December 10, 2024
East Texas Baptist University’s Teague School of Nursing has received two significant grants to bolster its efforts to address the critical nursing shortage and enhance nursing education. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded $322,236.33 in Nursing Shortage Reduction Program (NSRP) funds, while the East Texas Communities Foundation granted $11,237.26 from the Betty and Roy Erickson Grant for Nursing Fund.
The Nursing Shortage Reduction Program funds will be used to innovate simulation training, support faculty and student retention, enhance student recruitment efforts, and provide scholarships to nursing students. These strategic investments aim to strengthen ETBU’s ability to prepare skilled, compassionate nurses for the healthcare workforce.
“The Nursing Shortage Reduction Program was created to enhance the capacity of nursing programs in order to enroll, retain, and graduate more nursing students,” Teague School of Nursing Dean Dr. Nicole Fant said. “Additional funds and revisions to the NSRP Grant that were approved through the 88th Texas Legislative session are what made ETBU eligible for the grant. This would not have been possible without lobbying by the Texas Nurses Association and the support of our Texas Senators and Representatives. I offer my heartfelt gratitude to them for that support and their continued support as we look to the next legislative year.”
In addition, the Betty and Roy Erickson Grant for Nursing Fund enabled the purchase of intravenous pumps for the Teague School of Nursing’s simulation lab. These pumps enhance the lab’s ability to provide realistic, hands-on training in a controlled and safe environment, ensuring students are well-prepared for clinical practice.
“We are also grateful to the Betty and Roy Erickson Charitable Fund for Nursing Grant for the funds to purchase intravenous pumps and poles for our simulation hospital to meet the learning needs and enhance practice readiness for our nursing students,” Dr. Fant added.
With these grants, ETBU can address critical healthcare challenges while equipping nursing students with the tools to make a lasting impact in their communities. By investing in education and service, the university continues to fulfill its mission of preparing Christ-centered leaders for meaningful careers in healthcare and beyond.
“Dr. Fant and our Nursing faculty continually invest their time, knowledge, and talents in educating our ETBU Teague School of Nursing students,” Assistant Provost Elizabeth Ponder said. “These grants are great examples of Dr. Fant’s leadership of the program and ETBU’s commitment to developing the next generation of quality nurses in our region.”