Nurse Education, Practice Quality and Retention Grants

NEPQR Simulation Education Training (SET), NEPQR Mobile Health Training, NEPQR (CFPA), NEPQR (RNTP), NEPQR (PRNP), NEPQR (WEP)
CFDA 93.359 Active Grant Cooperative Agreement

Open Opportunities (1)

Live Grants.gov opportunities funded under this program — you can apply now.

Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding
$81.9M FY2025
$55.6M
FY24
$81.9M
FY25

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 93.359 (USAspending.gov).

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 In Academic Year (AY) 2023-2024, four of the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention programs trained 22,095 nurses and nursing students. A total of 7,121 nurses and nursing students completed a training program supported by the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention program during the academic year. Select Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention program outcomes include: 5,483 participants completed clinical training experiences in a wide variety of high-need and community-based settings. The 640 clinical training sites included community-based organizations, Federally Qualified Health Centers or Look-alikes, Rural Health Clinics or Critical Access Hospitals, mobile health clinics, and local health departments; and 450 courses, workshops, simulations, clinical rotations, and practicums, and faculty development activities were developed on topics such as primary care nursing, evidence-based practice, and interprofessional care.

Program Objective

Mobile Health Training Program (NEPQR-MHTP): The purpose of this program is to improve and strengthen health in the nursing workforce with education and training to provide quality care in rural and underserved areas. The program will encourage recruitment and training of nursing students improve the health of vulnerable populations in rural and underserved areas through nurse-led mobile health training sites. The NEPQR-MHTP will create and expand experiential learning opportunities for nursing students, including the provision of high-quality care, identification of health issues in local communities, engagement in critical thinking, and clinical practice highlighting a collaborative team approach to care.

Nursing Faculty and Preceptor Academies (NEPQR-CFPA) Program: The purpose of this program is to increase the nursing workforce by recruiting, training and producing skilled qualified clinical nursing faculty and nursing preceptors. The program will prepare nurses to serve as nursing clinical faculty and preceptors to newly hired or transitioning licensed nurses in a variety of care settings. The NPA program aims to create academies consisting of academic-clinical partnerships to develop and implement a formal curriculum to train clinical nursing preceptors. 

Registered Nurse Training Program (NEPQR-RNTP): The purpose of this program is to enhance nursing education and practice to advance the health of patients, families, and communities and improve health outcomes through innovative interprofessional training programs in acute care settings aimed to improve the health and health literacy of vulnerable populations.

Simulation Education Training (NEPQR-SET): The purpose of the NEPQR-SET program is to enhance nurse education and strengthen the nursing workforce by increasing training opportunities for nursing students through the use of simulation-based technology, including equipment, to increase their readiness to practice upon graduation. This training expands the capacity of nurses to advance the health of patients, families, and communities in rural or medically underserved areas experiencing diseases and conditions such as stroke, heart disease, behavioral health, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, and obesity.

Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (NEPQR-PRNP): The purpose of this program is to create a pathway from academic training to clinical practice through the creation and implementation of Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) to Registered Nurse (RN) Bridge Programs and employment of Clinical Nurse Faculty.

Workforce Expansion Program (NEPQR-WEP): The purpose of the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR) - Workforce Expansion Program (WEP) is to increase the nursing workforce in rural (non-metro) and underserved areas to address the critical shortage of nurses, specifically in acute and long-term care settings.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • U.S. State Government
  • Local
  • Nonprofit Organization
  • U.S. Territory Government
  • Federally Recognized Tribal Government
  • Tribal Government (other)
  • Other

Schools of nursing affiliated with the proposed project must be an accredited public or private school. Applicants must provide documentation of current accreditation by a national nurse education accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the purposes of nursing education. Eligible applicants are accredited schools of nursing, health care facilities, or a partnership of such a school and facilities. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Beneficiaries

  • Health Professional
  • Specific Restrictions (Determined at NOFO Level)

Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans), Private nonprofit institution/organization, Native American Organizations, Health Professional, State, Local, Public nonprofit institution/organization, Other public institution/organization

Specialized group (e.g., health professionals, students, veterans), Private nonprofit institution/organization, Native American Organizations, Health Professional, State, Local, Public nonprofit institution/organization, Other public institution/organization

NEPQR Project participants (NEPQR-IPCP BHI, NEPQR-SET, NEPQR-CFPA, NEPQR-RNTP, NEPQR-PRNP, NEPQR MHTP, NEPQR-WEP), or students in the eligible accredited nursing program, must be U.S. Citizens, non-citizen nationals, or foreign nationals who possess visas permitting permanent residence in the United States. Individuals on temporary student visas are not eligible. The program requires RNs and APRNs to hold a valid license and be an employee of the accredited school of nursing as defined by section 801(2), health care facility, or partner of such a school and/or facility.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Notification of award is made in writing (electronic) by a Notice of Award.

Decision Timeline

  • Approval: From 120 to 180 days

Approximately 120 - 180 days after receipt of applications.

Program details & compliance

Description

Mobile Health Training Program (NEPQR-MHTP): The purpose of this program is to improve and strengthen health in the nursing workforce with education and training to provide quality care in rural and underserved areas. The program will encourage recruitment and training of nursing students improve the health of vulnerable populations in rural and underserved areas through nurse-led mobile health training sites. The NEPQR-MHTP will create and expand experiential learning opportunities for nursing students, including the provision of high-quality care, identification of health issues in local communities, engagement in critical thinking, and clinical practice highlighting a collaborative team approach to care.

Nursing Faculty and Preceptor Academies (NEPQR-CFPA) Program: The purpose of this program is to increase the nursing workforce by recruiting, training and producing skilled qualified clinical nursing faculty and nursing preceptors. The program will prepare nurses to serve as nursing clinical faculty and preceptors to newly hired or transitioning licensed nurses in a variety of care settings. The NPA program aims to create academies consisting of academic-clinical partnerships to develop and implement a formal curriculum to train clinical nursing preceptors. 

Registered Nurse Training Program (NEPQR-RNTP): The purpose of this program is to enhance nursing education and practice to advance the health of patients, families, and communities and improve health outcomes through innovative interprofessional training programs in acute care settings aimed to improve the health and health literacy of vulnerable populations.

Simulation Education Training (NEPQR-SET): The purpose of the NEPQR-SET program is to enhance nurse education and strengthen the nursing workforce by increasing training opportunities for nursing students through the use of simulation-based technology, including equipment, to increase their readiness to practice upon graduation. This training expands the capacity of nurses to advance the health of patients, families, and communities in rural or medically underserved areas experiencing diseases and conditions such as stroke, heart disease, behavioral health, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, and obesity.

Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (NEPQR-PRNP): The purpose of this program is to create a pathway from academic training to clinical practice through the creation and implementation of Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) to Registered Nurse (RN) Bridge Programs and employment of Clinical Nurse Faculty.

Workforce Expansion Program (NEPQR-WEP): The purpose of the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR) – Workforce Expansion Program (WEP) is to increase the nursing workforce in rural (non-metro) and underserved areas to address the critical shortage of nurses, specifically in acute and long-term care settings.

Mission Categories

Primary: Nursing Education

Other categories:
Health Education

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Funds may be used for salaries of personnel specifically employed for the project; consultant fees; supplies and equipment necessary to conduct the project; essential travel expenses and other expenses related to the project. Financial support for student participants is permissible under the PRNP, SET, RNTP, WEP, and MHTP grant programs.

Restrictions

Indirect costs under training awards will be budgeted and reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement and are not subject to upward or downward adjustment.

Required Documentation

Applicants should review the individual HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity issued under this assistance listing for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted with an application package. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Reporting & Compliance

Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Kirk Koyama Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW)
301-443-4926
Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-89, Rockville, MD 20857
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-01-08. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-30 02:32:59.