August 3, 2009

Johns Hopkins receives grant to increase nurse graduates

The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing will receive more than $984,000 over the next five years as a recipient of a Who Will Care? grant, given by the Maryland Hospital Association.

Pamela Jeffries, associate dean for academic affairs, and Linda Rose, associate professor, will use the grant to develop and pilot test an alternative model for clinical teaching and integrating into the program emerging technologies such as simulation, online courses and electronic student portfolios to enhance and track clinical skills and experiences. This will allow more flexibility to people wishing to pursue nursing degrees who may not be able to attend class full time and/or in person.

Hospitals, insurance companies, businesses and private citizens donated $15.5 million to fund Who Will Care? grants, aimed to increase the number of nursing graduates in response to the potential nursing gap that will exist once the economic downturn ends. In all, 17 schools received initial funding.

“Without this initiative, we will face a shortage of 10,000 nurses in Maryland,” MHA president and CEO Carmela Coyle said. “These grants will begin the increase so we won’t face a huge chasm when almost half of the nursing workforce retires just as the baby boomer generation’s health needs reach their peak.”