Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri State Board of Nursing has unveiled more than $1.2 million in grant money for seven colleges and universities across the state via the Nursing Education Incentive Program (NEIP). These grants, awarded this year, aim to boost efforts in recruiting and keeping faculty, while also pushing for the use of advanced technology and innovative teaching methods in nursing education, ensuring students are well-prepared for their careers.
“Missouri is very fortunate to offer this grant program, which allows nursing programs to identify their needs to increase their capacity for students and then request funding to address those needs,” said Missouri State Board of Nursing Executive Director Lori Scheidt.
“We developed this program with an understanding that we must invest in infrastructure to build a solid foundation to increase the number of nursing graduates. We thank nursing program leaders for continuing to adapt and proposing solutions to address the nursing program capacity issues.”
This year’s competitive grants, totaling $1,219,732, include the following schools:
- Avila University, Kansas City: $141,000 to fund the salary of a clinical coordinator, increase clinical faculty pay and provide faculty scholarships. Avila will use the funding to increase their clinical capacity for nursing students.
- Central Methodist, Fayette: $153,600 to purchase labor and delivery and pediatric simulation equipment to enhance nursing students’ clinical skills.
- Jefferson College, Hillsboro: $150,000 to fund the salary for a simulation laboratory coordinator to meet simulation demand and increase instructional capacity.
- Missouri Valley College, Marshall: $165,599 to fund an RN to BSN online program coordinator, aiming to enroll 10-15 students each semester and then increase to 25-30 students per semester within five years.
- Moberly Area Community College, Columbia, and Hannibal locations: $230,213 to fund a simulation laboratory coordinator and purchase simulation and virtual reality equipment to increase the number of students.
- Southwest Baptist University BSN program in Bolivar and MSN program in Springfield: $300,000 for both programs ($150,000 each) to purchase interactive anatomy technology equipment to enhance education and incorporate advanced technology into the curriculum.
- Three Rivers Community College, Poplar Bluff associate degree in nursing program: $79,320 to purchase computers for a dedicated nursing program computer lab to fully transition to computerized testing. Increasing technology will allow faculty to augment instruction by providing exams that mimic the national licensure examination.
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Since 2011, the Missouri State Board of Nursing has allocated over $19 million in grants to enhance and introduce new nursing education programs across Missouri. This effort was further supported with nearly $8 million approved by Governor Michael Parson and provided by the Missouri General Assembly in 2022 and 2023.
The Missouri State Board of Nursing falls under the Division of Professional Registration, which is a part of the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI). This division offers administrative support to 41 professional licensing boards and commissions, which regulate the professional activities of more than 525,000 people in Missouri.
The DCI’s main role is to safeguard the interests of Missouri’s consumers. It oversees the insurance sector, banking, credit unions, utilities, and various professional licenses in the state. For more details on the department’s work and responsibilities, visit the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance website.
