Rush selected to participate in multimillion dollar nurse-training program

Monday October 8, 2012

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services named Rush University Medical Center in Chicago as one of five hospitals nationwide to take part in an initiative designed to train more nurses at a higher level, according to a news release. Under the Graduate Nurse Education demonstration, Rush will receive about $12.9 million during four years to increase training opportunities for advanced practice registered nurses.

The GNE demonstration, which is funded through the Affordable Care Act, promotes a partnership among Rush’s College of Nursing, several hospitals (including the Rush System for Health hospitals) and select community service sites throughout Illinois. The GNE demonstration will support increased enrollment of APRNs, some of whom are turned away because of capacity limitations at training sites, according to the release.

"This program puts Rush in a leadership role in the nation’s efforts to train nurses to meet the increased demand for primary and preventive care," Kathleen Delaney, RN, PMHNP, PhD, FAAN, professor at Rush University College of Nursing, said in the release.

The initiative’s funding will allow Rush to set up additional training sites for students and to increase capacity at existing sites. The APRNs will receive advanced training in primary care, preventive care, transitional care and chronic care management.