Funding Supports Growing the Nursing Workforce in Maryland
BALTIMORE, Md. – Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU)’s School of Nursing received three grants totaling $972,989 from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to strengthen student success and address Maryland’s nursing shortage.
The MHEC Nurse Support Program (NSP) II grants will ensure NDMU students have the academic resources they need to become successful registered professional nurses. NDMU’s nationally accredited bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs rank among the nation’s best in preparing students for both clinical and leadership roles. In 2024, the School of Nursing had a 100% first-time pass rate for the national professional licensure exam (NCLEX-RN), distinguishing the University as a leader in educating nursing students.
“The MHEC Nurse Support Program II grants allow us to invest simultaneously in student success, faculty excellence, and innovative teaching technologies,” said Dr. Kathleen Wisser, dean of the School of Nursing. “By strengthening learning assessment, simulation learning experiences, and faculty development, we are preparing practice-ready, compassionate nurses to meet Maryland’s critical workforce needs, while providing exceptional care to the communities they serve.”
The largest grant will establish the Center for Outcomes, Measurement, Practice Assessment, and Student Success (COMPASS), which will support the School of Nursing’s transition to competency-based education. The center will implement advanced learning analytics and assessment technologies to help faculty monitor student progress, identify learning needs earlier, and continuously improve the curriculum.
A second initiative will upgrade simulation equipment in the School of Nursing’s Center for Caring with Technology to meet the latest standards in nursing education. The center is a state-of-the-art clinical simulation lab where students hone their nursing skills with high-fidelity patient manikins to prepare for real-world clinical scenarios. The investment will modernize the center’s simulation technology, so students will continue to learn in a realistic clinical environment that mirrors current healthcare practice.
The final grant will expand faculty development as the School of Nursing implements its competency-based curriculum. Faculty will engage in professional development focused on evidence-based teaching strategies, competency assessment, and specialty nursing areas, ensuring students benefit from the latest educational approaches and clinical expertise.
The NSP II grants position the School of Nursing to graduate nurses who are prepared to provide exceptional patient care, lead with integrity, and make a lasting impact on healthcare throughout the state.
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best “Regional Universities North” by U.S. News & World Report.
