In August of 2005, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF) sent a letter to Pennsylvania schools that had Practical Nursing Programs asking them to submit a one page proposal for additional scholarship funding of their Practical Nurse students. Forty-two schools submitted a proposal for additional funding. PHEF sent award letters out to these schools in December of 2005.

The need for Practical Nurses in the Commonwealth will be substantially more than the rest of the nation due to the large population of senior citizens living in the state. As this population gets older, more and more are moving into independent living, assisted living personal care facilities, and nursing homes. The majority of these facilities use Practical Nurses as their front line employees for the care of their residents.