Missouri Southern State University’s Department of Nursing is proud to announce the approval of its Nursing Education Incentive Program proposal, aimed at addressing the critical shortage of registered nurses (RNs) and nursing faculty in the greater Joplin area and surrounding rural counties. The proposal, which includes a total funding amount of $347,252 over three years, will support efforts to expand the pre-licensure Baccalaureate in Nursing program and provide advanced education opportunities for nursing professionals.
In alignment with the state’s mission to increase the educational capacity of professional nursing education programs and the significant nursing shortage, this proposal covers several key initiatives:
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Increase the number of professional nursing graduates with a BSN degree: By expanding the pre-licensure Baccalaureate in Nursing program, MSSU aims to produce more qualified nursing graduates to meet the growing healthcare demands.
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Support faculty positions, retention, and development: The funding will provide resources to support additional faculty nursing positions, enhance faculty retention through development programs, and create a Nurse Educator Mentoring Network (NEMN) to promote mentorship and professional growth.
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Develop and implement an accelerated graduate nursing degree program: This initiative will increase the number of qualified nursing professionals with advanced degrees in the greater Joplin region and beyond, addressing the shortage of nursing faculty and improving the quality of nursing education.
Proposal highlights include:
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Additional faculty nursing positions for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
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Acquisition of equipment to enhance instructional capabilities.
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Development and implementation of a graduate nursing program in education.
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Increased resources for faculty development and mentorship.
These initiatives offer solutions to the critical issues facing the nursing profession, including increasing the number of BSN graduates, maintaining and growing faculty numbers, and boosting the number of graduate-prepared nursing professionals in the region and state. MSSU aims to enhance the quality of nursing education, improve faculty retention rates, and ultimately contribute to better healthcare outcomes.
The urgency of addressing these issues is underscored by projected workforce demands through 2032, as outlined by relevant labor statistics. MSSU is committed to playing a pivotal role in meeting these demands and ensuring the health and well-being of the community.
For more information, please contact Dr. Lisa M. Beals, chair of the Department of Nursing, or visit the nursing program page at https://www.mssu.edu/academics/education/nursing/degree-nursing.php.
