AACN and NurseThink Launch New Scholarship Program To Help Address the Nurse Faculty Shortage

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 15, 2022 – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and NurseThink® are pleased to announce the launch of a new scholarship program focused on preparing future nurse faculty. Open to students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs at AACN member institutions, this program will provide $5,000 scholarship awards to students twice a year through 2026. NurseThink® has committed $50,000 to support this program, which will be administered by AACN’s Foundation for Academic Nursing.

“Though nursing schools have been intentional about expanding enrollment to meet workforce needs, the primary barrier to continued growth is the shortage of nurse faculty,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer. “AACN applauds NurseThink® for taking decisive action to address the faculty shortage and provide the support needed to prepare future nurse educators.”

NurseThink®, a leading provider of student and faculty development tools, approached the Foundation for Academic Nursing about providing support for graduate students with a desire to teach. The NurseThink®-AACN Scholarship was created and is open to all students who are members of the Graduate Nursing Student Academy. To apply, students must complete an online application, provide demographic information and details on their academic achievement, and submit a short essay outlining their plans to teach after graduation. Applications are now being accepted for the first award, which will be presented in May 2022. Click here to apply. The application deadline is April 25, 2022.

“NurseThink® knows that healthcare is at a critical juncture around the world. We are committed to ensuring that the next generation of nurses is prepared for a new environment unlike anything seen before. The key to the success of these future nurses is the nurse educator. Empowering educators to grow in this environment is the goal of the NurseThink®-AACN Scholarship,” said Tim J. Bristol, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN, owner of NurseTim® and NurseThink®.

Partnering to Support Nursing Students

AACN actively seeks opportunities to partner with corporate sponsors and other stakeholders to offer scholarship programs for nursing students in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs. The association currently administers scholarship programs in conjunction with CastleBranch, Liaison International, AfterCollege, Hurst Review Services, and Uniform Advantage. Those interested in establishing a scholarship program and/or partnering with AACN are encouraged to contact Foundation Director, Dr. Katie Fioravanti, at kfioravanti@aacnnursing.org.

For more details on programs available through the Foundation for Academic Nursing, visit the Foundation’s home on the web.