SUNY expands nursing programs

With the shortage of nurses expected to increase steadily in coming years, the State University of New York has launched a fund to expand its nursing programs.

All SUNY campuses with nursing curricula will be eligible for up to $250,000 in grants from a $3 million Nursing Emergency Training Fund, Chancellor Jim Malatras announced yesterday.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that 11 million more nurses are needed to meet the current shortage, and employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow at a rate of 15 percent through 2026.

“We must do everything we can to get more people trained as nurses in order to stem the tide to make sure we have access to quality healthcare when we need it—because nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare,” Malatras said.

SUNY is expected to begin accepting grant applications later this month.