Reporters invited to see grant in action

The News:

Media are invited to Page Memorial Hospital in Luray from noon-2 p.m. Monday, April 15, to interview JMU nursing students, nursing faculty and representatives of Valley Health Page Memorial Rural Health Centers on the benefits of a $2.7 million federal grant. Media also will be able to get photos and video of the nursing students in action. 

The nine students participating are from Botetourt County, Charlottesville, Fairfax, Fauquier County, Harrisonburg, Loudoun County, Page County and Shenandoah County.

Background:

The JMU School of Nursing was awarded $2.7 million in July to support nursing education over the next four years. Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the purpose of the grant is to increase the workforce of nurses with bachelor's degrees working in primary care settings. This is being accomplished by educating a group of UPCARE (Undergraduate Primary Care and Rural Education) Project scholars who will be based in rural Page County, a federally-designated medically underserved area in mental health, dental health, and primary care. 

During the four-year funding period, 56 scholars will receive training in cultural competency, poverty and diversity simulation, and addiction treatment strategies as part of their BSN training, to prepare them to work in rural primary health care. 

Students’ clinical experiences will be based in primary care, which includes elements of chronic disease management, preventive care, hospital transition management, and health coaching. Additional emphases of the grant are faculty development in community health concepts and support for curricular revisions.

# # # 

Note: Please let me know if you plan to attend for directions to the hospital and where to meet.

Eric Gorton (gortonej@jmu.edu)
Media Relations Coordinator
James Madison University
Communications & Marketing