News Releases

University of Maryland School of Nursing Receives RWJF New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program Grant

September 26, 2008

Baltimore, Md. — The University of Maryland School of Nursing is among the first 58 nursing schools in the nation to receive funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) through the RWJF New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program. The RWJF program is aimed at strengthening the nation's pipeline of new nurses by providing scholarships to students enrolling in fast-track or accelerated nursing degree programs. These programs offer the most efficient route to licensure as a registered nurse for adults who have already completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree in a discipline other than nursing.

The School of Nursing was awarded $80,000 for eight $10,000 scholarships for students admitted to the School's Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program for the spring 2009 semester. The 16- to 23-month CNL program allows students with a bachelor's (or higher) degree in a non-nursing discipline to earn a master's degree and be eligible to sit for the examination for licensure as a registered nurse. Award preference will be given to students from groups who are underrepresented in nursing or who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“This groundbreaking national initiative, launched by RWJF and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, couldn't have come at a better time,” says Gail Schoen Lemaire, PhD, PMH/CNS, BC, associate professor and co-director of the School's CNL program. “Bringing more nurses into the profession at the baccalaureate and master's degree levels will help decrease both the nurse and nursing faculty shortages.”

For more information about the RWJF New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program, visitwww.newcareersinnursing.org. To learn more about the School of Nursing's Clinical Nurse Leader program, visit nursing.umaryland.edu.