Federal grant awarded to SEMO nursing program

Southeast Missouri State University was awarded a $204,211 grant through the Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship federal grant program, according to a news release from the university Wednesday.

The grant goes to Southeast's Masters of Science in Nursing program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It will cover tuition and fees for 16 students preparing to become family nurse practitioners.

The grant's goal is to move students through their academic program and into professional work more quickly to address shortages, university officials said.

"This great opportunity for the university also helps to address a critical need for nurses in our Southeast Missouri communities," said Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.