An evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration National Nursing Education Initiative

•The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) National Nursing Education Initiative (NNEI) provides scholarships for registered nurses to attain baccalaureate and advanced nursing degrees.•NNEI awards cover tuition and related expenses in return for a 1- to 3-year service obligation. Since 1999, NNEI has awarded 16,294 scholarships.•Potential explanatory variables were chosen from the scholarship database from 2000 to 2012.•A regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of degree completion for 10,043 participants in 162 VHA facilities. Since 1999, the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) National Nursing Education Initiative (NNEI) has provided 16,294 scholarships for registered nurses to attain baccalaureate and advanced nursing degrees. The goal of this evaluation was to determine factors that enhanced or hindered a scholarship recipient in the completion of their degree and service obligation. A regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of degree completion for 10,043 participants in 162 VHA facilities. Significant predictor variables for degree completion were intended occupation, entry degree, gender, age, and year entering the program. Eighty-six percent (86.7%) of participants completed the degree requirement. Of those who completed their degree, 97% completed the service obligation. As recruitment and retention initiative, NNEI scholarships are poised to address the VHA nursing staffing shortages as well as build a highly qualified nursing workforce capable of providing the best care to our Nation's Veterans.