Daninaca Bawl, MSN, APRN, FNP, NNP-BC, is a neonatal nurse practitioner in Wichita, Kansas. She completed the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program at KU School of Nursing and received an Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW): Grow and Stay program grant.

“The ANEW grant provided me with invaluable support and resources, allowing me to fully concentrate on my studies and clinical practice without the financial pressure," said Bawl.

The ANEW grant gives graduate nursing students up to $25,000 in scholarship for full-time study as well as professional development in clinical settings to improve retention, focus on employee/practice wellness and encourage service within the rural areas. The goal is to support nursing students who will practice in rural, urban and/or tribal underserved populations in Kansas with a focus on the areas of mental health, maternal-child health and substance use disorders.

"The grant also opened doors for networking and collaboration with other health care professionals, particularly those serving in rural and underserved communities," continued Bawl. "Through this program, I developed a deeper understanding of the health care disparities that exist in these areas. I was equipped to tackle the unique challenges they face, such as limited access to care, high-quality care and culturally sensitive primary care that is both accessible and impactful."

Kansas nurses interested in earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a post-graduate certificate should apply. Programs include family nurse practitioner, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife.

"The ANEW grant not only enhanced my clinical skills and knowledge, but it also instilled in me a strong commitment to improving health care in underserved populations. This experience has significantly shaped my approach to comprehensive care and created numerous professional opportunities along the way,” said Bawl.

This ANEW: Grow and Stay project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2.58 million with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The ANEW: Grow and Stay project period runs from 07/01/2023 to 06/30/2027. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information visit HRSA.gov.