Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
We need more nurses in Alabama. Here’s a solution.
Reading time: 3 minutes
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When Dallas Wray’s nursing students ask him why he chose this line of work, he tells the unglamorous truth: “I didn’t want to be too hot or too cold,” adding that he decided this while working as a U.S. Air Force Reserve avionics technician in 120-degree heat.
Coincidentally, the story you’re about to read is all about degrees, too. Only these are academic degrees charting a path for Wray, future nurse educators and generations of nurses to come.
Read on to learn about the nursing master’s program and grant opportunity through The University of Alabama’s UA Online.
Dallas Wray’s degree journey
Not long after Wray resolved to avoid extreme temps at work, he became a patient care assistant at his hometown hospital in Dothan, Southeast Health, working to keep other people comfortable, too.
Wray continued to work at the hospital while earning an associate’s degree in registered nursing from his local community college and transitioning into his first nursing role.
In 2021, he enrolled in UA Online to earn his Bachelor of Science in Nursing while continuing his work at the hospital. Having started a family, he delayed pursuing a master’s degree for a couple of years. During this time, he faced a thyroid cancer diagnosis and underwent treatment.
Once cleared, his mind turned back to his educational goals and having heard about a new master’s program at The University of Alabama—a Master of Science in Nursing with a Nurse Education concentration, or MSN-ED.
UA’s new master’s program + grant opportunities
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the U.S. is projected to experience a shortage of registered nurses that will increase as the Baby Boomer generation continues to age and increase the need, among several other indicators.
To meet the demand for nurses, you must have nurse instructors. With Alabama experiencing a nursing faculty shortage, The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing developed a master’s level nursing education program, says Vice Dean and Associate Professor Dr. Susan Welch.
🎓 Learn more about the Master of Science in Nursing with a Nurse Education concentration program here.
In addition, the college received a $4.2 million Department of Labor grant over five years, which greatly supports the Nursing Expansion Grant Program for students from rural Alabama communities seeking to earn a master’s level nursing degree with a concentration in nurse education. Welch says the program aims to cover tuition and other costs for up to 80 students.
An unexpected relief + big plans
After Wray enrolled in the new MSN-ED program through UA Online, he soon became one of the first Nursing Expansion Grant recipients.
“It’s been tremendously helpful for me, especially having two kids and one on the way. So far, the nursing expansion grant has been wonderful and helped decrease some of the stress I have experienced in grad school, especially financially. The grant has also helped me connect with my partnered school, which will benefit me upon graduating to help educate the next generation of nurses.”
Dallas Wray, Dothan nurse + UA Online MSN-ED student
Want to know more about opportunities to advance your education and career? Check out UA Online’s 100+ degree programs.
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