An evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration National Nursing Education Initiative

Background: Since 1999, the Veterans Health Administration?s (VHA) National Nursing Education Initiative (NNEI) has provided 16,294 scholarships for registered nurses to attain baccalaureate and advanced nursing degrees. Purpose: The goal of this evaluation was to determine factors that enhanced or hindered a scholarship recipient in the completion of their degree and service obligation. Methods: A regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of degree completion for 10,043 participants in 162 VHA facilities. Findings: Significant predictor variables for degree completion were intended occupation, entry degree, gender, age, and year entering the program. Eighty-six percent (86.7%) of participants completed the degree requirement. Of those who completed their degree, 97% completed the service obligation. Discussion: As recruitment and retention initiative, NNEI scholarships are poised to address the VHA nursing staffing shortages as well as build a highly qualified nursing workforce capable of providing the best care to our Nation?s Veterans. Cite this article: Rugs, D., Nedd, N., Quast, T., Wang, X., Hyacinthe, M., Hall, K.S., & Powell-Cope, G. (2021, March/April). An evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration National Nursing Education Initiative. Nurs Outlook, 69(2), 193-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2020.11.001.