By: Erik Pedersen, Senior Communications Manager
BALTIMORE – Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Nursing will continue to play a leading role in addressing healthcare inequity after it was awarded a $1.8 million grant to help increase the number of culturally diverse primary care nurse practitioners working in Maryland’s underserved areas.
The Nurse Practitioners ENgaging Baltimore Healthcare and Academic Partnerships to Narrow Disparities and Cultivate Health Equity (NP ENHANCE) initiative will support scholarships and help cover tuition and fees for up to 100 students enrolled in NDMU’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner master’s programs over the next four years. The initiative received $1.8 million in funding from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)’s Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) program.
“We are delighted to have been selected for this highly competitive grant,” said Dr. Kathleen Wisser, dean of the School of Nursing. “The projected shortage of primary care physicians across the nation calls for new delivery system changes and full utilization of nurse practitioners to meet urgent healthcare needs, especially in areas that are considered medically underserved. The tuition and living expenses support provided by this grant will greatly increase our ability attract students to meet this demand.”
As part of the initiative, the School of Nursing will strengthen a longstanding partnership with Ascension Saint Agnes, a Catholic health care system with several facilities in local medically underserved neighborhoods, to provide meaningful practicum opportunities to its nurse practitioner students. The two institutions will work in tandem to expand the workforce of primary care nurse practitioners in areas of need across Baltimore.
“We have had a successful academic-practice partnership for NDMU students enrolled in the entry-to-practice baccalaureate nursing program for many years, and we are excited to expand this relationship to include practicum experiences for nurse practitioner students,” said Mary Austin, chief nursing officer at Ascension Saint Agnes. “These students will have unique opportunities to directly impact patients in medically underserved areas, both in traditional doctor’s office settings and through our new mobile health unit, which will deliver primary care and outreach services directly to local communities.”
A key component of the initiative is an emphasis on increasing cultural diversity among the primary care nursing workforce in Baltimore. Funding provided by the ANEW program will allow NDMU to offer additional resources when recruiting students to its nurse practitioner programs. Registered nurses working at NDMU’s clinical partner sites across Baltimore are among those who could be eligible for financial support to advance their career through a master’s level degree.
“This grant will provide critical financial support to students during the practicum portion of their nurse practitioner program,” said Dr. Rachael Crowe, co-grant administrator and assistant professor in the School of Nursing. “The semesters involving clinical practicum are especially challenging for students with limited financial resources, due to the amount of time needed to complete the practicum rotation. The funding provided under this grant will provide students with the means to be able to reduce their working hours, if needed, in order to complete their education.”
The ANEW program also seeks to recruit and retain a qualified diverse faculty to assure students of an inclusive learning environment. The grant will provide funding for professional development opportunities to primary care nurse practitioners at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital and other clinical partners who are interested in serving as preceptors and adjunct faculty members.
“Given the significant health disparities in Baltimore, the next generation of nurses must be multi-skilled, culturally diverse practitioners, prepared to address problems in Notre Dame’s own backyard of Baltimore City,” said Dr. Kathryn Handy, co-grant administrator and assistant professor. “The grant will enable support for the School of Nursing faculty, clinical faculty, and preceptors, to engage in professional development. This will equip them to serve as academic and professional role models, supporting students with diversity and inclusion at the forefront of all initiatives.”
The School of Nursing launched its nurse practitioner offerings last fall to address a demand for primary care practitioners which is projected to continue to increase over time. Baltimore City accounted for 11 of Maryland’s 32 primary care HRSA’s Health Professional Shortage Area designations in a 2016 needs assessment.
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.
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