Grant for LPN to RN Diploma Program Students

An initiative to increase the Registered Nurse workforce in our community

Fisher-Titus Medical Center, in partnership with EHOVE Career Center, Magruder Hospital, and Terra State Community College, has been awarded a $4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of this funding is to improve the supply and geographic distribution of the registered nurse (RN) workforce throughout Erie, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, and Huron counties by providing direct support to students to break down barriers that licensed practical nurses (LPNs) may experience that prevent them from advancing their careers.

Financial support is available for assistance with items such as materials for courses, childcare, etc. It can be provided to students once accepted into the LPN to RN Diploma Program at EHOVE for the fall 2024 semester and beyond.

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Once accepted, students will meet with a Financial Assistance Counselor (FAC) that will assist them in applying for the FASFA and other assistance programs the individual may qualify for. After financial aid has been determined, the LPN will be given a Financial Barriers Assessment to identify barriers that may prevent them from completing the entire LPN to RN program. Once these barriers have been identified, the FACs will work with the student and program to obtain the grant funding needed to address the barriers.

An individual will be eligible to apply for grant funding every year they are enrolled, as long as they are in good standing with the program. Anyone who receives grant funding to address barriers must commit to working in the following five designated counties – Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca –upon graduation for two years.

For questions about this project, contact Stacy Daniel (sndaniel@ftmc.com) or Stephanie Villella (svillella@ftmc.com) at Fisher-Titus Medical Center.

FAQ

Q: Can I use grant funds for any LPN to RN program I want?

A: No. An individual cannot utilize grant funds to obtain their RN from any program they enroll into. They must attend Terra State Community College or EHOVE Career Center to access funds. 

Q: Am I automatically eligible for grant funds after I get accepted into the LPN to RN program? 

A: No. An individual must meet with a Financial Assistance Counselor (FAC) to complete a Financial and Barriers Assessment to determine eligibility for funds. 

Q: Can grant funds cover the cost of tuition for the program? 

A: Possibly! Depending on the outcome of the FASFA application and the barriers identified in the Financial and Barriers Assessment, an individual may be able to use grant funds to cover a portion of the cost of tuition.

Note – Grant funds will not be able to cover the cost of the entire tuition of a program.   

Q: Do I have to pay back the funding I received if I fail out or leave the program?

A: No. The funding you received during your time in the program will not need to be paid back if you do not complete the program.  

Q: How much will I receive in grant funding to assist with my barriers? 

A: The amount given in grant funding will be determined once an individual has met with the FAC upon enrollment. 

Q: How will you know if I am working in the designated five counties?

A: Once a student has graduated from the LPN to RN program, follow-up surveys with both the individual and their supervisor will be given at incremental times over two years. These surveys will be used to understand the impact of the program, how the transition from an LPN to RN has been, and the location of current employment within one of the designated counties.