MSU gains over $215,000 raising nursing student workforce support
The Morehead State University Department of Nursing has been awarded $215,900 in funding through the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's (CPE) Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund (HWIF).
The funds, approved by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2023, aim to address the nursing shortage in Kentucky. They provide scholarships for MSU nursing students, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN).
“The Department of Nursing was thrilled to receive the award notification of these matching dollar awards from the Kentucky CPE,” said Dr. Kim Clevenger, interim department chair of MSU's Department of Nursing. “This funding represents a significant opportunity to support nursing students and strengthen the healthcare workforce in Kentucky.”
Funds were made possible through CHI Saint Joseph Health and UK St. Claire with matching funds from HWIF. CHI Saint Joseph Health contributed $50,000 for the BSN program, which HWIF matched. UK St. Claire invested $57,950 for the AASN program, which was also matched.
The scholarships help nursing students by easing financial burdens. They require students to work at Kentucky partner facilities after graduation. This program supports workforce needs, helps underserved students reach their goals, and strengthens the healthcare workforce.
“The combined total of $215,900 in scholarship funding for the BSN and AASN programs will directly benefit students, alleviating financial burdens while fostering their professional growth,” Clevenger added. “These scholarships will help address healthcare workforce needs in the Commonwealth, as recipients commit to practicing at partner facilities upon graduation.”
The MSU Department of Nursing is proud of its academic success, with high NCLEX passage rates in its programs. In 2023, the BSN program had a 100% passage rate, and the AASN program had a passage rate of 88.5% on the Morehead campus and 95.5% on the Mt. Sterling campus.
“The healthcare partner contribution and match funds to provide healthcare training scholarships for current students and potential students for MSU's Department of Nursing pre-licensure AASN program and BSN program will assist the state in meeting the current and future workforce needs by attracting new nursing students into nursing programs here at MSU through targeted recruitment efforts,” Clevenger said.
The MSU Department of Nursing is currently accepting late applications for January 2025 admission into its AASN and BSN programs.
For more information about program admissions or scholarship availability, contact Dr. Kim Clevenger at k.clevenger@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2630. For more information on the Department of Nursing, email nursingdept@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2296.
