Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR) Program

Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR) Program is sponsored by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The NEPQR program funds projects to strengthen the nursing workforce, often emphasizing capacity building, expanding enrollment, increasing diversity, or improving graduation rates. An example project expands nursing pathways in rural and underserved communities.

Watch the NEPQR-PRNP TA Webinar to learn more about the program and to get help with your application: * NEPQR-PRNP TA Webinar Part 1 * NEPQR-PRNP TA Webinar Part 2 Read the FY23 NEPQR-PRNP FAQs.

The purpose of this program is to create a pathway from academic training to clinical practice through the creation and implementation of Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) to Registered Nurse (RN) Bridge Programs and employment of Clinical Nurse Faculty.

Funding will be used for: • Program Development: Funds can be used to develop and implement or enhance an accredited LPN/LVN-to-RN Bridge program targeting the needs of LPNs/LVNs. • Direct Support for LPN/LVN to RN students: Funds can be used to assist in student success such as stipends, tuition, and other social supports (e.g., transportation and childcare assistance).

LPNs/LVNs are nursing professionals and when entering a degree program there may be barriers in place that keep these students from being successful. • Curriculum and Partnership Development: Funds can be used to develop curriculum and build/enhance/maintain partnerships between clinical and educational institutions.

Challenges exist for students as they move from one educational institution to another (e.g., academic credits not transferring from 2-year to 4-year institutions) and working experiences are not always counted as credit toward their degree program.

Strong partnerships are encouraged between clinical training sites and academic institutions including technical/vocational schools and community colleges to help to mitigate these challenges. • Preceptor/Faculty: Funds can be used to recruit, retain, and develop clinical and didactic faculty and clinical preceptors. Faculty and preceptors are needed to train new students in the bridge program being created.

In accordance with Section 831(f) of PHS Act, eligible entities are defined in PHS Act section 801(2), and include an accredited school of nursing, such as a baccalaureate nursing program and community college that trains associate degree nurses, a health care facility, including federally qualified health centers or nurse-managed health clinics, or a partnership of such a school and facility.

Schools of nursing affiliated with the proposed project must be accredited at the time of application. Applicants must provide documentation of current accreditation by a national nurse education accrediting agency, or a state agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education as Attachment 8. Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply.

HRSA-23-016 6 In addition to entities in the 50 states, entities in the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau may apply. Tribes and Tribal organizations may apply for these funds, if otherwise eligible.

Foreign entities are not eligible for this HRSA award. Michelle Osborne, MSN, RN, FNP-BC