Southeastern's Graduate Nursing Program receives federal grant to target medically underserved areas
Contact: Rene Abadie
Date: November 13, 2012
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University's School of Nursing is now offering an Advanced Education Nurse Traineeship Program (AENT) for nursing students pursuing a graduate degree.
The AENT is made available through a $637,350 grant awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to university officials.
"Through this grant, we can completely support 15 students for two years," explained Graduate Nursing Coordinator Lorinda J. Sealey. "Once students apply and we make the awards, it will be retroactive for this semester, starting September 1."
Sealey said the impetus behind applying for the grant was the need to increase the number of healthcare providers in underserved areas.
"With the Affordable Care Act, we're predicting a greater demand for primary care providers because more people will be eligible for healthcare," Sealey said. "The federal government determines where there are professional health care shortages. This includes almost all of Louisiana, particularly rural areas."
Sealey said the funding should provide enough financial support for graduate nursing students to complete the program at a full-time pace, rather than extending the time of study over a longer period.
Interested applicants must show interest in working in rural and medically underserved areas. The program encourages applications from veterans who are registered nurses with bachelor's degrees and are looking to become nurse practitioners, says Sealey.
"I'm committed to increasing the number of underrepresented students, specifically disadvantaged students, including ethnic minorities and students from health professional shortage areas. A lot of our students meet the requirements."
Southeastern's Graduate Nursing Program is part of a four-university intercollegiate consortium that includes the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University and Nicholls State University. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
For more information on applying for one of the traineeships, contact Graduate Nursing Program Coordinator Lorinda J. Sealey, PhD, RNC-MNN, at 985-549-5045, or email at lsealey@southeastern.edu. General information is available at www.southeastern.edu/graduatenursing.
