Nurse faculty shortage problem and a grant solution to the problem

Introduction: The projected growth of the nurse workforce will drive the need for more nurse faculty in the U.S., with an estimated needed increase of 24% (16,000 new faculty) to meet workforce demands between 2016 and 2026. However, nursing schools have struggled to keep pace with growing enrollment demands and faculty retirements.Methods: To meet the needs of the nursing workforce and to address the nursing shortage by educating qualified faculty, the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing (UC CON) has applied for and received funding through the federal government’s Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) grant.Results: Since 2012, the UC CON has utilized the NFLP to provide nearly $4.4 million in loans to students. The UC CON has supported 115 individual graduate-level nursing students with NFLP funds. As of 6/07/24, 73 UC CON degrees have been awarded. Several prior recipients are working as nurse faculty, some at rural and community colleges where the nurse faculty shortage is most acute. Some of the students who received NFLP funds and graduated are working in medically underserved and/or rural areas across the U.S.Conclusions: A new grant submission was funded in June 2024 to fund more doctoral students and Master of Science in Nursing Education Students. The UC CON provides additional components (e.g., nurse educator development, professional development, and job search support) to strengthen recipients’ preparation and marketability for nurse faculty roles in all regions, including rural and underserved areas.