H.R. 6607: Future Advancement of Academic Nursing Act

This bill, known as the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing Act (FAAN Act), aims to improve nursing education in the United States by providing financial support to schools of nursing. Here are the main components of the bill:

Grant Authorization

The bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to schools of nursing. These grants would help:

• Increase the number of nursing faculty and students to address workforce shortages.
• Enhance the schools' capacity to respond to public health emergencies and pandemics.
• Modernize and enhance nursing education programs.

Prioritization Criteria

When selecting which schools will receive grants, the Secretary will prioritize:

• Schools located in medically underserved areas.
• Schools in areas designated as health professional shortage areas.
• Institutions of higher education recognized under specific education laws.
• Schools located in rural areas or U.S. territories.

Use of Grant Funds

Recipient schools must use the grant funds for various activities, including:

• Increasing student enrollment and retention, with a focus on disadvantaged students.
• Retaining current faculty and hiring new faculty, especially from underrepresented groups.
• Partnering with healthcare facilities for clinical education opportunities.
• Modernizing school infrastructure and resources, including technology and laboratories.
• Creating and updating educational programs and curricula.
• Enhancing nursing programs that train nurse researchers and scientists.
• Developing interprofessional educational partnerships.

Reporting Requirements

Schools that receive grants must submit an annual report detailing how the funds were used. Additionally, the Secretary is required to report to Congress within five years on:

• Which schools received grants and their locations.
• Enrollment and graduation statistics, including demographics of the students.
• The effects of grants on faculty retention and hiring, clinical education partnerships, and infrastructure modernization.
• Recommendations for improving future grants.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes a funding amount of up to $1 billion to implement the grant program, and these funds will remain available until they are expended.

Strengthening Nursing Education

The bill also includes provisions to strengthen the title associated with nursing education in the Public Health Service Act, removing the word "Basic" to reflect a broader range of educational efforts.

Relevant Companies

None found.