BIG RAPIDS – The Ferris State University College of Allied Health Sciences has received an Accelerated Health Care Training Grant Award in Nursing to train more nursing faculty in a shorter period of time. The COAHS also received an Accelerated Health Care Training Grant Award in Respiratory Care to prepare a greater number of respiratory therapists for the workforce.
The nursing grant award provides funding for the COAHS to continue its Institute for Clinical Instruction in Nursing, which helps address the shortage of clinical nursing faculty in undergraduate nursing programs in west central Michigan.
Through the institute, faculty and staff will be hired to recruit participants and provide instruction for a semester-long, mixed-delivery education program to train 12 staff nurses to become clinical nurse educators. Additionally, through collaboration with the West Michigan Nursing Council, a Web-based database will provide real-time availability of qualified clinical nursing educators to provide instruction in one of nine pre-licensure nursing programs in west Michigan.
“By continuing to fund the Institute for Clinical Instruction in Nursing, the state recognizes the excellent contribution of the Nursing Program at Ferris State University in the preparation of nurse educators to meet the ongoing needs for nursing faculty within the state,” said Ellen Haneline, COAHS interim dean. “The institute will assist with Gov. Granholm’s goal of alleviating the nursing shortage in Michigan.”
Added Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Harris, “The Accelerated Health Care Training Grant Award in Nursing is a testament to the excellence of our Nursing program, its faculty, staff and students. Ferris State University is committed to the needs of the state of Michigan – especially in the health care area – and programs such as this continue to increase and enhance the supply of professionals in the Nursing field.”
Receipt of the respiratory care grant award will enable the University to continue its Accelerated Respiratory Care program, which addresses the ongoing shortage of respiratory therapists in west central Michigan.
Through the grant, a faculty member and staff will be hired to recruit students and provide instruction for 24 students who are enrolled in an 18-month program in Grand Rapids.