Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention - Workforce Expansion Program - Applicant Name: University of South Alabama College of Nursing Address: 5721 USA Drive North, HAHN 3073, Mobile, AL 36688-0002 Project Director: Leigh Minchew, PhD, DNP, RN, WHNP-BC, PMHNP Contact: Phone: 251-445-9488 voice, 251-445-9400 voice E-mail: lminchew@southalabama.edu Website Address: https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/ Total Funds Requested: $3,986,618 Statutory Funding Preference Requested: Funding preference requested Purpose: The purpose of the project is to design, implement, and evaluate an innovative academic student success program, Long-term and Acute Care Training to Promote Undergraduate Nurses’ Clinical Practice in Rural and Underserved Community Health Settings (LAUNCH). LAUNCH will serve to improve the supply and geographic distribution of the nursing workforce by increasing BSN graduates who are experientially-prepared to address critical shortages of nurses in long-term and acute care settings in rural and underserved communities. Project Objectives: The LAUNCH team will 1) promote the recruitment and retention of baccalaureate (BSN)-prepared nursing students; 2) provide for additional dedicated, specialized clinical training opportunities in acute and long-term care settings in rural and underserved communities; 3) foster BSN-prepared nurses’ employment in acute and long-term care settings post-graduation; and 4) increase the number of preceptors and faculty available to train future BSN students. The LAUNCH team will recruit, retain, and graduate BSN-prepared nurses with increased knowledge and experience in the care of rural and underserved populations prepared to address nursing shortages in acute and long-term care settings. LAUNCH will provide academic, financial, and social support resources to students through dedicated training opportunities in long-term and acute care settings beyond curricula requirements; specialized simulation designed to enhance students’ cultural competence in the care of rural and underserved populations with chronic comorbid medical conditions; and recruitment, training, financial support, and mentorship for students, preceptors and faculty. LAUNCH will build on an active, successful, accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of South Alabama (USA). LAUNCH will be accomplished through the recruitment, retention, and enhanced education of students who receive experiential training in community-based settings above the current curricular requirements. The LAUNCH program will emphasize leadership and communication skills focused on addressing culturally-competent care, communities’ SDOH, health equity, health literacy, and enhanced, long-term and acute medical-surgical nursing care competencies. Funding Preference Request: This project specifically requests Funding Preference under section 805 of the PHS Act on the basis of substantially benefitting underserved populations (see attachment). USA CON is located in a federally-designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA; about half of the USA nursing students are from HPSAs; most clinical facilities are in HPSAs; and many graduates work in these same underserved areas).
