School of Nursing and Health Professions receives $1.5 million grant

MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State University’s School of Nursing and Health Professions has received a significant grant for the development of a Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Simulation Education Training Program in partnership with Baptist Health Paducah.

The grant request was written and submitted by Drs. Dina Byers, Tonia Mailow, Jenny Rogers and Dana Todd in Murray State’s School of Nursing and Health Professions to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services.

The grant includes approximately $500,000 in funding for 2023-24, with recommendations by the HRSA for future support with similar funding in 2024-25 and 2025-26, potentially totaling nearly $1.5 million. 

Funding from the grant will be used to purchase simulation equipment for a dedicated collaborative educational unit in conjunction with Baptist Health Paducah and provide clinical practice opportunities for Murray State nursing students.  

The project has four objectives: 

• • Expand simulation technology in nursing education to address critical skill gaps to improve patient outcomes

  • Recruit and retain nursing students from rural and underserved populations

  • Create experiential learning opportunities through an academic clinical partnership with Baptist Health Paducah 

  • Develop and implement a sustainability plan for ongoing clinical experiences for student nurses from Murray State

"The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program relies heavily on our clinical partners to provide nursing education to our students,” said Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions Dr. Dina Byers. “This grant opportunity will allow us to prepare BSN students for the workforce. We are excited about this project and look forward to working closely with Baptist Health Paducah through this partnership.

“Expanding our existing community-care setting simulation center partnerships by adding additional equipment and supplies will allow Murray State to grow admissions to our nursing programs and address the regional need for more nurses, as well as support the ongoing development of existing nurses in the workforce."

“Baptist Health Paducah is delighted to partner with Murray State through this grant to expand our clinical opportunities for nursing students,” said Baptist Health Paducah Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer Marilyn Riley. “This grant will allow Baptist Health Paducah nurses to gain experience in precepting nursing students on a dedicated education unit and expand simulation in the practice setting.”

“I am grateful to the School of Nursing and Health Professions led by Dean Dr. Dina Byers, as this grant will provide tremendous opportunities for our students and by extension, those they will serve throughout their careers,” Murray State President Dr. Bob Jackson said. “We greatly appreciate Baptist Health Paducah for their partnership, Congressman James Comer for writing a letter of support, as well as all others who were instrumental in securing this significant grant funding.” 

Murray State is expected to break ground soon on the construction of a new School of Nursing and Health Professions building on the Murray campus. The new facility will include expansive spaces for clinical learning, classrooms and offices, and will assist with addressing a projected shortage in nurses and other health profession needs in Kentucky.