The Cohen Scholars Program Revisions: Improving Transition to the Nurse Faculty Role

The nursing faculty shortage necessitates approaches to increase and retain faculty. The grant-funded Cohen Scholars program in Maryland provides graduate tuition in exchange for nurse educator employment. Programmatic revisions in 2020 incorporated mentorship, role socialization, pedagogy, and employment assistance to improve graduate preparedness. This study aimed to evaluate the revisions’ impact on graduates’ perceived preparedness and role transition via a survey of the 2020 to 2023 cohorts. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between cohorts, though there was a trend toward increased perceived preparedness in the 2022 to 2023 cohorts. Considering further studies, role-focused mentorship programs are potential solutions to the nurse educator shortage.