The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to give the University of Hawaii Manoa School of Nursing a $648,000 grant to provide scholarships to 15 primary-care family or adult/gerontological nurse practitioner (NP) graduate students.

The grant is intended to increase the number of primary-care NPs providing clinical care in rural communities by graduating 15 primary-care NPs committed to working in underserved communities in Hawaii by summer 2014.

“The most serious health problems in Hawaii are obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and asthma,” said Nursing Dean Mary Boland. “Yet, many people have to wait to get care or can’t access patient-centered care. The NP graduates from UH Manoa will increase access to needed healthcare services throughout the state.”

For more information, see www.nursing.hawaii.edu/nursing-practitioner.html.