Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 18 012

The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) - Registered Nurses in Primary Care (RNPC) Training Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It was announced on November 9, 2017 under Funding Opportunity Number HRSA-18-012 (CFDA 93.359), with an application closing date of January 29, 2018. HRSA anticipated making about 43 awards through this notice. The funding instrument is a grant, and the published award ceiling in the source data is listed as 0, which typically means applicants needed to rely on the full announcement for specific budget limits or that ceilings varied by applicant type, project design, or available appropriations.

The core purpose of this program is to build and strengthen a primary care nursing workforce by recruiting and training both nursing students and currently licensed registered nurses to practice to the full scope of their RN license within community-based primary care teams. The emphasis is on improving access to primary care services, particularly in settings where access is limited, and doing so in a way that supports team-based care and maximizes what RNs are trained and legally permitted to do. A major focus is chronic disease prevention and chronic disease management, with explicit inclusion of mental health and substance use conditions as part of the chronic-care and population health landscape that primary care teams must be prepared to address.

The training program is designed as a four-year effort, reflecting a longer-term workforce strategy rather than a short, one-time training intervention. The intent is not only to produce newly trained clinicians, but to move toward a sustainable pipeline of RNs prepared for primary care roles. Sustainability here includes having the right mix of competencies, a workforce that can be retained in primary care settings, and improved distribution of nurses so that communities with high need are not consistently underserved. In practical terms, that means preparing RNs for real-world primary care environments where they may be involved in care coordination, patient education, screening and prevention activities, chronic condition monitoring, behavioral health integration, and working closely with other professionals in interdisciplinary teams.

HRSA frames the program around three priority areas: education, practice, and retention. The education component centers on strengthening the capacity for basic nurse education and ensuring that nursing students and practicing RNs gain competencies aligned with modern primary care needs, including prevention, population health, and management of complex chronic conditions. The practice component focuses on preparing RNs to function effectively on community-based primary care teams and to deliver services consistent with full scope-of-practice expectations. The retention component highlights that training alone is not enough; the workforce also needs support structures and pathways that keep RNs in primary care roles over time, helping maintain stability in clinics and community settings and reducing turnover that disrupts access and continuity of care.

The opportunity also ties its goals to broader national public health needs and outcomes. By expanding the number of RNs prepared for primary care team roles and by promoting more even distribution of the nursing workforce, the program aims to increase access to care, improve population health outcomes, and better position the health system to respond to pressing public health issues. The authorizing statutes cited are sections 831(a)-(c) and 831A(a)-(c) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, which underpin HRSA's authority to invest in nursing education and workforce development initiatives that address documented national nursing needs.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement, signaling that the detailed eligibility rules (such as which schools, academic programs, clinical partners, health systems, or community organizations could apply and under what conditions) were provided in the complete funding notice rather than in the short synopsis. In general terms, the opportunity is clearly aimed at organizations capable of running structured training programs connected to community-based primary care practice environments and able to recruit, train, and support nursing students and/or currently licensed RNs over a multi-year project period.

  • 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) – Registered Nurses in Primary Care (RNPC) Training Program" 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 Nov 09, 2017.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 29, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 43 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for HRSA 18 012

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NEPQR - Registered Nurses in Primary Care (RNPC) Training Program?

The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) - Registered Nurses in Primary Care (RNPC) Training Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program supports efforts to recruit and train nursing students and currently licensed registered nurses (RNs) for roles on community-based primary care teams.

Which federal agency is offering this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by HRSA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HRSA-18-012.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.359.

When was this opportunity announced?

The opportunity was announced on November 9, 2017.

What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was January 29, 2018.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a grant.

How many awards did HRSA anticipate making?

HRSA anticipated making about 43 awards under this notice.

What is the main purpose of the RNPC Training Program?

The core purpose is to build and strengthen a primary care nursing workforce by recruiting and training nursing students and currently licensed RNs to practice to the full scope of their RN license within community-based primary care teams. The program emphasizes improving access to primary care services, especially in settings where access is limited.

Who is the program intended to train?

The program is intended to recruit and train both (1) nursing students and (2) currently licensed registered nurses, with the goal of preparing them for practice on community-based primary care teams.

What does "practice to the full scope of their RN license" mean in the context of this program?

Based on the description provided, it means preparing RNs to deliver services consistent with what they are trained and legally permitted to do as RNs within primary care teams, and to function effectively in team-based care environments.

What care areas are emphasized in the training focus?

A major focus is chronic disease prevention and chronic disease management. The description explicitly includes mental health and substance use conditions as part of the chronic-care and population health needs that primary care teams should be prepared to address.

Is behavioral health included in the program's chronic-care focus?

Yes. The program description explicitly includes mental health and substance use conditions within the chronic disease and population health landscape addressed by primary care teams.

How long is the project/training effort designed to last?

The training program is described as a four-year effort, reflecting a longer-term workforce strategy rather than a short, one-time training intervention.

What does the program mean by creating a "sustainable pipeline" of primary care RNs?

It refers to building ongoing capacity to prepare RNs for primary care roles over time (not just producing a one-time cohort). Sustainability is described in terms of developing the right mix of competencies, supporting retention in primary care settings, and improving distribution so high-need communities are not persistently underserved.

What kinds of real-world primary care activities may trainees be prepared for?

The opportunity describes preparing RNs for community-based primary care environments where they may be involved in care coordination, patient education, screening and prevention activities, chronic condition monitoring, behavioral health integration, and working closely with other professionals in interdisciplinary teams.

What are the three HRSA priority areas referenced for this program?

HRSA frames the program around three priority areas: education, practice, and retention.

What does the "education" priority area focus on?

The education component centers on strengthening capacity for basic nurse education and ensuring nursing students and practicing RNs gain competencies aligned with modern primary care needs, including prevention, population health, and management of complex chronic conditions.

What does the "practice" priority area focus on?

The practice component focuses on preparing RNs to function effectively on community-based primary care teams and to deliver services consistent with full scope-of-practice expectations.

What does the "retention" priority area focus on?

The retention component emphasizes that training alone is not sufficient; the workforce also needs support structures and pathways that help keep RNs in primary care roles over time, supporting stability and reducing turnover that can disrupt access and continuity of care.

How does the program connect to access to care and population health outcomes?

By expanding the number of RNs prepared for primary care team roles and promoting a more even distribution of the nursing workforce, the program aims to increase access to care, improve population health outcomes, and strengthen the health system's ability to respond to major public health issues.

Which laws/statutes authorize this program?

The authorizing statutes cited are sections 831(a)-(c) and 831A(a)-(c) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.

Who is eligible to apply based on the synopsis provided?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement. The synopsis indicates that detailed eligibility rules (such as which schools, academic programs, clinical partners, health systems, or community organizations could apply and under what conditions) were provided in the complete funding notice rather than in the short summary.

What types of organizations does this opportunity appear to be aimed at?

Based on the synopsis, it is aimed at organizations capable of running structured training programs connected to community-based primary care practice environments, and able to recruit, train, and support nursing students and/or currently licensed RNs over a multi-year period.

Does the synopsis list a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The published award ceiling in the source data is listed as 0. This typically indicates applicants needed to rely on the full announcement for specific budget limits or that ceilings varied by applicant type, project design, or available appropriations.

Does an award ceiling of "0" mean there is no funding available?

Not necessarily. In this synopsis, an award ceiling of 0 is described as typically meaning the detailed budget limits were in the full announcement or that ceilings could vary depending on factors such as applicant type, project design, or available appropriations.

Is the program focused on team-based care?

Yes. The program emphasizes preparing RNs to work within community-based primary care teams and supporting team-based care approaches that make full use of RN skills and legal scope of practice.

Is the program specifically focused on community-based primary care settings?

Yes. The synopsis repeatedly highlights community-based primary care teams and primary care environments as the central training and practice context.

Is improving nurse distribution across communities part of the program's intent?

Yes. The program aims to improve distribution of nurses so that communities with high need are not consistently underserved.

Is retention in primary care roles a required theme of the program?

The synopsis emphasizes retention as a core priority area, stating that training alone is not enough and highlighting the importance of support structures and pathways to keep RNs in primary care over time.

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