Advanced education nursing grants

The Secretary may award grants to and enter into contracts with eligible entities to meet the costs of— For purposes of this section, the term “advanced education nurses” means individuals trained in advanced degree programs including individuals in combined R.N./graduate degree programs, post-nursing master’s certificate programs, or, in the case of nurse midwives, in certificate programs in existence on the date that is one day prior to November 13, 1998, to serve as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse educators, nurse administrators, clinical nurse leaders, or public health nurses, or in other nurse specialties determined by the Secretary to require advanced education. Nurse practitioner programs eligible for support under this section are educational programs for registered nurses (irrespective of the type of school of nursing in which the nurses received their training) that— Midwifery programs that are eligible for support under this section are educational programs that— Nurse anesthesia programs eligible for support under this section are education programs that— Clinical nurse specialist programs eligible for support under this section are education programs that— The Secretary shall prescribe guidelines as appropriate for other advanced nurse education programs eligible for support under this section. The Secretary may not award a grant to an applicant under subsection (a) unless the applicant involved agrees that traineeships provided with the grant will only pay all or part of the costs of— In making awards of grants and contracts under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall give special consideration to an eligible entity that agrees to expend the award to train advanced education nurses who will practice in health professional shortage areas designated under section 254e of this title.