Below are brief summaries of Grant Results Reports available on past grantmaking in this field of interest. In some cases, the grants were made before the team decided on its current strategic objective. Findings and lessons from the grants described have nonetheless informed RWJF’s grantmaking. Visit the Foundation’s Web site www.rwjf.org for more Grant Results Reports.

For Underserved Areas, Grow-Your-Own Professionals
RWJF’s national program, Partnerships for Training, was designed to bring more primary care to areas underserved by primary care physicians, by supporting regional education systems to train nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and physician assistants. From 1994 to 2004, Partnerships for Training developed eight regional university/community partnerships in 13 states that used distance education (e.g., Web- and interactive video-based courses) and satellite campuses for clinical and hands-on experience. The partnerships enrolled 1,140 nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife and physician assistant students from underserved areas and graduated 754 (as of fall 2002). An assessment found that 90 percent of program graduates were practicing in medically underserved areas and, if distance education were not available, 70 percent of the students would probably not have enrolled. RWJF supported this program through 30 grants totaling $18 million. See the National Program Report at www.rwjf.org/reports/npreports/partnerships.htm.

Collaboratives Tackle the National Shortage of Nurses
In 1995 RWJF launched a national initiative called Colleagues in Caring: Regional Collaboratives for Nursing Work Force Development to streamline nursing education and help the profession grow. The program supported 23 statewide and multicounty collaboratives that brought together practicing and executive nurses, nursing school deans, state nursing regulators, members of professional nurse associations and consumers to address regional workforce issues. Collaboratives created data collection and analysis systems that clarify the nation’s nursing shortage and help the profession and policy-makers prepare for the future. Collaborative members developed programs to recruit and retain nurses; eight of the regional groups established statewide centers to continue data collection on the nursing workforce and pursue public policy change based on that data. RWJF supported the program with 11 grants totaling $3.6 million and a $229,989 grant for the evaluation. See the National Program Report at www.rwjf.org/reports/npreports/colleagues.htm.

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