Nurse Education, Practice Quality and Retention Grants

 

Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: Behavioral Health Integration (NEPQR-IPCP:BHI) Program: The purpose of this program is to increase the access to and quality of behavioral health services through behavioral health integrated team-based care models; and train the future nursing workforce to provide integrated behavioral health services in primary care settings through academic-practice partnerships. Registered Nurses in Primary Care (RNPC) Training Program: The purpose of this four-year training program is to recruit and train nursing students and current registered nurses (RNs) to practice to the full scope of their license in community-based primary care teams to increase access to care, with an emphasis on chronic disease prevention and control, including mental health and substance use conditions. The program aims to achieve a sustainable primary care nursing workforce equipped with the competencies necessary to address pressing national public health issues, even the distribution of the nursing workforce, improve access to care and improve population health outcomes. Veteran Registered Nurses in Primary Care (VRNPC) Training Program: The purpose of this three-year training program is to recruit and train veteran nursing students and current registered nurses (RNs) to practice to the full scope of their license in community-based primary care teams to increase access to care, with an emphasis on veteran care, chronic disease prevention and control, including mental health and substance use conditions. The program aims to achieve a sustainable primary care nursing workforce equipped with the competencies necessary to address pressing veteran public health issues, as well as the distribution of the nursing workforce, improve access to care and improve population health outcomes. Mobile Health Training Program (NEPQR-MHTP): The purpose of this program is to improve and strengthen health equity in the nursing workforce with education and training to provide culturally aligned quality care in rural and underserved areas. The program will encourage recruitment and training of nursing students to address and manage social determinants of health (SDOH) and improve health equity of vulnerable populations in rural and underserved areas through nurse-led mobile health training sites. The NEPQR-MHTP will create and expand experiential learning opportunities for nursing students, including the provision of high-quality culturally sensitive care, identification of SDOH in local communities, engagement in critical thinking, and clinical practice highlighting a collaborative team approach to care. Nursing Faculty and Preceptor Academies (NEPQR-CFPA) Program: The purpose of this program is to increase the nursing workforce by recruiting, training and producing skilled qualified clinical nursing faculty and nursing preceptors. The program will prepare nurses to serve as nursing clinical faculty and preceptors to newly hired or transitioning licensed nurses in a variety of care settings. The NPA program aims to create academies consisting of academic-clinical partnerships to develop and implement a formal curriculum to train clinical nursing preceptors. Registered Nurse Training Program (NEPQR-RNTP): The purpose of this program is to enhance nursing education and practice to advance the health of patients, families, and communities and improve health outcomes through innovative interprofessional training programs in acute care settings aimed to address and manage social determinant of health factors and improve health equity and health literacy in vulnerable populations. Simulation Education Training (NEPQR-SET): The purpose of the NEPQR-SET program is to enhance nurse education and strengthen the nursing workforce by increasing training opportunities for nursing students through the use of simulation-based technology, including equipment, to increase their readiness to practice upon graduation. This training expands the capacity of nurses to advance the health of patients, families, and communities in rural or medically underserved areas experiencing diseases and conditions such as stroke, heart disease, behavioral health, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, and obesity. Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (NEPQR-PRNP): 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.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
93.359
Federal Agency/Office
Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2018 Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP): Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Program: In Academic Year 2017-2018, IPCP grantees trained nearly 5,300 individuals. Grantees partnered with 150 clinical sites to provide interprofessional team-based training to 5,012 individuals. Approximately 61 percent of the clinical training sites were located in medically underserved communities, and 55 percent were in primary care settings. More than 58 percent of interprofessional trainees were nurses and nursing students, while 2,120 were trainees from other health care disciplines, including medical, dental, and behavioral health. Although targets were not met, this was primarily because the number of funded grantees was reduced. Registered Nurses in Primary Care (RNPC) Training Program: The 42 awardees are located in underserved and rural areas in 26 U.S. States and all ten regions are represented. Eighty-six percent of the awardees are schools of nursing and six are healthcare facilities. Veteran Nurses in Primary Care (VNPC) Training Program: NEPQR-VNPC award recipients are located in seven states across five HRSA regions. All are partnered with multiple primary care clinics located in HRSA designated rural or geographic primary care health professions shortage areas; 100% of the award recipients are Schools of Nursing.
Fiscal Year 2020 In Academic Year 2019-2020, IPCP: BHI grantees trained 868 individuals and produced 509 graduates. Grantees partnered with 42 clinical sites to provide interprofessional team-based training to 849 individuals. Approximately 71 percent of the clinical training sites were located in medically underserved communities, and 81 percent were in primary care settings. More than 50 percent of interprofessional trainees were practicing nurses and nursing students, while 393 were trainees from other health care disciplines, including medical, dental, and behavioral health. In Academic Year 2019-2020, the RNPC program trained 1,576 individuals in primary care nursing programs and produced 505 graduates. Over 40 percent of nursing students received training in substance use treatment (43 percent), in addition to participating in training related to COVID-19 (36 percent) and/or opioid use treatment (45 percent). RNPC grantees partnered with 455 training sites to provide experiential training. These training sites were located in primary care settings (75 percent), medically underserved communities (76 percent), or rural areas (38 percent). The majority of the clinical training sites offered COVID-19 related services (56 percent). In addition, clinical sites provided telehealth service (57 percent) and integrated behavioral health services in primary care (37 percent). In Academic Year 2019-2020, the VNPC program trained 56 veterans to obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The majority of the trainees received training in medically underserved communities (61 percent) and for more than 40 percent of trainees, their experiential training was in primary care settings. In addition, individuals were trained in opioid use treatment (32 percent), in telehealth (50 percent) and/or participated in COVID-19 related training (29 percent). The VNPC grantees partnered with 18 clinical training sites to offer experiential training. These training sites were located in medically underserved communities (56 percent) and/or primary care settings (44 percent). In addition, clinical sites offered services related to COVID-19 (72 percent), integrated behavioral health services in primary care (67 percent), opioid use treatment (50 percent) and/or substance use treatment (61 percent). NEPQR-SET: No data available
Fiscal Year 2021 In Academic Year 2020-2021, NEPQR-IPCP: BHI awardees trained 1,895 individuals and produced 1,097 graduates. Awardees partnered with 73 clinical sites to provide interprofessional team-based training to 1,100 individuals. Three-fourths of the clinical training sites were located in medically underserved communities (75 percent), over two-thirds were in primary care settings (67 percent), and almost half were in rural areas (47 percent). More than 50 percent of interprofessional trainees were practicing nurses and nursing Two-thirds of the clinical training sites offered integrated behavioral health services in a primary care setting (66 percent), 73 percent offered telehealth services, and 58 percent offered COVID-19 related services. In Academic Year 2020-2021, the NEPQR-RNPC program trained 2,049 individuals in primary care nursing programs and produced 1,046 graduates Seven in 10 nursing students participated in training related to COVID-19 (70 percent); additionally, 36 percent received training in substance use treatment and 33 percent received training in opioid use treatment. NEPQR-RNPC grantees partnered with 596 training sites to provide experiential training. These training sites were located in primary care settings (74 percent), medically underserved communities (66 percent), and/or rural areas (41 percent). The majority of the clinical training sites offered COVID-19 related services (71 percent). In addition, clinical sites provided telehealth service (63 percent) and integrated behavioral health services in primary care settings (39 percent). NEPQR-RNPC awardees developed or enhanced 483 courses for students—31 percent related to primary care and 11 percent related to chronic disease, including mental health and substance use conditions. In Academic Year 2020-2021, the NEPQR-VNPC program supported 130 veterans pursuing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A majority of veterans trained in medically underserved communities (75 percent) and/or primary care settings (50 percent). In addition, participated in COVID-19 related training (53 percent), trained in telehealth (52 percent), and/or trained in opioid use treatment (39 percent). The NEPQR-VNPC awardees partnered with 50 clinical training sites to offer experiential training. The majority of training sites in the NEPQR-VNPC program were located in primary care settings (82 percent) and/or medically underserved communities (66 percent). Additionally, clinical sites offered services related to COVID-19 (82 percent), integrated behavioral health services in primary care settings (40 percent), opioid use treatment (32 percent) and/or substance use treatment (32 percent). Awardees enhanced or developed a total of 63 courses; 32 percent of the courses focused on primary care and/or community-based collaboration and 30 percent of the courses focused on veterans’ health In AY 2020-2021, NEPQR-SET awardees trained 2,934 individuals, 71 percent of whom were an underrepresented minority and/or from a disadvantaged background, and produced 1,150 graduates. Awardees partnered with 21 clinical sites to provide training to 460 individuals. Just over three-fourths of the clinical training sites were located in primary care settings (76 percent), 71 percent were in medically underserved communities, and almost one-half were in rural areas (48 percent). Almost all of the sites offered COVID-19 related services (95 percent) and over half offered telehealth services (57 percent). Awardees enhanced or developed 23 courses, 70 percent of which were simulation-based trainings. Thirty percent of the courses focused on health equity or health disparities.
Fiscal Year 2022 In Academic Year (AY) 2021-2022, NEPQR Programs trained 7,560 nurses and nursing students, including 1,520 nurses and nursing students trained to provide care in medically underserved areas through NEPQR Programs. In addition, 4,230 trainees and professionals participated in interprofessional care teams through NEPQR Programs. This includes training in key areas to: • Recruit and train nursing students and current registered nurses (RNs) to practice to the full scope of their license in community based primary care teams; • Increase the training of the current and future nursing workforce and strengthen their ability to provide integrated behavioral health care; and • Strengthen nurses’ capacity to address the complex health care needs of those living in rural and medically underserved areas through the use of simulation-based technology. NEPQR-MHTP – Accomplishments will be updated in in future Congressional Justifications as the program data has not been submitted at this time. NEPQR-CFPA- Accomplishments will be updated in future Congressional Justifications as the program data has not been submitted at this time. NEPQR-RNTP- Accomplishments will be updated in future Congressional Justifications as the program data has not been submitted at this time. NEPQR-PRNP-Accomplishments will be updated in future Congressional Justifications as program awards have not been made at this time.
Authorization
Section 831 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296p and 42 U.S.C. 296p-1)
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Schools of nursing affiliated with the proposed project must be an accredited public or private school. Applicants must provide documentation of current accreditation by a national nurse education accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the purposes of nursing education. Eligible applicants are accredited schools of nursing, health care facilities, or a partnership of such a school and facilities. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility
NEPQR Project participants, NEPQR-IPCP BHI, NEPQR-RNPC, NEPQR-VNPC, NEPQR-SET, NEPQR-CFPA, NEPQR-RNTP, NEPQR-MHTP), or students in the eligible accredited nursing program, must be U.S. Citizens, non-citizen nationals, or foreign nationals who possess visas permitting permanent residence in the United States. Individuals on temporary student visas are not eligible. The program requires RNs and APRNs to hold a valid license and be an employee of the accredited school of nursing as defined by section 801(2), health care facility, or partner of such a school and/or facility. In addition, VPNC requires student participants to be honorably or generally discharged service members or reservists, with prior medical training, who have not yet earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. Active duty service members will also be considered eligible contingent upon their ability to meet university admission requirements, military obligations (as applicable), and commanding officer permissions.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants should review the individual HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity issued under this assistance listing for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted with an application package.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov. All eligible, qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.
Award Procedure
Notification of award is made in writing (electronic) by a Notice of Award.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 120 to 180 days. Approximately 120 - 180 days after receipt of applications.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Depending on Agency priorities and availability of funding, during the final budget year of the approved project period competing continuation applications may be solicited from interested applicants.
How are proposals selected?
Procedures for assessing the technical merit of grant applications have been instituted to provide an objective review of applications and to assist the applicant in understanding the standards against which each application will be judged. Critical indicators have been developed for each review criterion to assist the applicant in presenting pertinent information related to that criterion and to provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation. Competing applications are reviewed by non-Federal expert consultant(s) for technical merit recommendations. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria: (1) Purpose and Need; (2) Response to Program Purpose; (3) Impact; (4) Organizational Information, Resources and Capabilities; and (5) Support Requested. See the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed selection criteria.
How may assistance be used?
Funds may be used for salaries of personnel specifically employed for the project; consultant fees; supplies and equipment necessary to conduct the project; essential travel expenses and other expenses related to the project.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Recipients are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the date they submit the Federal Financial Report (FFR). If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3- year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3- year period, whichever is later.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: The recipient must agree to maintain non-federal funding for grant activities at a level which is not less than expenditures for such activities during the fiscal year prior to receiving the award.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
RNPC provides support for a four-year project period. VNPC provides support for a three-year project period. IPCP BHI provided support for a three-year project period. SET supports a two-year project period. CFPA and MHTP will support a four-year project period. RNTP will support a three-year project period. Recipients draw down funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Program Contacts at HRSA Headquarters: NEPQR-IPCP:BHI: Kirk Koyama, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11N-104A, Rockville, Maryland 20857; kkoyama@hrsa.gov /Phone: 301-443-4926 NEPQR-RNPC: Michelle U. Osborne and Kirk Koyama, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11N-104A, Rockville, Maryland 20857; mosborne@hrsa.gov/Phone: 301-594-3803; kkoyama@hrsa.gov/Phone: 301-443-4926. Fax: 301-443-0791 NEPQR-VNPC: Marian Smithey, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11N-128A, Rockville, Maryland 20857; msmithey@hrsa.gov/Phone: 301-443-3831. NEPQR-SET: Marian Smithey and Kirk Koyama, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11N-128A, Rockville, Maryland 20857; msmithey@hrsa.gov /Phone: 301-443-3831; kkoyama@hrsa.gov/Phone: 301-443-4926. Fax: 301-443-0791 NEPQR-MHTP: Michelle U. Osborne, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11N-104A, Rockville, Maryland 20857; mosborne@hrsa.gov/Phone: 301-594-3803 NEPQR-CFPA: Jasmine Price, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; jprice@hrsa.gov/Phone: 301-443-7151; jprice@hrsa.gov NEPQR-RNTP: Kirk Koyama, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11N-104A, Rockville, Maryland 20857; kkoyama@hrsa.gov /Phone: 301-443-4926
Headquarters Office
NEPQR-RNPC: Michelle U. Osborne and Kirk Koyama
Division of Nursing and Public Health
Bureau of Health Workforce
Rockville, MD 20857 USA
mosborne@hrsa.gov
Phone: 301-594-3803
Fax: 301-443-0791
Website Address
http://www.hrsa.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$8,092,283.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$5,048,539.00; FY 20$2,199,874.00; FY 19$0.00; FY 18$3,346,028.00; FY 17$9,611,566.00; FY 16$9,639,618.00; - NEPQR-BHI(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$8,181,845.00; FY 20$8,266,338.00; FY 19$9,622,941.00; FY 18$9,642,645.00; FY 17$9,642,645.00; FY 16$4,321,275.00; - NEPQR-RNPC(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$27,170,599.00; FY 20$26,892,491.00; FY 19$27,043,539.00; FY 18$25,747,431.00; FY 17$0.00; FY 16$3,115,607.00; - NEPQR-VNPC(Project Grants) FY 22$5,694,671.00; FY 23 est $10,750,000.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$3,211,577.00; FY 20$3,296,338.00; FY 19$3,204,015.00; FY 18$0.00; - NEPQR-SET(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$23,439,380.00; FY 23 est $23,208,670.00; FY 24 est $24,140,542.00; FY 21$0.00; FY 20$3,221,411.00; - NEPQR-MHTP(Project Grants (Special)) FY 22$8,414,261.00; FY 23 est $8,514,205.00; FY 24 est $8,954,011.00; FY 21$0.00; FY 20$449,995.00; - NEPQR-CFPA(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$4,750,000.00; FY 23 est $4,344,200.00; FY 24 est $4,835,713.00; FY 21$0.00; - NEPQR-RNTP(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $8,900,000.00; FY 24 est $0.00; - NEPQR-PRNP
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
NEPQR-IPCP-BHI FY 22: Range: est.: $291,201-$500,000, Average $481,285 FY 23: N/A FY 24: N/A NEPQR-SET: FY 22 Range: $250,000-$500,000, Average $458,795 FY 23 est. Range: Up to $500,000, Average TBD FY 24 est. Range: Up to $500,000, Average TBD NEPQR-MHTP FY 22 Range: $467,129.00 to $1,000,000.00 Average: $937,575.2 FY 23 Range: $720,819.00 to $954,608.00 , Average:$928,347.00 FY 24 est. Range: $752,934 to $1,000,000; Average: $965,621 NEPQR-CFPA FY 22 Range: $245,872 to $1,000,000; Average: $841,426 FY 23 Range: $209,087 to $963,215; Average $844,096 FY 24 est. Range: $264,639 to $1,000,000; Average: $895, 401 NEPQR-RNTP FY 22 Range: $244,627 to $350,000; Average $339,285 FY 23 Range: $290,928 to $350,000; Average $310,300 FY 24 est. Range: $309,681 to $350,000; Average: $345,408 NEPQR-PRNP FY 22 Range: N/A FY 23 est. Range: up to $1,000,000, Average TBD FY 24 est. Range: up to $1,000,000, Average TBD
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
All administrative and audit requirements and the cost principles that govern Federal monies associated with this activity will be subject to the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 as codified by HHS at 45 CFR 75. HRSA awards are also subject to the requirements of the HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) that are applicable based on recipient type and purpose of award. The HHS GPS is available at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/hhsgrantspolicy.pdf.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 



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