News Releases

University of Maryland School of Nursing Receives $250,000 Grant from Who Will Care?

June 17, 2013

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been awarded a three-year, $250,000 grant from the Who Will Care? Fund for Nurse Education. Through this award, UMSON will offer funding to newly-admitted, first-generation students enrolled in the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Who Will Care?, established by a group of stakeholders including the Maryland Hospital Association and health care and academic leaders, is an extensive fundraising campaign and grant program designed to end Maryland's nursing shortage. According to Who Will Care, by 2016, the state will be short more than 10,000 registered nurses, and in 10 years, 40 percent of Maryland’s nurses will be set to retire. However, as a proposed solution to the nursing shortage problem, the Who Will Care? program is expected to help double the number of registered nurse (RN) graduates across the state by awarding grants to associate, baccalaureate, and entry-level master’s nursing programs in Maryland that can achieve a measured increase in the number of first professional degree graduates.

UMSON not only seeks to help remedy the statewide nursing shortage, but also aims to assist first-generation college students in pursuing educational opportunities. The award is geared toward the successful retention and graduation rate of first-generation students and the development of PROMISE, a program intent on fulfilling the promise of a better life for first-generation students through education.

“As health care needs continue to escalate and current nurses inch closer to retirement, there is a great urgency to prepare tomorrow’s nurses,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “On behalf of all the residents of Maryland, I am truly grateful that Who Will Care? had the vision to develop a plan to address this serious issue and that our School was selected to receive funding to help educate nurses for the workforce of the future. It is especially gratifying to financially be in position to help students achieve a historical accomplishment within their families.”

# # #

The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largestnursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling nearly 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment