DHCON Receives $3 Million Grant to Address Nursing Shortage

Funding will cover tuition for some nursing students and expand clinical training across Connecticut

Key Highlights

• Sacred Heart University’s Davis & Henley College of Nursing received nearly $3 million in federal funding for SHU-INSPiRE, a four-year initiative to help address Connecticut’s nursing shortage
• The program expects to support about 26 students annually in SHU’s associate degree and second-degree accelerated bachelor’s nursing programs
• Eligible students can receive up to $15,000 for education-related costs, including tuition, books, transportation, and licensure exam preparation

The Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing (DHCON) at Sacred Heart University was awarded nearly $3 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration in support of the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention—Transition to Practice Program which will provide tuition support to students enrolled in two of SHU’s nursing programs.

Through the grant, the DHCON will launch SHU-INSPiRE (Innovative, Nursing, Success Program in Recruitment and Education), a four-year initiative aimed at strengthening pathways into registered nursing and easing Connecticut's ongoing nursing workforce shortage. The grant will provide up to $15,000 to students enrolled in SHU's Associate of Science in Nursing program and its Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. This will help offset costs related to tuition, fees, books, transportation, technology, and preparation for the NCLEX licensure exam.

“This is a really exciting time,” said Cynthia O’Sullivan, principal investigator for the SHU-INSPiRE project and associate dean of academic affairs & global nursing. “It feels really good to be able to support our undergraduates in this way. It’s a positive thing for students, faculty, and the college as a whole.”

O’Sullivan and her team had barely six weeks to plan, develop, and submit their grant proposal. They hit submit in July and found out in September they were awarded the funding.

The program expects to support approximately 26 students each year. Connecticut health care organizations continue to report persistent nursing vacancies and high turnover, while medically underserved communities face ongoing barriers to primary care, chronic disease management, and behavioral health services, O’Sullivan said.

SHU-INSPiRE is designed to address these challenges by preparing practice-ready nurses while directing them toward the communities that need care most.

The initiative centers on four goals: increasing the number of nurses by increasing enrollment and program completion in DHCON programs, strengthening and expanding its community partnerships, providing faculty with enhanced learning in simulation and other pedagogies, and expanding experiential learning opportunities. Each participating student will complete at least 100 additional experiential learning hours through internships, community-based learning, and simulation activities beyond current program requirements.

SHU-INSPiRE also will establish a Community-Based Simulation and Standardized Patient Program. This will give students a chance to practice patient care in realistic, supervised situations before they begin working. They’ll use tools such as lifelike patient simulators, virtual reality, and standardized patients—people trained to portray patients. Students can practice a range of advanced skills such as complex wound care, trauma emergencies, and behavioral health screening and intervention. The aim is to help students build their skills and confidence before entering the workforce.

“Simulation gives our students a safe space to make mistakes, build confidence, and refine their clinical judgment before they're standing at a patient's bedside,” O'Sullivan said. “Combined with real-world experience through our partner hospitals, it changes how prepared our graduates feel on their first day of work.”

The project is anchored by partnerships with Bridgeport Hospital/Yale New Haven Health, St. Vincent's Medical Center/Hartford HealthCare, Norwalk Hospital/Northwell Health, Community Health Centers, Inc., and Masonicare, which will provide clinical placements, mentoring, and employment pathways for graduates. SHU-INSPiRE will also work with Notre Dame Prep of Sacred Heart University, Bullard-Havens Technical High School, Bassick High School, and Hall Neighborhood House to build earlier awareness of nursing careers among local students.

“This grant gives us an opportunity to support nursing students in ways that extend well beyond the classroom,” said Karen Daley, dean of the DHCON. “By eliminating financial barriers and expanding hands-on learning with our community partners, we can help more students complete their education and enter the profession ready to serve. That matters for our graduates and for Connecticut communities that need greater access to care.”