Jean Scholz Mellum, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ’s Post

👀 To any billionaires looking to ramp up their impact and realize a 6X return over Mr. Bloomberg’s investment, boy do I have a deal for you. 💰 👀 👏 First off, kudos to The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Physicians are great, and we need exceptional physicians in the most challenging settings. But consider this... The cost of tuition at Hopkins is approximately $260,000 to complete med school in four years. In contrast, the cost to complete a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife program at Frontier Nursing University is ~$45,000 in under three years. The same amount of money donated to a graduate nursing program will produce nearly six nurse practitioners and/or midwives for every one physician trained at Hopkins. Nurse practitioners who are more likely to care for rural populations than our physician colleagues. Nurse midwives who are dedicated to addressing the maternal/fetal health crisis our current system proliferates. So who is the next billionaire that will step up and further address our women’s health and primary care provider shortage? And before anyone gets upset about this post, see my comment above about physicians being great. We need them. Lots of them. In the proper settings. I suggest that you read any one of the articles in the commments about patient outcomes for those who seek care from nurse practitioners. It’s hard to argue with the facts. And If you’re interested in reposting this, I encourage you to keep the conversation going by adding your own thoughts on one of the following topics: How state and federal regulations and restrictions on women’s health are negatively impacting access to care. How changing reimbursement models to include nursing care will benefit health outcomes and increase the number of nurses available to provide care. How the American Medical Association and other physician groups lobby to limit the power and ability of nurse practitioners and midwives to effectively care for those who need it most. How a similar scholarship program for RN programs would result in a significant influx of nurses entering the field. How our nurses and midwives are addressing the rural health crisis in America. How nurse practitioners are more likely to address #SDoH by practicing in areas with decreased access to healthcare. How the American Medical Association and other physician groups lobby to limit the power and ability of nurse practitioners and midwives to effectively care for those who need it most. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g4Uur34j #nurse #nurses #nursepractitioners #nursemidwives #physicians #philantrophy #highereducation #medschool Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Mike Bloomberg Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Turner Foundation Inc Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Good Ventures Open Philanthropy Cari Tuna The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Virgin Unite Blavatnik Family Foundation

I hear from many who pursue non-physician paths that finances were a barrier to becoming a doctor. Being a doctor should not be reserved for “the elite” - that is how we end up with medicine not serving all. As a physician who is a child of #immigrants, of a community forced to be #refugees, as a woman of color, and as a patient, I see my job as serving the most marginalized. By leaving the U.S. at age 19 to go to med school abroad, in Pakistan, I had no med school #debt to make me feel my first priority was to pay down loans. I had freedom to choose jobs that paid less than nurses or physician assistants rather than the “doctor salary.” What I did not consider was my salary was that low because reimbursement was low. I was naive to the business of medicine that would get between me and the patient. Unfortunately, in a country where “payer mix” matters, by choosing #pediatrics - that reimburses 30% less than adult medicine - I made myself irrelevant. In fact, I put myself on the chopping block in American #healthcare. In a #health system run per capitalism, profit, margins, revenue, shareholder value matter. Of course, if pediatrics has lower reimbursement, then hospital administrators will cut pediatrics all together to replace with higher margin service lines or, if retaining pediatric services, will replace pediatricians with least trained and cheapest labor. Whereas expanding #clinician types was pitched as a way to expand access, in reality many non-physicians, like physicians, will follow the money. That is simply human nature. Savvy non-physicians choose to enter fields like dermatology, cosmetic procedures, orthopedics, anesthesia, etc to fast track to making $200K - $400K or more with a fraction of the loan burden. While removing debt burden is one needed step, there will still be a perverse incentive to fast track for the least time to a full salary and to choose the highest salary possible for your credentials. Even if you give up salary to serve, by being on that low revenue space, your entire field is perceived as low value. In the U.S., reimbursement is seen as a signal of quality and value.

A $1 billion gift to Johns Hopkins University from billionaire Mike Bloomberg will make medical school free for most students, and increase financial aid for those enrolled in nursing, public health and other graduate programs. In a Monday letter in the Bloomberg Philanthropies annual report, Bloomberg addressed the twin challenges of declining health and education. The gift marks an emphatic endorsement of the value of higher learning at a time when academia has been increasingly under political attack. “As the U.S. struggles to recover from a disturbing decline in life expectancy, our country faces a serious shortage of doctors, nurses, and public health professionals — and yet, the high cost of medical, nursing, and graduate school too often bars students from enrolling,” wrote Bloomberg, a 1964 graduate of Johns Hopkins and the founder of the Bloomberg business and financial data and news company. “By reducing the financial barriers to these essential fields, we can free more students to pursue careers they’re passionate about — and enable them to serve more of the families and communities who need them the most.” Starting this fall, Johns Hopkins will offer medical school students free tuition — normally about $65,000 a year for four years — for those whose families earn less than $300,000 a year. Students from families earning up to $175,000 a year will have living expenses and fees covered as well. “It’s a full-ride scholarship,” Hopkins President Ronald J. Daniels said. “We see that as a very significant move to ensure that medical education is available to the best and brightest across the country.” Medical school tuition increases have outpaced inflation at both public and private institutions, said Holly J. Humphrey, president of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, a nonprofit focused on improving the education of health professionals. There has been a shift in who attends, with an increasing share of students from high-income families and dwindling numbers from lower-income homes. The median debt from medical school for the class of 2023 was $200,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Too many students don’t even consider medical school because of the cost, said Sanjay Desai, the chief academic officer at the American Medical Association. Health outcomes are improved, he said, when physicians reflect the diversity of patients they treat. Studies also suggest that students from lower-income backgrounds are more likely to return to underserved communities as doctors. There are other troubling gaps. The country needs more primary care doctors, Desai said, but student debt can drive people toward more lucrative specialty fields. “I hope it inspires others to action,” said Desai, who is also a Johns Hopkins faculty member.

🗞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲! The DaVita Giving Foundation is awarding a $1 million grant over the next three years to Western Governors University's (WGU) Michael O. Leavitt School of Health (LSH). 👉🏼 The funding aims to support over 1,500 nursing students in the co-created "Start Early" program, developed by DaVita Kidney Care Inc. and WGU to increase nursing degree completion nationwide. 👉🏼 The investment responds to the critical shortage of registered nurses, with a significant number leaving the workforce due to stress, burnout, and retirement. 👉🏼 Start Early focuses on supporting the next generation of nurses from the beginning of their careers, providing targeted assistance during their education. 👉🏼 The WGU Start Early program allocates funds for various purposes, including prelicensure scholarship support, non-tuition support (e.g., childcare costs and scrubs), and non-tuition wrap-around costs (e.g., travel expenses for mandatory clinical simulation learning labs). 👉🏼 The DaVita Giving Foundation funding will provide critical, need-based scholarships for up to 80 students annually. Scholarships target underserved student populations in specific cities and counties, prioritizing students of color, those with lower incomes, those in remote areas, and first-generation university attendees. In a nutshell, the program aims to alleviate workforce shortages and make the healthcare system more equitable, addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion goals in the health and higher education sectors. #nursing #nursingshortage #nursingeducation #wgu #education #highereducation More details at: https://lnkd.in/dHbDWNBw

St. Cloud Technical & Community College Supplementing Practical Nursing Program with Career Grant Pathway St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC) is prepared to start its Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Career Grant Pathway Program this fall semester 2024 after the college was a recipient of Congressionally Directed Spending in the amount of $950,000 in 2022.   The funding appropriation allows SCTCC to add an additional cohort to the current Practical Nursing program to educate 54 more students over three years. The College has hired faculty specifically for this cohort, providing not just regular classes but also supplemental instruction and other activities based on the needs of the students. Additionally, all LPN students will have access to a career planner/success coach.   “The SCTCC community is incredibly grateful to Senator Klobuchar and Senator Smith for supporting SCTCC’s Congressionally Directed Spending request,” said President Lori Kloos. “This investment will provide resources necessary to mitigate the barriers encountered by Central Minnesotans with refugee or resident alien status who wish to pursue a degree and certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). At a time when there is a critical need for healthcare professionals, and in collaboration with community partners, these resources will bridge the gap by providing students with the support needed to successfully complete the LPN degree and enter the workforce.”   The Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is projecting 49,000 RN position openings in Minnesota over the next 10 years. In collaboration with CentraCare and with the funding from the U.S. Senate, SCTCC is providing additional pathways for those in refugee status, children of refugees or resident aliens to enter the workforce as LPNs. More information on eligibility for the Practical Nursing Career Grant Pathway and how to apply to SCTCC can be found at https://sctcc.edu/refugee.    The nursing profession is in the top 2% of in-demand occupations in Minnesota, with Practical Nursing having the highest projected growth rate over the next 10 years. The Practical Nursing degree and certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse provide opportunities for advancement and upward mobility in the field, such as a registered nurse (RN) degree and certification, nurse practitioner status and more.   For anyone who is interested in an education, whether it leads directly to a career or transfers to a bachelor’s degree, there are several financial supports available, including the North Star Promise Scholarship, financial aid, SCTCC scholarships and tuition is frozen through 2025. Additionally, SCTCC offers many cost-free supports to students, including short-term mental health counseling, tutoring, career counseling, and a food pantry. More information can be found at https://lnkd.in/gZgp5hyC #LPN #refugee #nursing #opportunity #scholarship #education #wearesctcc

Finding Her Life’s Calling. Casey Medina decided to enroll in the School of Nursing and Health Studies Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program after working for the school since 2019. Read more about Casey’s Journey here: https://lnkd.in/esQFuMAN #UMiamiNursing #CaneNurse #nursingresearch #miamiecho #SHARE #SONHS #umiami #UMiamiSHARE #simulationhospital #simulationtraining #simulation #simulationeducation

A different approach to Health Equity. Education shouldn't just be for those who can afford it. We need doctors AND nurses. Looking forward to seeing the next chapter in health education.

Are you a #JonasImpact scholar alumni? If so, check out the post below to see how you can connect and build with our alumni network! #JonasPhilanthropies

"Nurses are scientists as we examine, evaluate, and recommend treatments and interventions," Mimm says. "We then assess them for effectiveness to promote the best optimum health and well-being outcomes for populations and individuals." Through ARP by the Biden-Harris administration, $120 billion dollars is dedicated to K-12 STEM education programs. Federal education funds are also reserved for STEM education throughout higher education. Thanks to Dr. Nancy Mimm RN,DNP, MSN,APHN, CNL and Tammy Stafford, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN for publishing this insightful article. #NursingIsSTEM Sign the petition here: https://lnkd.in/emQP4GJ2 https://lnkd.in/gjP9kwan

#QuestionforGroup NURSING wants to be designated a STEM discipline. What does Nursing need to do to achieve that? Dr. Pounds wrote about this in 2001, and I've been advocating for the same since my Nursing School days in 1984 with a STEM Biology degree. In 9184, I highlighted the missing STEM information in Nursing and suggested expanding STEM coursework. This could lead to Nurses acquiring a second degree, laying a foundation for advanced roles (i.e. NP, DNP). Time for change! Nursing, an exceptional field, is distinct from Medicine. It's crucial to either enhance the existing Nursing role or pursue a STEM degree alongside Nursing for broader opportunities. Attention Universities & Colleges with Nursing Schools! Opportunity awaits. Develop STEM courses for Nurses, offering an additional STEM degree. Let's establish a common STEM foundation for better Nursing-Medicine collaboration. The Nurses' Station, P.C. is spearheading this transformation. Embrace the change at TNSVAT.com. #STEM #STEMNursing #Nursing