UND launches Gero-STARR to tackle rural nursing shortage, improve older adult care
The University of North Dakota’s College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines (CNPD) has launched Gero-STARR (Specialized Training to Advance Recruitment and Retention of Nurses in Acute and Long-term Care), a federally funded initiative designed to address North Dakota’s rural nursing shortage and improve care for older adults.
The program is supported by a $3.6 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Recruiting and retaining nurses in rural North Dakota
The Gero-STARR training program recruits first semester nursing students who are enrolled in UND’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Eligible students are from rural North Dakota communities.Gero-STARR prepares these future nurses for careers in acute care and long-term care settings. The inaugural cohort includes eight students who have all committed to working in North Dakota for at least one year after graduation.
Age-Friendly Care Training
The Gero-STARR training program centers on the nationally recognized “4M” Age-Friendly Care model—What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility—which prioritizes older adults’ goals and quality of life.
Students will complete a two-week intensive training course from May 18–June 1, 2026, combining classroom learning, simulation training and supervised clinical experience, culminating in an Age-Friendly Care credential. Students will have additional monthly training sessions throughout the year.
A more sustainable healthcare workforce in rural North Dakota
To help students focus on their education, Gero-STARR provides student nurses with a $1,200 monthly stipend for 12 months and a one-time scholarship up to $10,000. The program also offers dedicated study space, mentorship and academic and pre-professional support.
All of this will support the program’s goal of building a more sustainable healthcare workforce, especially in long-term care and acute care settings for older adults in North Dakota.
“We want our students to think about ‘what matters’ to their patients ,” said Dawn Denny, associate professor of nursing and principal investigator for the grant. “So that, in every encounter, what matters most to the older adult is what is guiding the direction of their overall care.”
Read the full story on UND Today
Media Contact: Jen Koller, marketing and communications coordinator, CNPD, 701.777.4549,jen.koller@UND.edu
