Nursing Education Incentive Program

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; (C) Offer a pre-licensure and/or postlicensure 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 (NCLEXRN®) 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. AUTHORITY: sections 335.200 and 335.203, RSMo 2016, and section 335.036, RSMo Supp. 2018.* This rule originally filed as 6 CSR 10-11.010. Emergency rule filed Sept. 23, 2011, effective Oct. 3, 2011, expired March 30, 2012. Original rule filed July 12, 2011, effective Jan. 30, 2012. Moved to 20 CSR 2200-7.010 and amended: Filed Nov. 21, 2016, effective June 30, 2017. Amended: Filed Oct. 15, 2018, effective April 30, 2019. *Original authority: 335.036, RSMo 1975, amended 1981, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2018; 335.200, RSMo 1990, amended 2011; and 335.203, RSMo 1990, amended 2011, 2016.