Orvis Nursing School Received $3 Million Federal Grant
The funding establishes a rural nurse training program at the University of Nevada, Reno Lake Tahoe campus.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Nursing students in the Lake Tahoe track will gain access to new stipends and rural clinical training through a $3 million federal grant awarded to the Orvis School of Nursing. This initiative aims to bolster the workforce in underserved rural and frontier communities across Nevada.
Why it matters
The program addresses a persistent nursing shortage in rural Nevada by blending traditional coursework with hands-on experiential learning in regional health care settings. This investment supports the state's long-term goal of stabilizing medical staffing in frontier areas.
The four-year grant provides $3 million to support the Nevada Rural Nurse Scholars Program, including an $80,000 subaward for Carson Valley Health. The university anticipates graduating 96 students before the current funding period ends.
The players
Orvis School of Nursing
The nursing school at the University of Nevada, Reno that received the federal grant.
U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration
The federal agency that awarded the $3 million grant to support nurse training.
Carson Valley Health
A health care provider that received an $80,000 subaward through the nursing program.
The details
The Orvis School of Nursing will use the funds to integrate virtual reality simulation technology and dedicated wellness support for students at the Lake Tahoe campus in Incline Village. Participants in the BSN track are required to complete at least 100 additional experiential learning hours. Each student will receive a $1,000 stipend for housing and meals per semester to help offset living costs while they train for rural health care roles.
Timeline
January 2027: The inaugural cohort of 16 students begins the program.
August 2030: The federal grant award period concludes.
The Truckee Meadows View
This initiative follows the structure of federal HRSA health workforce grant programs designed to mitigate chronic shortages in medical staffing. By focusing on the Lake Tahoe campus, the Orvis School of Nursing aligns with regional efforts to improve rural health care access.
Students entering the BSN program in Incline Village will benefit from direct financial support of $1,000 per semester for housing and meals. Future patients in rural and frontier Nevada can expect more nurses to enter the field as the program reaches its projected 96 graduates by 2030.
The takeaway
Prospective nursing students should track the enrollment timeline for the inaugural cohort beginning in early 2027. The university will hold 16 spots for the first group of rural nurse scholars in this new track.
Further reading
Learn more about local training initiatives at the Nursing Jobs section.
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