42 U.S.C. § 296j — Advanced education nursing grants

(a) In general. The Secretary may award grants and enter into contracts with eligible entities to cover the costs of (1) projects that support the enhancement of advanced nursing education and practice, and (2) traineeships for people in advanced nursing education programs. (b) Definition of advanced education nurses. "Advanced education nurses" means people trained in advanced degree programs — including combined R.N./graduate degree programs, post-nursing master's certificate programs, or, for nurse midwives, certificate programs that existed as of November 12, 1998 — to serve as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse educators, nurse administrators, clinical nurse leaders, or public health nurses, or in other nurse specialties the Secretary decides require advanced education. (c) Authorized nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioner programs qualify for support under this section if they (1) meet guidelines the Secretary prescribes, and (2) aim to educate nurses who, once they finish, will be qualified to effectively provide primary health care — including in homes, ambulatory care facilities, long-term care facilities, and acute care and other settings. This applies no matter what type of nursing school trained the nurses. (d) Authorized nurse-midwifery programs. Midwifery programs qualify for support if they (1) aim to educate midwives, and (2) are accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. (e) Authorized nurse anesthesia programs. Nurse anesthesia programs qualify for support if they (1) give registered nurses full-time anesthetist education, and (2) are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. (f) Authorized clinical nurse specialist programs. Clinical nurse specialist programs qualify for support if they (1) give registered nurses full-time clinical nurse specialist education, and (2) aim to educate specialists who, once they finish, will be qualified to effectively care for inpatients and outpatients through both wellness and acute or chronic illness. (g) Other authorized educational programs. The Secretary must prescribe guidelines, as appropriate, for other advanced nurse education programs eligible for support under this section. (h) Traineeships. (1) In general. The Secretary may not award a grant under (a) unless the applicant agrees that traineeships paid for with the grant will only cover all or part of (A) the tuition, books, and fees of the advanced nurse education program, and (B) the trainee's reasonable living expenses during the traineeship. (2) Special consideration. In awarding grants and contracts under (a)(2), the Secretary must give special consideration to an eligible entity that agrees to spend the award training advanced education nurses who will practice in health professional shortage areas designated under a named section.