Educating Advanced Practice Nurses to Meet the Needs of Aging, Minority and Underserved Populations

This year, the College of Nursing received much needed assistance in its mission of transforming care by training the next generation of nurses to meet the needs of a changing population. The assistance came in the form of a grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to fund nursing scholarships, with a total value of $1,032,144 from 2013 to 2015.

The HRSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded principal investigator, Dr. Karethy “Kay” Edwards, Professor & Associate Dean for Academic Programs, with funding through its Advanced Education Nurse Traineeship (AENT) program.

According to the Florida Department of Health, Florida’s population nearly tripled in size between 1970 and 2010. Given the state’s reputation as a retirement haven, it’s not surprising that Florida’s senior population has grown at a disproportionate rate compared to the rest of the country. As of 2011, Florida’s senior population outpaced the national average, with 17.3 percent of Florida’s population over the age of 65, compared to 13 percent nationwide, according to the Kaiser Health Foundation. In addition, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state is also home to a higher-than-the-national-average population of blacks and Hispanics, who, when compared with whites, face health disparities including obesity, infant mortality and incidence of AIDS, according to the Florida Department of Health.

“The trends in our state’s population speak for themselves. The need is clear, and the College is committed to increasing the number of advanced practice nurses serving aging, multicultural, and other underserved populations in South Florida,” said Dr. Edwards. “Through the HRSA grant, we are able to demonstrate this commitment to our students in a very tangible way.”

In disbursing scholarships to students, emphasis is placed on supporting veterans, full-time students and students who are members of underrepresented minorities. Full-time students receive $18,650, and part-time students receive $10,200 for tuition and a stipend. Recipients, so far, have ranged from those pursuing careers as nurse practitioners to doctoral students.

Marie Bazelais, one of the scholarship recipients, said, “By awarding me with this AENT Scholarship, the College of Nursing lightened my financial burden, which allowed me to focus on the most important aspect of school – learning. As the only working adult of a family of five, I would not have been successful in the program without this act of generosity. I am currently enrolled in the BSN to DNP program and can’t wait to work in the Haitian–American community, where there is so much need!”