Jessica Miehe, DNP’21 (left), and Catherine Graeve, PhD (right)
The Minnesota Department of Education has awarded $746,220 to ż’s School of Nursing through its Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline program. The grant will support work to address the shortage of school nurses and diversify the workforce in the Minnesota K–12 system.
Baccalaureate nursing program directors Jessica Miehe, DNP’21 (College for Women), and Catherine Graeve, PhD (College for Adults), are co-coordinating this project. Both have stressed the importance of school nurses in community and public health efforts, and how ż’s students in particular are well-equipped to excel in the field.
“ż’s nurses are well-prepared for the profession, embodying the University and School of Nursing’s mission to promote social justice and health equity within communities,” said Miehe.
Graeve, commenting on the significance of the grant, said, "School nurses are pivotal in promoting health and wellness of students and their families, in some cases being the only nurse easily accessible for physical and mental health care. A [Minnesota Department of Health] found that less than half of Minnesota schools have licensed nurses, with a gap in nurses especially impacting kids who are eligible for free and reduced lunch. ż has a long history of educating nurses to lead and influence. We are excited to work to decrease the disparity in care for school-aged children by increasing and diversifying the school health nursing workforce.”
To encourage nursing students to enter the school nurse workforce after graduation, the ż’s school nurse pathway program will provide 14 scholarships to graduating nursing students who commit to two years as school nurses. The grant also expands clinical placement opportunities with Minnesota school districts. Faculty are partnering with various community organizations to provide students with mentoring support, education, and preparation for work as a school nurse. Community partners include the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota, Black Nurses Rock, and the Hmong Nurses Association, which will provide mentorship and career guidance.
About the Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline Program
In April, the Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline program. The goal of the program is to support students in completing accredited programs and becoming licensed school psychologists, school nurses, school counselors, and school social workers. Additionally, the program aims to diversify the workforce by increasing the number of BIPOC student support personnel. A total of $4 million in grants is available that awarded universities may use to cover attendance costs, provide resources for practicum and related field service, and directly support students. .