News
KCON Earns HRSA Grant to Train Nurses in Rural Areas
September 30, 2016
The Kirkhof College of Nursing received a one-year, $332,640 federal grant to train and prepare nurse practitioners to work in Michigan's rural communities.
Leaders at KCON said the Health Resources and Services Administration grant, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, addresses the critical shortage of qualified health care providers in rural areas.
Cynthia McCurren, dean of KCON and professor of nursing, said the traineeship grant will help pay tuition and some expenses for students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program learning in rural communities.
“The strategic priorities of our college include actively engaging students in high-impact learning experiences and building mutually beneficial relationships," McCurren said. "With the support of this grant, our doctoral students not only gain real-life experience in rural health care, they contribute to the health and well-being of the communities we’re partnering with."
In the fall 2016 semester, 14 students each will be awarded $22,000 traineeship grants and placed in rural and underserved settings for clinical education.
Shelby Sikkila was among those students who received a grant, and will start her traineeship at Fox Pediatrics in Mt. Pleasant. "This grant has allowed me to focus on my education without financial stress while providing an amazing opportunity to learn and grow as a pediatric nurse practitioner," said Sikkila, a native of Covington.
Sandra Spoelstra, associate dean for research and scholarship, said the mission of the HRSA grant is to improve the health of residents in rural and underserved communities.
"By strengthening the health care workforce and connecting skilled professionals, like nurse practitioners, to communities in need, vulnerable populations have better access to health care," Spoelstra said.
For More Information Contact: Michele Coffill in University Communications - (616) 331-2221