Part A—General Provisions
Editorial Notes
Codification
§296. Definitions
As used in this subchapter:
(1) Eligible entities
The term "eligible entities" means schools of nursing, nursing centers, academic health centers, State or local governments, and other public or private nonprofit entities determined appropriate by the Secretary that submit to the Secretary an application in accordance with
(2) School of nursing
The term "school of nursing" means an accredited (as defined in paragraph 6) collegiate, associate degree, or diploma school of nursing in a State where graduates are—
(A) authorized to sit for the National Council Licensure EXamination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX–RN); or
(B) licensed registered nurses who will receive a graduate or equivalent degree or training to become an advanced education nurse as defined by
(3) Collegiate school of nursing
The term "collegiate school of nursing" means a department, division, or other administrative unit in a college or university which provides primarily or exclusively a program of education in professional nursing and related subjects leading to the degree of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of nursing, or to an equivalent degree, or to a graduate degree in nursing, or to an equivalent degree, and including advanced training related to such program of education provided by such school, but only if such program, or such unit, college or university is accredited.
(4) Associate degree school of nursing
The term "associate degree school of nursing" means a department, division, or other administrative unit in a junior college, community college, college, or university which provides primarily or exclusively a two-year program of education in professional nursing and allied subjects leading to an associate degree in nursing or to an equivalent degree, but only if such program, or such unit, college, or university is accredited.
(5) Diploma school of nursing
The term "diploma school of nursing" means a school affiliated with a hospital or university, or an independent school, which provides primarily or exclusively a program of education in professional nursing and allied subjects leading to a diploma or to equivalent indicia that such program has been satisfactorily completed, but only if such program, or such affiliated school or such hospital or university or such independent school is accredited.
(6) Accredited
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term "accredited" when applied to any program of nurse education means a program accredited by a recognized body or bodies, or by a State agency, approved for such purpose by the Secretary of Education and when applied to a hospital, school, college, or university (or a unit thereof) means a hospital, school, college, or university (or a unit thereof) which is accredited by a recognized body or bodies, or by a State agency, approved for such purpose by the Secretary of Education. For the purpose of this paragraph, the Secretary of Education shall publish a list of recognized accrediting bodies, and of State agencies, which the Secretary of Education determines to be reliable authority as to the quality of education offered.
(B) New programs
A new program of nursing that, by reason of an insufficient period of operation, is not, at the time of the submission of an application for a grant or contract under this subchapter, eligible for accreditation by such a recognized body or bodies or State agency, shall be deemed accredited for purposes of this subchapter if the Secretary of Education finds, after consultation with the appropriate accreditation body or bodies, that there is reasonable assurance that the program will meet the accreditation standards of such body or bodies prior to the beginning of the academic year following the normal graduation date of students of the first entering class in such a program.
(7) Nonprofit
The term "nonprofit" as applied to any school, agency, organization, or institution means one which is a corporation or association, or is owned and operated by one or more corporations or associations, no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
(8) State
The term "State" means a State, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(9) Ambulatory surgical center
The term "ambulatory surgical center" has the meaning applicable to such term under title XVIII of the Social Security Act [
(10) Federally qualified health center
The term "Federally qualified health center" has the meaning given such term under section 1861(aa)(4) of the Social Security Act [
(11) Health care facility
The term "health care facility" means an Indian Health Service health center, a Native Hawaiian health center, a hospital, a Federally qualified health center, a rural health clinic, a nursing home, a home health agency, a hospice program, a public health clinic, a State or local department of public health, a skilled nursing facility, an ambulatory surgical center, or any other facility designated by the Secretary.
(12) Home health agency
The term "home health agency" has the meaning given such term in section 1861(o) of the Social Security Act [
(13) Hospice program
The term "hospice program" has the meaning given such term in section 1861(dd)(2) of the Social Security Act [
(14) Rural health clinic
The term "rural health clinic" has the meaning given such term in section 1861(aa)(2) of the Social Security Act [
(15) Skilled nursing facility
The term "skilled nursing facility" has the meaning given such term in section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act [
(16) Accelerated nursing degree program
The term "accelerated nursing degree program" means a program of education in professional nursing offered by an accredited school of nursing in which an individual holding a bachelors degree in another discipline receives a BSN or MSN degree in an accelerated time frame as determined by the accredited school of nursing.
(17) Bridge or degree completion program
The term "bridge or degree completion program" means a program of education in professional nursing offered by an accredited school of nursing, as defined in paragraph (2), that leads to a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Such programs may include, Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor's of Science of Nursing (BSN) programs, RN to MSN (Master of Science of Nursing) programs, or BSN to Doctoral programs.
(18) Nurse managed health clinic
The term "nurse managed health clinic" means a nurse-practice arrangement, managed by advanced practice nurses, that provides primary care or wellness services to underserved or vulnerable populations and that is associated with a school, college, university or department of nursing, federally qualified health center, or independent nonprofit health or social services agency.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §801, as added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Social Security Act, referred to in par. (9), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531,
Prior Provisions
A prior section 296, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §801 as added Sept. 4, 1964,
Amendments
2020—Par. (18).
2010—Par. (2).
Pars. (16), (17).
2002—Pars. (9) to (15).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Savings Provision
Reports by Government Accountability Office
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
Purpose
Information Respecting Supply and Distribution of and Requirements for Nurses; Determination Procedures; Surveys and Collection of Dates; Annual Report to Congress on Determinations, Etc.; Review by Office of Management and Budget of Report Prior to Submission
"(a)(1) Using procedures developed in accordance with paragraph (3), the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare [now Health and Human Services] (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 'Secretary') shall determine on a continuing basis—
"(A) the supply (both current and projected and within the United States and within each State) of registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses, nurse's aides, registered nurses with advanced training or graduate degrees, and nurse practitioners;
"(B) the distribution within the United States and within each State, of such nurses so as to determine (i) those areas of the United States which are oversupplied or undersupplied, or which have an adequate supply of such nurses in relation to the population of the area, and (ii) the demand for the services which such nurses provide; and
"(C) the current and future requirements for such nurses, nationally and within each State.
"(2) The Secretary shall survey and gather data, on a continuing basis, on—
"(A) the number and distribution of nurses, by type of employment and location of practice;
"(B) the number of nurses who are practicing full time and those who are employed part time, within the United States and within each State;
"(C) the average rates of compensation for nurses, by type of practice and location of practice;
"(D) the activity status of the total number of registered nurses within the United States and within each State;
"(E) the number of nurses with advanced training or graduate degrees in nursing, by specialty, including nurse practitioners, nurse clinicians, nurse researchers, nurse educators, and nurse supervisors and administrators; and
"(F) the number of registered nurses entering the United States annually from other nations, by country of nurse training and by immigrant status.
"(3) Within six months of the date of the enactment of this Act [July 29, 1975], the Secretary shall develop procedures for determining (on both a current and projected basis) the supply and distribution of and requirements for nurses within the United States and within each State.
"(b) Not later than October 1, 1979, and October 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter, the Secretary shall report to the Congress—
"(1) his determinations under subsection (a)(1) and the data gathered under subsection (a)(2);
"(2) an analysis of such determination and data; and
"(3) recommendations for such legislation as the Secretary determines, based on such determinations and data, will achieve (A) an equitable distribution of nurses within the United States and within each State, and (B) adequate supplies of nurses within the United States and within each State.
"(c) The Office of Management and Budget may review the Secretary's report under subsection (b) before its submission to the Congress, but the Office may not revise the report or delay its submission, and it may submit to the Congress its comments (and those of other departments or agencies of the Government) respecting such report."
Executive Documents
Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding
§296a. Application
(a) In general
To be eligible to receive a grant or contract under this subchapter, an eligible entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application that meets the requirements of this section, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(b) Plan
An application submitted under this section shall contain the plan of the applicant for carrying out a project with amounts received under this subchapter. Such plan shall be consistent with relevant Federal, State, or regional program plans.
(c) Performance outcome standards
An application submitted under this section shall contain a specification by the applicant entity of performance outcome standards that the project to be funded under the grant or contract will be measured against. Such standards shall address relevant national nursing needs that the project will meet, and how such project aligns with the goals in
(d) Linkages
An application submitted under this section shall contain a description of the linkages with relevant educational and health care entities, including training programs for other health professionals as appropriate, that the project to be funded under the grant or contract will establish.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §802, as added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 296a, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §802, as added Sept. 4, 1964,
Amendments
2020—Subsec. (c).
§296b. Use of funds
(a) In general
Amounts provided under a grant or contract awarded under this subchapter may be used for training program development and support, faculty development, model demonstrations, trainee support including tuition, books, program fees and reasonable living expenses during the period of training, technical assistance, workforce analysis, and dissemination of information, as appropriate to meet recognized nursing objectives, in accordance with this subchapter.
(b) Maintenance of effort
With respect to activities for which a grant awarded under this subchapter is to be expended, the entity shall agree to maintain expenditures of non-Federal amounts for such activities at a level that is not less than the level of such expenditures maintained by the entity for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the entity receives such a grant. Such Federal funds are intended to supplement, not supplant, existing non-Federal expenditures for such activities.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §803, as added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 296b, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §803, as added Sept. 4, 1964,
Amendments
2020—Subsec. (b).
§296c. Matching requirement
The Secretary may require that an entity that applies for a grant or contract under this subchapter provide non-Federal matching funds, as appropriate, to ensure the institutional commitment of the entity to the projects funded under the grant. Such non-Federal matching funds may be provided directly or through donations from public or private entities and may be in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §804, as added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 296c, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §804, as added Sept. 4, 1964,
§296d. Preference
In awarding grants or contracts under this subchapter, the Secretary shall give preference to applicants with projects that will substantially benefit rural or underserved populations, or help meet public health nursing needs in State or local health departments.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §805, as added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 296d, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §805, formerly §809, as added Nov. 18, 1971,
Another prior section 296d, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §805, as added Sept. 4, 1964,
§296e. Generally applicable provisions
(a) Awarding of grants and contracts
The Secretary shall ensure that grants and contracts under this subchapter are awarded on a competitive basis, as appropriate, to carry out innovative demonstration projects or provide for strategic workforce supplementation activities as needed to address national nursing needs, including—
(1) addressing challenges, including through supporting training and education of nursing students, related to the distribution of the nursing workforce and existing or projected nursing workforce shortages in geographic areas that have been identified as having, or that are projected to have, a nursing shortage;
(2) increasing access to and the quality of health care services, including by supporting the training of professional registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and advanced education nurses within community based settings and in a variety of health delivery system settings; or
(3) addressing the strategic goals and priorities identified by the Secretary and that are in accordance with this subchapter.
Contracts may be entered into under this subchapter with public or private entities as determined necessary by the Secretary.
(b) Information requirements
(1) In general
Recipients of grants and contracts under this subchapter shall meet information requirements as specified by the Secretary.
(2) Evaluations
The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure the annual evaluation of programs and projects operated by recipients of grants under this subchapter. Such procedures shall ensure that continued funding for such programs and projects will be conditioned upon the reporting of data and information demonstrating that satisfactory progress has been made by the program or project in meeting the performance outcome standards (as described in
(c) Training programs
Training programs conducted with amounts received under this subchapter shall meet applicable accreditation and quality standards.
(d) Duration of assistance
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of an award to an entity of a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this subchapter, the period during which payments are made to the entity under the award may not exceed 5 years. The provision of payments under the award shall be subject to annual approval by the Secretary of the payments and subject to the availability of appropriations for the fiscal year involved to make the payments. This paragraph may not be construed as limiting the number of awards under the program involved that may be made to the entity.
(2) Limitation
In the case of an award to an entity of a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this subchapter, paragraph (1) shall apply only to the extent not inconsistent with any other provision of this subchapter that relates to the period during which payments may be made under the award.
(e) Peer review regarding certain programs
(1) In general
Each application for a grant under this subchapter, except advanced nurse traineeship grants under
(2) Composition
Each peer review group under this subsection shall be composed principally of individuals who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government, and have relevant expertise and experience. In providing for the establishment of peer review groups and procedures, the Secretary shall, except as otherwise provided, ensure sex, racial, ethnic, and geographic representation among the membership of such groups.
(3) Administration
This subsection shall be carried out by the Secretary acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration.
(f) Analytic activities
The Secretary shall ensure that—
(1) cross-cutting workforce analytical activities are carried out as part of the workforce information and analysis activities under this subchapter; and
(2) discipline-specific workforce information is developed and analytical activities are carried out as part of—
(A) the advanced education nursing activities under part B;
(B) the workforce diversity activities under part C; and
(C) basic nursing education and practice activities under part D.
(g) State and regional priorities
Activities under grants or contracts under this subchapter shall, to the extent practicable, be consistent with related Federal, State, or regional nursing professions program plans and priorities.
(h) Filing of applications
(1) In general
Applications for grants or contracts under this subchapter may be submitted by health professions schools, schools of nursing, academic health centers, State or local governments, or other appropriate public or private nonprofit entities as determined appropriate by the Secretary in accordance with this subchapter.
(2) For-profit entities
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a for-profit entity may be eligible for a grant or contract under this subchapter as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(i) Biennial report on nursing workforce program improvements
Not later than September 30, 2020, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report that contains an assessment of the programs and activities of the Department of Health and Human Services related to enhancing the nursing workforce, including the extent to which programs and activities under this subchapter meet the identified goals and performance measures developed for the respective programs and activities, and the extent to which the Department coordinates with other Federal departments regarding programs designed to improve the nursing workforce.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §806, as added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 296e, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §810, formerly §806, as added Sept. 4, 1964,
Amendments
2020—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (e)(2).
Subsec. (i).
§296e–1. Grants for health professions education
(a) Cultural competency, prevention, and public health and individuals with disability grants
The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may make awards of grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities for the development, evaluation, and dissemination of research, demonstration projects, and model curricula for cultural competency, prevention, public health proficiency, reducing health disparities, and aptitude for working with individuals with disabilities training for use in health professions schools and continuing education programs, and for other purposes determined as appropriate by the Secretary. Grants under this section shall be the same as provided in
(b) Collaboration
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall collaborate with the entities described in
(c) Dissemination
Model curricula developed under this section shall be disseminated and evaluated in the same manner as model curricula developed under
(d) Authorization of appropriations
There are to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2015.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §807, as added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 807 of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 808 by
Another prior section 807 of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 811 and classified to
Amendments
2010—Subsec. (a).
Subsecs. (b) to (d).
§296f. Technical assistance
Funds appropriated under this subchapter may be used by the Secretary to provide technical assistance in relation to any of the authorities under this subchapter.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §808, formerly §807, as added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 296f, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §811, formerly §807, as added Aug. 16, 1968,
A prior section 808 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to
§296g. Prohibition against discrimination by schools on basis of sex
The Secretary may not make a grant, loan guarantee, or interest subsidy payment under this subchapter to, or for the benefit of, any school of nursing unless the application for the grant, loan guarantee, or interest subsidy payment contains assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that the school will not discriminate on the basis of sex in the admission of individuals to its training programs. The Secretary may not enter into a contract under this subchapter with any school unless the school furnishes assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that it will not discriminate on the basis of sex in the admission of individuals to its training programs.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §809, formerly §845, as added
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Prior Provisions
A prior section 296g, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §808, as added Aug. 16, 1968,
A prior section 296h, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §809, as added Nov. 18, 1971,
A prior section 296i, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VIII, §810, as added Nov. 18, 1971,