Baltimore, MD - The College Network presented four nurse educators with a $2500 Professional Development Grant at the 2005 National League for Nursing (NLN) Education Summit. In addition, The College Network awarded a $6000 gift to the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education to support research in the field of nursing education.

Recipients of the $2500 grant will use the funds to pursue research and educational opportunities. The recipients are Professors Margaret Louis - UNLV, Las Vegas; Pauline Kerr - Miami Dade College, Miami; Linda Norman - Vanderbilt University, Nashville; and Ms. Patricia Burke BS RN - Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Gary Eyler, chairman and chief executive officer of The College Network, made these funds available after learning that the funding for faculty development is decreasing while the need for continuous education opportunities for faculty is increasing.

The College Network also gave $6000 to the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education. This gift was presented to Dr. Ruth Corcoran, chief executive officer of the NLN.

Gary Eyler, chairman and chief executive officer of The College Network, said "Our intent is to make possible the continuous availability of nurse education opportunities to leading faculty. The nursing shortage continues to plague the US health care system with a lack of nurse educators and available seats for eligible nursing applicants. Consequently, the nurse educators that we do have need access to key opportunities to further their professional development."

Dr. Toni Bargagliotti, president of the National League for Nursing, said "We are very pleased with our alliance with The College Network. TCN's focus on nurse education at the faculty and student levels complements our nursing education mission. The four Professional Development Grants will fund a significant portion of the faculty recipients' education objectives over the next 12 months. Added NLN CEO, Dr. Ruth Corcoran "We so appreciate TCN's $6000 gift to the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education which will help support the foundation's broad agenda to enhance nursing education and provide much needed support for research in nursing education to meet the many challenges in the years ahead."

About the National League for Nursing
Dedicated to shaping the future of nursing education, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers significant educational, leadership and networking opportunities; updated, comprehensive, secure tests and excellent test customer service; cutting edge journal articles in Nursing Education Perspectives; a grants program that supports research in nursing education; timely and effective public policy initiatives and the opportunity to participate in addressing the critical shortages of nurses and nurse educators.