Q: What is CAPACITY project about? What is the purpose of the CAPACITY grant/scholarship?
A: CAPACITY is an educational grant funded by the Health Resources Service Administration to Emory University School of Nursing to help to increase the number of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates prepared with extra knowledge and skills to function to the full scope of their nursing license in the primary care setting. Through a competitive process, we select 10 CAPACITY scholars each year. A great thing about CAPACITY is that it is fully integrated into your nursing program, meaning you still have the same classes and clinical experiences of students who are not part of the program (i.e. you will still do clinical in acute care settings etc.). The difference for CAPACITY scholars is that when you are doing community-based experiences they will be completed at Mercy Care, a federally qualified health care center in Atlanta.
Q: Am I obligated to work in primary care upon graduation?
A: No, you are not. However, we hope by the time you graduate you will recognize the importance of primary care. Much of what you learn will be useful to you when caring for acute care patients, as you will understand the social determinants of health that affect them when they are discharged and what might make them come back to the hospital. if you plan to work in primary care either upon graduation or later in your career, we hope to have prepared you well to practice to the full scope of your license—which means that you would be providing expert nursing care related to care coordination, chronic disease management, and other nursing care.
Q: What is the amount of the CAPACITY scholarship?
A: Students selected as CAPACITY scholars will receive $2,000 per semester, with a total of $8,000 for four semesters of the BSN program of study.
Q: What is my commitment if I receive the scholarship?
A: CAPACITY scholars are required to sign an agreement prior to being admitted to the program to make sure they understand the different activities that HRSA, our CAPACITY grant funding agency, said we must have students complete. The activities are as follows:
- Complete 150 clinical hours in a primary care setting at one of the clinical partner sites such as Mercy Care of Atlanta. (Note: this 150-hour requirement is part of the 575 hours that are required to complete your nursing program. CAPACITY scholars complete their 150 hours at Mercy Care, whereas students who are not in CAPACITY would complete these 150 hours at other clinical sites where Emory School of Nursing assigns nursing students.)
- Complete a d two-credit hour Primary Care Nursing course in the third or fourth semester of their program. For your program, there is one elective that is required. CAPACITY students will complete the Primary Care Nursing course to fulfill this elective requirement.
- Participate in a Summer Clinical Immersion program at one of the primary care sites (Moultrie or Mercy Care).
- Participate in the Grady Health Coaching program (see attached for more information)
- Participate in activities that CAPACITY faculty believe will enhance competencies in primary care nursing (Note: these activities will be planned to work within your academic program).
Q: Am I expected to complete 150 clinical hours in primary care on top of my other clinicals (ped, population health…)
A: No – 150 primary care hours are part of the total 575 clinical hours required in the program, not extra.
Q: Do I complete other clinical rotations at Mercy Care as well?
A: No. You will complete other rotations at various clinical sites. For example, you will be at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for your pediatric rotation, or at Emory Mid-town or Gwinnett Medical Center for obstetric rotation.
Q: I am worried that if I commit to CAPACITY, I won’t have a well-rounded clinical experience.
A: You still have other 575 clinical hours in all the other different specialties (i.e. medical/surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, maternity nursing, and psychiatric-mental health nursing). Students who are not CAPACITY students spend the equivalent 150 clinical hours in similar community-based settings, but not at primary care clinics such as Mercy Care.
Q: I had to submit a recommendation letter for this program, but not to apply to nursing school. How come?
A: CAPACITY is a HRSA-funded project with excellent learning opportunities and scholarship funds awarded to students who show evidence that they would be an excellent primary care nurse. Having a letter reference helps us identify the best students for our program.
Q: How many primary care clinical hours do I complete each semester and with which courses are the clinical hours associated?
A: Fall 1 – 25 hrs. with N309-Social Responsibility & Bioethics in Nursing, Spring 1 – 50 hrs. with N315 – Population Health: Community and Public Health Nursing, Fall 2 – 25 hrs. with N502 – Primary Care Nursing elective, Spring 2 - 50 hrs. with N432-Ambulatory Care Nursing. These rotations are subject to change to ensure a minimum of 150 clinical hours in primary care are met
Q: I heard that CAPACITY might provide stipend for a summer externship in primary care. How do I qualify for that?
A: The grant budget includes a Summer stipend of approximately $1,500 for CAPACITY scholars. If you were selected for the program, you would receive your stipend in the Summer of 2021. We will provide more details in the spring of 2021.
Q: Will the service learning activities at Mercy Care for first fall semester always be on Monday 12pm-3pm?
A: No, not always, but with your packed schedule, service learning activities usually fall on Mondays, with other options of Thursdays, Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays. For those who work, it will be challenging to complete the service learning hours, so try not to schedule work on Mondays until you are clear about your clinical schedule.
Q: How many electives do CAPACITY scholars take in total? I think the Primary Care elective sounds interesting, but there are a few more electives I am interested in as well and want to have an idea about what I will be able to take in addition to the required elective.
A: As a full-time student, you can take as many electives as you want as long as you maintain your GPA and the electives do not conflict with the primary care electives.
