UNC Systems awards $29M grant to expand nursing education and address nursing workforce shortage

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The University of North Carolina System is awarding nearly $29 million to 12 public universities and North Carolina’s Area Health Education Centers.

The news comes when the state is facing a major challenge, with an estimated shortage of nearly 12,500 registered nurses and slightly more than 5,000 LPNs by 2033, according to a recent study .

The grants come from the North Carolina General Assembly as part of last year’s state budget and look to fund everything from new faculty positions to state-of-the-art equipment, so class sizes can increase and programs can graduate more nursing students.

“Dedicated nurses are the backbone of a strong health care system, and we see huge demand for nursing talent across North Carolina,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “Our public universities not only train the next generation of nurses but also provide excellent professional development and life-saving research for health care providers. I’m grateful to our lawmakers for helping us meet those needs more effectively.”

The goal for UNC System is to increase the number of nursing degree-receiving students by 50% over the next 10 years.

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