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.