Delaware nets nursing education funding

Four schools will get funding for their advanced nursing education programs to help students with tuition, books and supplies.

Some nursing students in the First State will be able to apply for financial help for their schooling, thanks to a federal grant.

The more than $155,000 in federal funds will be divided among four Delaware colleges, and will be used specifically for students’ tuition, books and supplies.

The grants are for advanced nursing educational programs. Students can apply for the funds and the schools will decide who is eligible.

Wilmington University leads the way with about $55,060.

“It can make or break whether they can stay in the program,” said Veronica Wilbur, Chair of the Nursing Practitioner Program at Wilmington University.

Wilbur says many of the students at Wilmington University, even though they are full-time students, still work. They need the money to help support their families and pursue their career goals.

“It’s a grant so they don’t have to pay back the money, it’s not like it’s a loan,” Wilbur said.

Wesley College in Dover will receive about $44,520, the University of Delaware in Newark will receive about $36,610 and Delaware State University in Dover will receive $20,480.

The money was part of $159.1 million in federal grants given to health care work-force training programs. Wilbur says the competition for that money, in today’s economy, is growing.

“Some schools may not have found it necessary to put in for money in the past and this year I think more schools put in for it,” Wilbur said.