The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing was recently awarded $1.19 million in state grants through the Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses program as part of an initiative to help grow the nursing pipeline in the state.

The ALIGN program's goal is to upskill nursing professionals, expand nursing apprenticeship programs and increase nurse educator recruitment and retention.

On May 13, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced in a press conference that more than $20 million would be given to 19 Arkansas two- and four-year colleges and universities to address the nationwide nurse shortage.

Kate Mamiseishvili, dean of the U of A's College of Education and Health Professions, and Sarah Bemis, assistant director of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, joined Meredith Green, senior vice president of Washington Regional Medical Center and chief nursing officer in Little Rock, to accept the funding. Chancellor Charles Robinson and Margaret Sova McCabe, vice chancellor for research and innovation, also attended the press conference on behalf of the U of A.

Higher education institutions that applied for ALIGN funds were required to have a healthcare partner contributor. Washington Regional, where many nursing school's students gain hands-on clinical experience, is partnering with the nursing school.

"We're thrilled that Washington Regional has generously offered additional grant support to EMSON," Bemis said. "The medical center's contribution will allow more registered nurses and LPNs to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, which will increase their wage potential and opportunities for advancement while improving patient outcomes."

Mamiseishvili said she's proud of the work EMSON is doing and grateful for the longstanding relationship with Washington Regional. "That relationship will only be strengthened with this partnership," the dean noted.

"Nurses play a vital part of our patient care teams at Washington Regional, and we are excited about this collaboration with EMSON," Green said. "This grant will help support our nurses in furthering their education and provide career progression within the nursing profession. Washington Regional's goal is to continue to provide exceptional clinical experiences that lead to better patient outcomes while helping grow the number of highly skilled nurses in our region."

The ALIGN grant will allow EMSON to provide tuition and fee support to students. Up to 125 working nurses will be able to earn a B.S.N. degree through multiple pathways at zero cost. A B.S.N. degree can lead to a wide range of opportunities, including a variety of leadership positions within acute care departments and outpatient clinics.

Bemis said the greatest benefit of the additional education a B.S.N. provides is to patients. In the grant proposal, she cited research showing that a 10% increase in the proportion of B.S.N.-prepared nurses lowers the odds of patient mortality by 10.9%. The research also finds that nurses with this level of education help reduce readmission rates of those in medical facilities, lead to shorter hospital stays, and improve nurse retention rates.

The grant will also allow Eleanor Mann School of Nursing to hire a full-time faculty member to provide direct support to students through group tutoring, academic planning, mentorship, individualized remediation, time management counseling, licensure preparation and more. This type of support will enhance nursing students' success in the program, leading to higher retention and graduation rates.

The EMSON grant proposal noted that communities in Northwest Arkansas have seen rapid population growth, especially Benton and Washington counties. By 2045, the two counties are predicted to have an increased population of 974,275 people — or a 59% growth.

"This funding means the Northwest Arkansas region will benefit from improved patient safety and quality of care while proactively preparing for rapid population growth," Bemis said. "The ALIGN grant will allow the area's nursing professionals to upskill, leaving our community in a better strategic position to fill advanced healthcare roles with qualified nurses who are empowered to practice at the full extent of their knowledge, skills and abilities. Investing in the dedicated professionals who live, work and play in our community will improve the health of Arkansans."