Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention – Bachelor of Science in Nursing Practicums in Community Settings Program

This announcement solicits applications for the Nurse Education Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR) – Bachelor of Science in Nursing Practicums in Community Settings (BPCS) Program.

In accordance with section 831(g) of PHS Act, eligible lead applicants include schools of nursing as defined in Section 801(2) of the PHS Act, health care facilities, or partnerships between schools of nursing and health care facilities.  A health care facility may include a nurse-managed health center, Indian Health Service health center, Native Hawaiian health center, hospital, Federally-qualified health center, rural health clinic, nursing home, home health agency, hospice program, public health clinic, State or local department of public health, skilled nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, or any other facility designated by the Secretary (see PHS Act section 801(11)).  Grants will be awarded to a lead applicant (i.e. a school of nursing or health care facility) within an academic-practice partnership, which will serve as the grantee and have overall fiscal and administrative responsibility for the grant.  Lead applicants must apply, however, in a partnership structure.  The lead applicant, if a school of nursing, must apply in partnership with at least one health care facility.  Likewise, the lead applicant, if a health care facility must apply in partnership with at least one school of nursing.  Individuals are not eligible to apply for these funds.   Schools of nursing affiliated with the proposed project that are providing formal degree programs must be accredited for the purpose of conferring BSN degrees by a recognized body or bodies or by a State agency recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education for the purposes of nursing education.  Newly established programs and those that are established but not yet accredited must contact a national nursing accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education before requesting a reasonable assurance letter from the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants must submit documentation providing proof of accreditation (e.g., the accreditation letter from the accrediting agency specifically

Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration msmithey@hrsa.gov