(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray applauded the announcement by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services that they have awarded just over $3
million through 16 grants to support health care nursing workforce training
programs at five Washington state universities. Grants were issued to the University
of Washington, Washington State University, Gonzaga University, Seattle
University, and Pacific Lutheran University. The investments will support
nursing workforce development and education programs, as well as geriatric
education and training programs.
“As we continue working
to bring down costs and improve care, we need a skilled health care workforce
that is ready to step up in communities across Washington state,” said Senator Patty Murray. “I was proud to fight
for increased investments in workforce training that will help our schools
provide the advanced education and training that 21st century health
care workers need.”
The
grants, issued under the Health Resources and Services Administration were
reauthorized in the Affordable Care Act. Through her role as a senior member of
the Senate Health Committee, Senator Murray was the lead writer of the health
care workforce section in the landmark Affordable Care Act signed into law by
President Obama last March.
Washington
state investments:
Advanced
Education Nursing Grants: These grants support infrastructure to increase
advanced education to train nurses as primary care providers and/or nursing
faculty.
University
of Washington: 5
grants totaling $1,335,005
Advanced
Education Nursing Traineeship Grants: These grants support schools of nursing
and individuals preparing for careers as nurse specialists, requiring advanced
education.
University
of Washington: $131,505
Gonzaga
University: $62,374
Seattle
University: $49,729
Washington
State University: $46,642
Pacific
Lutheran University: $35,105
Nurse
Anesthetist Traineeship Grants: These grants fund nurse anesthetist
training programs to provide traineeships that pay tuition, books, fees, and a
living stipend for registered nurses who have completed at least 12 months in a
master’s or doctoral nurse anesthesia program
Gonzaga
University: $10,226
Nurse
Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Grants: These grants
support infrastructure to expand the quality of the nursing pipeline, promote
career mobility for individuals in nursing, prepare more nurses at the
baccalaureate level, and provide continuing education and training to enhance
the quality of patient care.
University
of Washington: 2 grants totaling $555,569
Nursing
Workforce Diversity Grants: These grants increase nursing education
opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial
and ethnic minorities underrepresented among registered nurses
Washington
State University: $299,715
Faculty
Development: Integrated Technology into Nursing Education and Practice
Initiative Grants: These
grants support faculty development projects in information and other
technologies to expand the capacity of collegiate schools of nursing to educate
students for 21st century health care practice.
University
of Washington: $299,636 (One of only nine grants awarded)
Geriatric
Education Centers Grants: These grants improve training of health
professionals in geriatrics; develop curricula relating to treating health
problems of the elderly; and support faculty training and continuing education
for health professionals in geriatric care.
University
of Washington: $208,111
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