American Indians into Nursing

Background
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is responsible for providing federal health services to the AI/AN people. Their mission is to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of AI/ANs to the highest level. The Indian Healthcare Improvement Act authorizes the IHS to develop and maintain nursing education programs and recruit people to become registered nurses, certified nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners who will provide services to AI/AN people.

Grant Details
The purpose of the grant is to recruit, retain, graduate, and increase the number of registered nurses, certified nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners who deliver health care services to AI/AN communities.

The required activities include:
- Recruiting and training AI/AN people to become baccalaureate-prepared nurses and advanced practice nurses; nurse midwives; and nurse practitioners.
- Providing a scholarship program that encourages registered nurses and advanced practice nurses to provide or continue to provide health care services to AI/AN communities. The grant also covers scholarships for AI/AN people to cover tuition, books, fees, room and board, stipend for living expenses, or other expenses related to baccalaureate-level nursing or advanced practice nursing programs.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include accredited public or private schools of nursing, accredited Tribally controlled community colleges, accredited Tribally controlled post-secondary vocational institutions, and nurse midwife programs and nurse practitioner programs provided by any public or private institution.

Individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign organizations are not eligible. All schools of nursing must be fully accredited without restrictions at the time of application by a national nurse educational accrediting body or state approval body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education for the purposes of nursing education.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is 5 years with continuation funding depending on the availability of funds and agency budget priorities.

Grant Value
Type: Cooperative agreement;
Competition type: Competing continuation and new applications;
Expected total program funding: $1,889,986;
Expected number of awards: 5;
Funding range per awardee for the first budget year: $300,000 to $400,000