Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 23 129
The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) Simulation Education Training (SET) Program is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It is designed to strengthen nurse education and, in turn, the nursing workforce by expanding hands-on training opportunities for nursing students through simulation-based education. The core idea is that well-designed simulation experiences, supported by modern simulation technology and equipment, can help students build clinical judgment, technical skills, teamwork, and confidence before they enter real-world practice. By improving readiness at graduation, the program aims to support a smoother transition into the workforce and better patient care outcomes.
A major focus of the program is improving care in rural and medically underserved areas. HRSA ties the simulation training investments to real, high-burden health challenges that disproportionately affect these communities, including stroke, heart disease, behavioral health conditions, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, and obesity. The program frames simulation not as an add-on, but as a way to expand the capacity of nursing education programs to prepare students for the specific clinical realities they are likely to encounter in underserved settings. In practical terms, this can include simulation scenarios and training pathways that emphasize care coordination, emergency response, chronic disease management, maternal and perinatal care, behavioral health crisis response, and culturally responsive care that advances health equity.
The stated goal of NEPQR-SET is to increase both the number of nursing students trained and the overall capacity of nursing programs to meet the health care needs of rural and underserved populations, ultimately improving patient outcomes. In other words, the program is not only about purchasing simulation tools; it is about using simulation to expand training throughput and quality in ways that directly align with workforce and community health needs. Projects are expected to strengthen educational pipelines so that more students can gain high-quality clinical preparation, even when traditional clinical placement opportunities are limited.
Two key objectives drive how applicants are expected to structure their projects. First, the program emphasizes implementing or expanding academic-clinical partnerships that create strong experiential learning opportunities. These partnerships are meant to connect nursing schools with clinical training sites and community-based providers so that simulation experiences are integrated with real clinical expectations and local population needs. The objective explicitly highlights preparing students to address health equity efficiently and effectively, meaning applicants should be thinking about how simulation and clinical collaboration can train students to recognize disparities, reduce barriers to care, and deliver patient-centered care in resource-limited environments.
Second, NEPQR-SET prioritizes increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce. The program calls for recruitment and support strategies for students and faculty, including individuals from diverse backgrounds, with the intent of building a workforce that more closely reflects the communities being served. This objective suggests that competitive projects will likely include concrete approaches to outreach, retention, academic support, mentorship, and professional development. The diversity emphasis is not presented as a general aspiration; it is a program objective tied to better responsiveness to patient and community needs.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HRSA 23 129) listed under CFDA 93.359. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. HRSA anticipated making about 22 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $500,000 per award. The original posting date was May 22, 2023, with an original application closing date of July 3, 2023.
Overall, NEPQR-SET is a workforce development and education modernization initiative that uses simulation-based training as a practical lever to expand and improve nursing education, strengthen academic-clinical collaboration, and better prepare a diverse pipeline of nursing graduates to deliver effective care in rural and medically underserved communities facing significant health burdens.Apply for HRSA 23 129
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) Simulation Education Training (SET) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.359.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 22, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 03, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 22 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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NEPQR Simulation Education Training (SET) Program - FAQs
What is the NEPQR Simulation Education Training (SET) Program?
The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) Simulation Education Training (SET) Program is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It supports nursing education programs that use simulation-based training to expand hands-on learning and strengthen the nursing workforce.
What is the main purpose of the NEPQR-SET grant?
The program is designed to strengthen nurse education and improve workforce readiness by expanding high-quality simulation experiences for nursing students. The idea is that well-designed simulation helps students build clinical judgment, technical skills, teamwork, and confidence prior to real-world practice, supporting better transitions into the workforce and improved patient care outcomes.
How does simulation-based education fit into this program?
Simulation is positioned as a way to expand training capacity and quality, not simply as an add-on. The program emphasizes using modern simulation technology and equipment to create hands-on experiences that prepare students for real clinical environments, particularly where clinical placement options may be limited.
Is the grant mainly for buying simulation equipment?
No. While simulation technology and equipment are part of the concept, the opportunity emphasizes using simulation strategically to expand the number of students trained and increase the overall capacity of nursing programs. Projects are expected to connect simulation training to workforce needs and community health needs, especially in rural and medically underserved areas.
What communities does the NEPQR-SET program prioritize?
A major focus is improving care in rural and medically underserved areas. The program links simulation investments to the realities of delivering care in communities facing higher burdens of specific health challenges.
What health challenges are highlighted as priorities for rural and underserved areas?
The opportunity specifically notes high-burden challenges that disproportionately affect rural and underserved communities, including stroke, heart disease, behavioral health conditions, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, and obesity.
What types of training topics or clinical situations might simulation cover under this program?
Based on the description, simulation-supported training may emphasize areas such as care coordination, emergency response, chronic disease management, maternal and perinatal care, behavioral health crisis response, and culturally responsive care that advances health equity.
What is the stated goal of NEPQR-SET?
The stated goal is to increase both (1) the number of nursing students trained and (2) the overall capacity of nursing programs to meet health care needs in rural and underserved populations, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
How is the program expected to affect nursing education capacity?
Projects are expected to strengthen educational pipelines so more students can receive strong clinical preparation. This is particularly relevant when traditional clinical placement opportunities are limited, since simulation can help expand training throughput while maintaining quality.
What are the two key project objectives mentioned for applicants?
The opportunity describes two key objectives: (1) implementing or expanding academic-clinical partnerships to create strong experiential learning opportunities, and (2) increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce through recruitment and support strategies for students and faculty.
What does the program mean by academic-clinical partnerships?
Academic-clinical partnerships are collaborations that connect nursing schools with clinical training sites and community-based providers. The intent is to align simulation experiences with real clinical expectations and local population needs, and to strengthen experiential learning opportunities.
How does the grant address health equity?
The opportunity emphasizes preparing students to address health equity efficiently and effectively. In practical terms, this implies training students to recognize disparities, reduce barriers to care, and deliver patient-centered care in resource-limited environments, with simulation and clinical collaboration supporting those competencies.
How does the NEPQR-SET program prioritize workforce diversity?
Increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce is presented as a program priority and objective. The program calls for recruitment and support strategies for students and faculty, including individuals from diverse backgrounds, with the intent of building a workforce that more closely reflects the communities being served.
What kinds of diversity-related strategies does the program suggest?
The description indicates that projects may include concrete approaches such as outreach, retention efforts, academic support, mentorship, and professional development for students and faculty from diverse backgrounds.
Who is the federal agency offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
What type of grant is this?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for NEPQR-SET?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is HRSA 23 129.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.359.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments). The description notes that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement.
How many awards did HRSA anticipate making?
HRSA anticipated making about 22 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $500,000 per award.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date was May 22, 2023.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application closing date was July 3, 2023.
What outcomes does the program ultimately aim to improve?
By improving readiness at graduation and aligning training with community needs, the program aims to support smoother transitions into the nursing workforce and improve patient care outcomes, particularly in rural and medically underserved communities.
Why does the program emphasize simulation in underserved settings?
The opportunity frames simulation as a practical way to prepare students for the specific clinical realities common in underserved settings and to expand training opportunities when traditional placements are constrained. It ties simulation training investments to high-burden conditions and the need for workforce readiness in those communities.
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| Enhancing the LOINC® Standard to support U.S. Interoperability Apply for NAP AX 23 001 Funding Number: NAP AX 23 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| National Organizations of State and Local Officials: State Governance Apply for HRSA 23 088 Funding Number: HRSA 23 088 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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| National Organizations of State and Local Officials: State Health Legislative Education Apply for HRSA 23 058 Funding Number: HRSA 23 058 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Organizations of State and Local Officials: Health Policy Innovation Apply for HRSA 23 057 Funding Number: HRSA 23 057 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| PEPFAR Uganda Community Grants to Combat HIV/AIDS Apply for DOS UGA SMGCG FY24 Funding Number: DOS UGA SMGCG FY24 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Uganda Category: Health Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| USAID Madagascar Rural WASH Apply for 72068723RFA00004 Funding Number: 72068723RFA00004 Agency: Agency for International Development, Madagascar USAID-Antananarivo Category: Health Funding Amount: $35,000,000 |
| Medical Student Education Program Apply for HRSA 23 124 Funding Number: HRSA 23 124 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training- Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults (BHWET-CAY) Program for Professionals Apply for HRSA 23 131 Funding Number: HRSA 23 131 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $530,000 |
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