U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $286,263 in federal funding to expand nursing opportunities and combat workforce shortages in the Southern Tier. Specifically, this funding will be used to establish clinical education and training programs in the region.
“The COVID-19 crisis has proven to us the importance of nurses in keeping the Southern Tier healthy,” said Senator Schumer. “While we have tremendous nurses providing world-class care here in the state, the pandemic has made it especially apparent that we have a shortage of nurses. We must do more to invest in programs that encourage more people to join the profession, and I am proud to deliver this funding that will boost New York’s nursing numbers and ensure healthy communities for years to come.”
“These much-needed funds are a critical investment to bolster the nursing workforce in the Southern Tier,” said Senator Gillibrand. “In the face of a nursing shortage it is vital that our hospitals and communities have the resources needed to attract and train the next generation of nurses. This critical funding will establish important clinical education programs to train the professionals to combat the growing health care challenges of this pandemic and beyond.”
These federal grants will help UHS, SUNY and Broome County hospitals establish cutting edge clinical education programs aimed at training and retaining nurses in their communities. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will provide $110,111 of the total $286,263 project fund.