Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention – Bachelor of Science in Nursing Practicums in Community Settings Program | Apply Online

FAQs: Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention - Bachelor of Science in Nursing Practicums in Community Settings (BPCS)

What is the BPCS Program grant opportunity?

The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention - Bachelor of Science in Nursing Practicums in Community Settings (BPCS) Program is a federal discretionary grant opportunity that supports clinical practicum experiences for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students in community-based settings.

Which federal agency is offering this grant?

This opportunity is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

What HRSA portfolio does this opportunity belong to?

It falls under HRSA's Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR) portfolio, which focuses on strengthening the nursing workforce through education and training, improvements in clinical practice, and preparation to meet community health needs.

What is the main focus of this specific funding opportunity?

The focus is on structured practicums for BSN students that take place in community-based settings rather than traditional inpatient hospital environments, helping prepare nurses for real-world practice in outpatient and population-focused care.

What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?

The funding opportunity number is HRSA-16-066.

What type of grant is this?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant, meaning awards are made competitively based on applicant merit and program priorities rather than by formula.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category listed is Health.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The associated CFDA number is 93.359, which corresponds to HRSA nursing workforce development programming.

When was the announcement posted?

The announcement was originally posted on October 29, 2015.

What was the application deadline for this cycle?

Both the original and current closing dates are listed as January 20, 2016, indicating a single submission deadline for that cycle.

How many awards did HRSA expect to make?

HRSA expected to make approximately 12 awards under this announcement.

Is there a maximum (ceiling) award amount listed?

The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically means a specific maximum award amount was not provided in the summarized record and would normally be detailed in the full funding announcement.

Where would applicants normally find details like budget limits and project period length?

Those details would normally be included in the full funding announcement, along with any restrictions on how funds can be used.

What kinds of clinical experiences are applicants generally expected to propose?

Because this is a practicum-centered program, applicants would generally be expected to propose structured clinical training experiences for BSN students in community settings, often supported by partnerships between nursing education programs and community-based clinical sites.

What counts as a "community-based setting" for these practicums?

The summary indicates that community settings can include a wide range of non-inpatient environments, such as primary care clinics, public health departments, school-based health programs, community health centers, rural or frontier clinics, home health and hospice organizations, long-term services and supports environments, and behavioral health or substance use treatment programs that integrate primary care, among other outpatient or population-focused care sites.

Why does the program emphasize community settings instead of inpatient hospitals?

The emphasis reflects a goal of preparing nurses for practice outside of traditional inpatient environments, aligning training with growing needs in areas like preventive care, chronic disease management, care coordination, population health, and services for medically underserved communities.

Who is eligible to apply based on the summary information provided?

Eligibility is summarized as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which indicates the summarized record does not limit eligibility to a single standard applicant type and that definitive eligibility requirements would be found in the complete announcement.

What types of organizations are commonly eligible in HRSA nursing workforce announcements like this?

In HRSA nursing announcements, eligible applicants commonly include accredited schools of nursing, colleges and universities, academic health centers, and sometimes partnering organizations that can demonstrate the ability to carry out training programs and place students in appropriate community-based clinical environments. The summary provided here does not confirm specific categories, so applicants would need to rely on the full notice.

Does the summary specify required accreditations or partnership rules?

No. The summary notes that applicants would need to consult the complete announcement for definitive eligibility language, required accreditations, partnership expectations, and any limits on who may serve as the lead applicant versus a subrecipient or clinical partner.

What is the overall purpose of funding BSN practicums in community settings?

The core purpose is to expand and strengthen BSN-level clinical practicums in community-based settings, improving workforce readiness and helping ensure nurses are prepared to meet community health needs.

What workforce and care delivery needs does this program aim to address?

The opportunity is described as supporting readiness for needs such as preventive care, chronic disease management, care coordination, population health, and care for medically underserved communities.

How does funding practicums help the nursing pipeline?

By funding practicums, HRSA is typically trying to increase both the quantity and quality of hands-on clinical training experiences, reduce bottlenecks in clinical placement capacity, and encourage nursing graduates to enter and remain in community and primary care-oriented roles.

What elements would applicants generally be expected to describe in an application?

Applicants would generally be expected to describe the practicum model, the community partnerships that make placements possible, how students will be supervised and evaluated, and how the project will improve educational outcomes and contribute to better access and quality of care in community settings.