Biden administration directs $100M to expand nursing workforce

Hospital leaders continue to bemoan the shortage of nurses, and President Biden’s administration appears to be listening.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra announces $100 million in grants to expand the nurse workforce. (Photo: HHS)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding $100 million to train more nurses and support other programs to expand the nursing workforce.

The Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency within HHS, announced the grants Thursday. The grants will finance programs to develop more registered nurses, nurse midwives and more nursing faculty, among other measures.

“Nurses are an essential part of our nation’s health care system,”  HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “Now more than ever, we need to double down on our investments in nurses who care for communities across the country.”

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The program will direct grants to four main programs. Here’s a summary of the programs and how much aid they’re getting.

Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program

This program is getting $34.8 million to increase the number of primary care nurse practitioners, nurse specialists and nurse midwives trained to offer primary care, mental health, maternal health, and substance use care.

Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Program

This administration is putting $30 million in this program to help train advanced practice nurses in primary care.

Nurse Faculty Loan Program

HRSA is putting $26.5 million into this program to get more people to pursue careers as nursing school faculty. The grants to provide low-interest loans and loan cancellation.

Pathway to Registered Nurse Program

The administration is directing $8.7 million to a program to train licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses to become registered nurses.

Nurse anesthetists

HRSA is awarding $2.2 million to train more certified registered nurse anesthetists.

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said the investments demonstrate a commitment to supporting the healthcare workforce and “training the next generation of nurses.”

“Nurses are the frontline in delivering life-saving care and in keeping all of us healthy and well,” Johnson said in a statement.

Here’s the full list of grant recipients from HRSA.

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