More than $78M in grants from the U.S. Department of Labor will go to 25 organizations in 17 states.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (June 26, 2023) -- The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded more than $78 million under its Nursing Expansion grant to support workforce training programs in 17 states. As part of that funding, Broward College will receive $3 million for its Answer the Call for Healthcare Professionals (HealthPro) Project, which aims to expand South Florida’s Nursing Pipeline. The grants will support innovative partnerships and strategies that expand and diversify America’s pipeline of qualified nursing professionals. Specifically, these grants will support creating opportunities for frontline health care professionals to advance on a career pathway and better meet the need for critical care today and for years to come.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that nurses comprise the largest segment of U.S. health care professionals, with 4.2 million registered nurses. Despite these numbers, the profession faces significant staffing challenges as the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average of 203,200 openings for registered nurses each year through 2031. Research also shows that adequate staffing is crucial to outcomes for nurses and patients and is essential to maintaining and improving the nation’s health care system.

“We are honored to receive this grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, which recognizes our commitment to expanding nursing education and empowering potential health care professionals,” said Dr. Mildred Coyne, senior vice president, Workforce Education and Innovation. “Through this program, we aim to create a seamless pathway for individuals to enter the nursing field, enhancing their knowledge, skills, and career prospects. This will contribute to the provision of high-quality patient care and  the growing demand for highly educated nursing professionals.”

Broward College’s HealthPro aims to support the development of three nursing career pathways-Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, and Home Health Aid. The grant will support several key components of the project, including:

• Collaborating with industry experts and academic partners to develop and implement evidence-based strategies to increase student access to in-demand nursing career pathways.
• Designing and implementing multiple pathways and complementary support services that enable participants to attain industry-recognized certifications as an acceleration strategy towards a degree in Nursing.
• Increasing job placement, job retention, and career progression rates for students in the targeted programs; and
• Facilitating the integration of cutting-edge technologies and resources into the program including virtual simulation platforms, and interactive learning modules enabling students to engage in immersive and up-to-date learning experiences.

-B.C.-