Nurse workforce initiative

(a) Scholarship and stipend program Section 846(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 297n(d)) is amended— (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting and Stipend after Scholarship; and (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting or stipends after scholarships. (b) Nurse retention grants Section 831(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296p(c)(1)) is amended— (1) by striking Grants for Career Ladder Program.— and inserting Grants for Nurse Retention.—; (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking; and and inserting a semicolon; (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (D) to provide additional support to nurses entering the workforce by implementing nursing preceptorship projects that establish a period of practical and clinical experiences and training for nursing students, newly hired nurses, and recent graduates of a direct care degree program for registered nurses; or (E) to implement mentorship projects that assist new or transitional direct care registered nurses in adapting to the hospital setting..