The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded Spokane-based Washington State University College of Nursing a $1.3 million federal grant to expand its nurse practitioners program to help fight the shortage of primary care in the state, according to The Spokesman Review.
The two-year grant will fund tuition or stipends for 15 to 30 students to help address the primary care shortage in rural Washington.
The college of nursing's director of outreach and communications, Addy Hatch, told the Spokesman Review that nurse practitioners are currently in high demand because they are being used in primary care settings.
The college of nursing will partner with the Community Health Association of Spokane to develop a nurse practitioner in residence position, which will fill a dual role with both organizations. The new nurse practitioner in residence will develop curriculum, help increase the number of nurse practitioner students in the clinic and address organizational challenges.