A $2.8 million federal grant will help to graduate more nurse practitioners from Allendale, Mich.-based Grand Valley State University's Kirkhof College of Nursing in Grand Rapids through a collaboration with two Michigan healthcare systems, the university announced July 15.
The four-year Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Grant is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and aims to provide more NPs to rural and underserved areas throughout Michigan. KCON will be collaborating with McLaren Health Care in Grand Blanc, Mich., and Mercy Health Muskegon. The college aims to enroll 15 new students in its Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
The program will teach students how to address challenges unique to rural areas, according to Cynthia McCurren, PhD, MSN, dean and professor of nursing at KCON. There will also be an emphasis on using technology to improve care and integrating mental health into primary care.
KCON will begin recruiting students this July, and the first class will enroll in the fall 2019 semester.