HCAI is committed to expanding equitable access to health care for all Californians—ensuring every community has the health workforce they need, safe and reliable health care facilities, and health information that can help make care more effective and affordable.
This grant program focuses on funding organizations that aim to educate Registered Nurses (RNs) to serve in underserved communities. The grant specifically supports pre-licensure RN education programs in recruiting students who possess characteristics of or are committed to practicing in Registered Nurse Shortage Areas (RNSAs). The program has a strong emphasis on preparing students to serve as RNs in multi-cultural communities, lower socioeconomic neighborhoods, and/or rural communities. Additionally, it prioritizes the utilization of training sites located in RNSAs that serve multi-cultural communities, lower socioeconomic neighborhoods, and rural areas. Furthermore, the grant offers graduate placement programs to encourage graduates to practice in RNSAs. Eligibility for this grant is restricted to Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and Entry-Level Master's (ELM) pre-licensure RN education programs that are either operated by an accredited California school or program of Nursing or approved by the Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University and Colleges, or the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Moreover, these programs must also be approved by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) pursuant to specific sections of the Business and Professions Code.