DCI News

At their February 27 meeting, the Missouri Board of Nursing approved 6 Missouri nursing schools to receive grants through the Nursing Education Incentive Program (NEIP). This grant program, created by a legislative action in 2011, started as a means of increasing nursing program infrastructure by awarding funding to be used to enhance nursing education and increase seat capacity. The funding for this program comes from fees paid by nursing licensees and serves as an important reinvestment in the nursing profession.

The Missouri Board of Nursing has awarded grants in 2011-2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Board allocated over $825,000 to NEIP funding this year, making the total investment in nursing education more than $6.2 million. The grant program allows any institution of higher education accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association that is offering a nursing program to apply. 

This year, funding included innovative clinical models which transform clinical education, to include the nurse apprenticeship model.  The nurse apprenticeship model is designed to immerse students in clinical learning while they work in nursing environments and earn wages while in school. These apprenticeships are a unique way to address current nursing shortages, provide access to real-time clinical education, and ease transition to professional nursing practice. This approach is projected to improve new nurse retention rates through robust clinical education in facilities where graduates will work once they complete nursing school.

“I am so proud of our Missouri nursing programs for working so hard to create innovative approaches to nursing education,” said Lori Scheidt, Executive Director of the Missouri Board of Nursing. “Expansion of nursing schools and enhancement of innovative clinical models is a win-win situation for Missouri patients, health care employers, students and nursing schools.”

The following Missouri nursing schools have been approved to receive 2019 NEIP funding: 

Missouri State University – Springfield ($150,000) 

• Expansion of the number of BSN students by 24 each year and enhancement of faculty resources by at least one nursing faculty.

St. Louis University – St. Louis ($150,000) 

• Implementation of an innovative new model for sharing of faculty resources through utilization of a collaborative with Maryville University and augmentation of instructional technology. 

Truman State University – Kirksville ($150,000) 

• Enhancement of opportunities for clinical learning through utilization of alternative clinical models, expansion of simulation resources and experiences and partnership with a local medical school. 

University of Missouri – Columbia ($150,000) 

• Expansion of the number of BSN students by 29 students each year through enhancement of clinical simulation. 

University of Missouri – Kansas City ($150,000)

• Scholarships for 7 graduate students toward completion of their MSN, DNP or PhD with commitment to teach in nursing for at least 3 years, as well as purchase of instructional technology to enhance student learning in the sciences.  

Crowder College – Neosho ($77,461.74) 

• Implementation of an innovative new clinical model in the form of nurse apprenticeships.