Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024
PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the criteria to be used
by the State Board of Nursing regarding the awarding of grants to eligible
institutions of higher education under the Nursing Education Incentive
Program.
(1) Program
Description. The "Nursing Education Incentive Program" is intended to address
two (2) growing problems in nursing education.
(A) Missouri institutions have been unable to
admit many qualified applicants to their nursing programs because of a lack of
physical or educational capacity. Because of these capacity constraints,
students interested in entering nursing programs are unable to access the
program of their choice, creating supply problems for the health care
industry.
(B) Many areas of
Missouri have been determined to be medically underserved. This determination
is based upon the income of the population and the ratio of physicians,
dentists, and behavioral health clinicians to the total population.
(2) Institutional Criteria for
Grant Awards. To be eligible to receive a Nursing Education Incentive Grant,
the applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria:
(A) Be a Missouri institution of higher
education (sponsoring institution) offering a program of professional
nursing;
(B) Be accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, another regional
accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or provide evidence
of active participation in a regional state authorization reciprocity agreement
administered through the National Council of State Reciprocity Agreements
(NC-SARA);
(C) Offer a
pre-licensure and/or post-licensure nursing program or programs that meet the
following program criteria:
1. Pre-licensure
nursing program qualifying criteria-
A.
Official National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses
(NCLEX-RN®) pass rates consistently greater than or equal to eighty percent
(80%);
B. Record of consistently
meeting requirements for full approval by the Missouri State Board of
Nursing;
C. Student graduation
rates greater than or equal to eighty percent (80%). Graduation rate shall mean
the percent of first time students who complete their program within one
hundred fifty percent (150%) of the normal time to completion; and
D. Job placement rates greater than or equal
to ninety percent (90%). Job placement rate shall mean the percent of program
graduates (less those continuing their education) who have secured employment
in the nursing field within six (6) months of graduation;
2. Post-licensure nursing program qualifying
criteria-
A. National nursing accreditation
by a national agency specific to nursing education that is recognized by the
board;
B. Post-licensure
certification exam pass rates consistently greater than or equal to eighty
percent (80%), if applicable;
C.
Student graduation rates greater than or equal to eighty percent (80%).
Graduation rate shall mean the percent of first time students who complete
their program within one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the normal time to
complete the program; and
D. Job
placement rates greater than or equal to ninety percent (90%). Job placement
rate shall mean the percent of program graduates (less those continuing their
education) who have secured employment in the nursing field within six (6)
months of graduation; and
(D) Qualifying criteria specific to the
nursing program(s) impacted by projected grant funding shall be
included.
(3) Required
Components of The Grant Proposal. Each proposal shall include the following
components:
(A) Cover letter of support from
the president of the sponsoring institution and the relevant official with
direct responsibility for nursing education at the sponsoring
institution;
(B)
Abstract-Applicants shall provide a one- (1-) page overview of the project that
includes its goals, purpose, and scope; and
(C) Narrative description of the proposal
including:
1. Description of the activities
that will be undertaken as part of the grant;
2. Description of the capacity and structure
the institution has in place to administer the grant activities;
3. Explanation of how the proposal will
impact the goals established for the grant program;
4. Projected timeline for implementation and
completion of proposed grant activities;
5. Measures to be utilized to evaluate impact
and effectiveness. The following data/information should be included:
A. Student admissions/progression
requirements;
B. For each of the
past three (3) years, the number of applicants for admission that met those
requirements yet were denied admission due to a lack of capacity;
C. The number of faculty positions that are
currently vacant and the duration of any such vacancy;
D. Any evidence that would indicate that
additional graduates will serve geographically underserved areas of the state;
and
E. Description of the
applicant's plan for maintaining the benefits of the initiative following the
expiration of the grant;
6. Goals and objectives-Applicants shall
identify the goals and objectives of the project. Activities, services, and
anticipated outcomes should be described and clearly aligned with the
objectives of the overall grant program; and
7. Budget summary and narrative- Applicants
shall provide detail concerning personnel, activities, and services paid for
through grant funds. This should include:
A.
Proposed expenditures for the grant period; and
B. A narrative outlining how funds will be
used to accomplish the goals and objectives of the project. Each budget
category must be justified in the budget
narrative.
(4) Goals and Objectives. Proposals shall
show evidence of their ability to impact the program goals of expansion of
faculty resources and/or an increase in student capacity. Grant proposals shall
focus on one (1) or more of the following areas:
(A) Additional faculty positions;
(B) Development of accelerated graduate
nursing programs with focus on expansion of faculty resources;
(C) Scholarships or traineeships for faculty
development with commitment to teach in a Missouri school of nursing for a
minimum of three (3) years after degree completion;
(D) Creation of faculty salary/benefit
packages that are market competitive to recruit and retain highly qualified
faculty for theory/clinical teaching;
(E) Expansion of clinical placement through
development of new clinical partnerships; and/or
(F) Use of technology resources designed to
augment instruction.
(5)
Grant Award Amounts and Duration. Proposals are limited to one (1) year in
duration, with the potential for extensions of two (2) additional one- (1-)
year periods. Grants are limited to one hundred fifty thousand dollars
($150,000) per campus for each year.
(6) Grant Applications Submission Deadlines.
The Missouri State Board of Nursing will establish and publicize the filing
deadlines for the submission of grant applications. To be considered complete,
applications must include all components referenced in section (3) of this rule
and be received at the offices of the board by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline
date.
