College of Nursing: A Track Record of Funding to Enhance Education and Improve Healthcare Outcomes

April 1, 2025

Stefanie La Manna PhD, MPH, APRN, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC, is an Associate Professor and the Dean of the Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing. Additionally, she practices as a dual board-certified Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and an Autonomous Family Nurse Practitioner. Her clinical practice focuses on infectious disease and internal medicine with Infectious Disease Associates, working with Leslie Diaz, MD. She also holds hospital privileges at Jupiter Medical Center and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

Tell me briefly about your grant-funded projects.

The College of Nursing has received three LINE Fund Grants and the PCU Grant through the Department of Education. For each of the grants below, we partnered with local hospitals who provided funds, which were then matched by the Department of Education.

LINE Fund Grants: Total for all 3 Line funds $6,819,242

Line 2022-23: Total $3,525,242

Sponsoring Agencies: HCA ($500,000), Memorial ($200,000), Baptist ($1,062,619), DOE Match ($1,762,621)

Goals/Objectives: Enhance nursing education and training programs, increase student NCLEX pass rates, increase nurses in the workforce, and improve healthcare outcomes.

Efforts to Date: Supported faculty, upgraded simulation lab equipment, developed new curriculum modules, added additional student learning resources, and provided scholarships to students to support program completion.

Reportable Outcomes: Improved NCLEX pass rates, established partnerships with local healthcare providers who provided feedback on areas for improvement of nurse graduates, enhanced student engagement, and improved clinical competencies.

Line 2023-24: Total $2,448,000

Sponsoring Agencies: Baptist ($1,224,000), DOE Match ($1,224,000)

Goals/Objectives: Continue to build on the previous year’s initiatives and integrate technology into nursing education.

Line 2024-25: Total $846,000

Sponsoring Agencies: Baptist ($596,000), Lee Health ($250,000)

Goals/Objectives: Continue to build on previous year’s initiatives, integrate technology in nursing education, and focus on improving student communication skills.

Efforts to Date: Received notification of Grant award on 1/22/25

Reportable Outcomes: This fund is providing enhanced communication strategies for students to be able to have crucial and difficult conversations with patients, family members, and other health care professionals.

PCU Grant

2023-24: Total $640,000

Sponsoring Agencies: Memorial ($320,000), DOE Match ($320,000)

Goals/Objectives: Enhance nursing education and training programs, increase student NCLEX pass rates, increase nurses in the workforce, and improve healthcare outcomes.

Efforts to Date: Supported faculty, upgraded simulation lab equipment, added additional student learning resources, and provided scholarships to students to support program completion.

Reportable Outcomes: Improved student satisfaction, increased retention rates, and better online learning experiences.

Who is working with you on this project (Internally and externally)?

Externally, the hospital partners respective to each grant. Internally, College of Nursing Deans and faculty, and staff at the Office of Research and Economic Development. A special thank you to Dr. Michelle Julian and Dr. Cavanaugh for their tireless efforts.

What opportunities and/or benefits does this grant bring to the NSU community?

Benefits include:

Nursing students who are better prepared to enter the nursing workforce
increase in nursing graduates supported by scholarships
resources to support student success on the NCLEX board certification entering the nursing profession.

How does this project connect with your other work at NSU?

Enhancing Education and Training: The LINE Fund and PCU grants enable us to expand and improve our nursing education programs. This aligns with our continuous efforts to provide high-quality education and training for our students, ensuring they are well-prepared for the healthcare industry.

Increasing Student Enrollment: By offering scholarships and enhancing support services, these projects help us attract and retain a diverse student body.

Advancing Research and Innovation: The funding allows us to support faculty research and integrate advanced technologies into our curriculum. This complements our ongoing work in promoting research and innovation within the College of Nursing.

Strengthening Community Health: The community health initiatives funded by these grants are in line with our broader goal of improving healthcare outcomes in the communities we serve. This includes partnerships with local healthcare providers and community health projects.

Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration: By organizing interprofessional workshops and fostering collaboration with other health disciplines, these projects enhance our efforts to create a holistic and collaborative healthcare environment.

Overall, these projects are integral to our mission of advancing nursing education, research, and community health at NSU. They provide the resources and support needed to achieve our goals and make a positive impact on the healthcare field.

How has NSU helped you pursue and/or achieve the personal and professional goals you have set for yourself?

I have been with NSU since 2012 and have had the privilege of being mentored by some outstanding individuals. In every role, whether faculty or leadership, I was challenged to enhance the quality of nursing education for both graduate and undergraduate students. These achievements were made possible thanks to the dedication and support of an exceptional nursing team.

What advice do you have for other grant seekers at NSU?

Seek assistance from your colleagues and engage in collaboration, as it is through teamwork that the dissemination of research becomes truly impactful.

What is the next grant proposal or project on your agenda?

We are currently on our fourth LINE fund with a new clinical partner. We are also working on a grant with an external clinical partner focusing on HIV and social determinants. Additionally, there are many more grants in the pipeline that will be coming from the nursing department.