Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR)-Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (PRNP) | HRSA 23 016

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 23 016

The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) - Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (PRNP) is a federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Its core aim is to strengthen the nursing workforce by creating a clearer, better supported route for Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPNs/LVNs) to move from academic preparation into registered nursing practice. The program focuses on building and improving LPN/LVN-to-RN bridge programs and ensuring there is enough clinical teaching capacity by supporting the employment and development of clinical nurse faculty and preceptors. In practical terms, the grant is designed to remove common bottlenecks that slow down or prevent LPNs/LVNs from advancing to RN roles, while also addressing the faculty and clinical training constraints that limit how many students programs can accept.

The funding can be used in four main ways. First, it supports program development, meaning schools can create a new accredited LPN/LVN-to-RN bridge program or strengthen an existing one so it better meets the needs of working LPNs/LVNs. This can include designing program structures that accommodate adult learners and working professionals, refining admissions and progression policies, and ensuring the bridge program aligns with accreditation and licensure expectations. Second, it allows direct support for students, recognizing that LPNs/LVNs often face financial and logistical barriers when returning to school. Allowable uses include tuition assistance, stipends, and practical supports that keep students enrolled and progressing, such as transportation help and childcare assistance. The intent is to reduce avoidable dropout risk and improve completion by addressing real-life constraints that can derail otherwise qualified nursing professionals.

Third, the opportunity emphasizes curriculum and partnership development to smooth transitions between institutions and training environments. A major challenge for many nursing students is the loss of time and money when academic credits do not transfer cleanly from one school type to another, such as moving from a 2-year pathway into a 4-year institution. Another recurring issue is that prior work experience is not consistently recognized as credit or advanced standing, even when the experience is directly relevant. This grant encourages applicants to build or strengthen partnerships among clinical training sites and educational institutions, including technical and vocational schools and community colleges, so that coursework, competencies, clinical placements, and credit articulation are better aligned. The underlying goal is to make the bridge pathway more efficient and less fragmented, so students are not forced to repeat learning they have effectively already demonstrated.

Fourth, PRNP funds can be used to recruit, retain, and develop the people who make clinical education possible: clinical and classroom faculty as well as clinical preceptors. Because nursing programs frequently cite faculty shortages and limited clinical placement capacity as constraints on enrollment, this component is central to expanding training throughput. Support under this category may include strategies to attract qualified instructors, build teaching skills, and maintain a stable group of preceptors who can supervise and evaluate students in real clinical settings. By strengthening the faculty and preceptor pipeline, the program aims to expand the number of students who can be trained effectively without compromising educational quality.

Administratively, this is a discretionary HRSA opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the federal agency typically has a more involved partnership role than with a standard grant. The opportunity number is HRSA-23-016, listed under CFDA 93.359, and falls under the health funding activity category. Eligible applicants include state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain Native American tribal governments and organizations, along with other entities as specified in HRSA eligibility clarifications. The award ceiling is $1,000,000, and HRSA anticipated making about 8 awards under this competition. The original posting date was February 27, 2023, with an original closing date of April 27, 2023.

Overall, PRNP is best understood as a workforce pathway investment: it backs the design and delivery of LPN/LVN-to-RN bridge education, directly supports students so they can persist to completion, improves cross-institution curriculum alignment and clinical-academic partnerships, and expands the faculty and preceptor capacity needed to train more nurses. The combined effect is intended to speed the transition of experienced practical nurses into RN roles while preserving educational quality and improving retention and success along the way.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR)-Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (PRNP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.359.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 27, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 27, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HRSA 23 016

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