UNCG Gets Federal Grant to Help Medical Veterans

New UNCG program creates pathway for those with medical training transition into the civilian world.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is launching the Veterans Access Program, an accelerated nursing program for medically trained veterans to help them transition to civilian life.  “Even though they were medically trained and have years of experience in the military, they come out and they're not eligible to sit for a nursing license or get jobs as a nurse in the civilian workforce,” says Dr. Susan Letvack, program director and chair of the Adult health Nursing Department. The program will give veterans either a Bachelor of Science within nine months or 18 months, depending on their education. UNCG is the only school in the state to receive this grant.

Students will get peer support, study resources and access to health and wellness services. “We're also offering a transition to civilian nursing course that recognizes the military language for hospital care is different than what it is in civilian," adds Letvack.  Classes will be a mix of online and in-person sessions.

According to Letvack, another benefit of this program is that it will address a racial disparity in North Carolina between registered nurses and the population they serve. She says minorities are not well represented in this profession. “The best care is given by a diverse nursing population caring for a diverse population,” Letvack explains. A federal grant for just under $1 million will fund this program for the next three years. UNCG participates in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Yellow Ribbon Program. So out-of-state veterans can attend the school and they will pay lower, in-state tuition rates. Also, UNCG's Office of Veterans Services can assist veterans with relocation housing.