NDMU School of Nursing Awarded Competitive Grant for Nursing Leadership

The three-year grant, Preparing Leaders to Advance Nursing (PLAN), will assist NDMU’s School of Nursing in increasing the number of BSN and MSN-prepared nurses, with a focus on underrepresented groups, who are prepared to serve and lead in Maryland hospitals and healthcare facilities. The grant money will primarily be used to support activities addressing the development and acquisition of education, leadership knowledge, and acumen.

By 2020, this project has the potential to add 75 BSN-prepared graduates for successful academic progression into an advanced degree program and 50 MSN-prepared graduates to assume mid-level or senior leadership positions in the State of Maryland. , thereby addressing noted shortages in nursing leaders. 

Kathleen Z. Wisser, Ph.D, RN, Dean of the School of Nursing at NDMU states, “Often nurses, particularly those from underrepresented minority groups, find it difficult to envision themselves as potential leaders early-on in their careers. Hence, they may miss opportunities to develop a repertoire of leadership skills and knowledge necessary to advance their careers and attain leadership positions.  This project fosters creative and critical dialogue among nurse leaders serving as mentors, academic faculty, and the emerging leaders themselves.”

Dr. Wisser goes on to say, “The project responds to the need to increase the number and diversity in the pool of nurses and nursing leaders within the State through active recruitment, development, and support of underrepresented nursing students.”

Sabita Persaud, Ph. D, RN, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs will act as the Project Director with Dr. Wisser overseeing the NSP II grant.