US Health and Human Services administration announces $320 million grants to strengthen healthcare workforce in America

UM School of Nursing and Health Studies receives $704,000 grant to increase the number of family nurse practitioners in Miami-Dade County

The US Health and Human Services administration announced $320 million in new grants under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to strengthen the healthcare workforce in America. Florida alone will receive more than $11 million in grant funding.

The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies will receive over $704,000 to increase the pool of primary care nurse practitioners in Miami-Dade County (MDC). The funding from the grant is from the Advanced Nursing Education Expansion (ANEE) Program and will be used to provide tuition support to students enrolled in the school's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program. The 12-month, 37-credit program prepares advanced practice nurses to provide cost-effective, culturally appropriate primary healthcare services across the lifespan. Graduates of the program earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree and are eligible for national certification as a family nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses Credentialing Center. ANEE support will help accelerate the preparation of FNPs by supporting full-time enrollment.

According to University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies Dean and Professor Nilda Peragallo, "this grant will provide critical funding for students at a time when the redesign of the US healthcare system will require more primary care providers. The grant will allow the School of Nursing and Health Studies to continue our efforts to educate more students and get additional Family Nurse Practitioners in to primary care roles at a much quicker rate and thus improving patient care across the state of Florida and the Nation."

ANEE funds will be used to provide tuition stipends to encourage students to enroll full-time in the FNP program. Tuition support will accelerate the students' FNP training from 24 months to 12 months. A projected 32 FNP students will be impacted by the program over the 5-year project period.