Students through the Oklahoma Indigenous Nurses Association.
