LANCASTER, PA – The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania plans to invest $750,000 in state funds, to be matched by $870,000 in private funds, to benefit nursing education programs statewide.
The $1.6 million Nurse Education Initiative grants will be spread across 26 counties, offering interested residents greater opportunities to pursue nursing careers.
“Like many states, Pennsylvania faces a crisis in the healthcare industry,” said Gov. Edward Rendell (D-Penn.). “As our population ages, we need more nurses to provide the care our citizens need and deserve.”
Rendell hopes increased funding will expand class sizes, bring in new faculty and offer incentives for employers to lend nursing staff as educators and instructors. “We must take steps now to ensure that nurse-education programs have the facilities and faculty they need to train the future nursing workforce,” he said.
The grants aim to address challenges identified in a Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers report, which consulted hospital representatives, long-term care organizations, inpatient and outpatient providers, professional associations, and labor and state organizations.