Project ConNECT

Project ConNECT is a federally funded workforce development program designed to strengthen health resources in Texas’ rural communities. With nearly 5 million Texans living in rural areas — and some of the most urgent nurse shortages in the nation — this project designed to build rural nursing skills and compassion for rural settings can make a real impact. Through evidence-based internships, mentorship and community partnerships, ConNECT aims to strengthen health care access and improve population health across rural regions.

Our mission is to address the critical shortage of nurses in rural Texas by recruiting, training and supporting Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students who are committed to serving rural communities. Project ConNECT offers BSN students a chance to develop specialized rural nursing competencies, build real relationships with rural residents and health systems, and gain hands-on experience through immersive clinical placements. This program opens the door to a purposeful career where nursing work immediately matters.

Find your place. Make a difference. Build a rural nursing career.

Are you a BSN student ready to do more than complete clinical hours and make a meaningful impact where it matters most?

Project ConNECT is more than an internship. It’s a guided journey into rural nursing, where you will learn with communities, not just about them.

Through a unique blend of immersive experiences, mentorship and targeted learning, you will develop the confidence, skills and sense of purpose needed to thrive in rural practice.

As a Project ConNECT intern, you will:

• Immerse yourself in rural care through hands-on clinical experiences across diverse settings
• Learn alongside communities through Community Action Teams (CATs) that address real health needs
• Engage in a structured rural nursing learning experience designed to deepen your understanding of rural health, culture and systems
• Build meaningful relationships with rural nurses, leaders and community members
• Receive financial support for tuition, fees and books while in the program

This is your opportunity to discover not just where you can work — but where you belong.

We are not currently accepting interns for this cycle.

Shape the future of rural health in your community.

Project ConNECT is built on partnership. Rural communities are not just training sites. They are co-educators, leaders and changemakers in this work.

By partnering with Project ConNECT, you help prepare the next generation of nurses who understand and are committed to your community.

As a community partner, you will:

• Host student interns for meaningful clinical and community-based experiences
• Share your community’s strengths, needs and stories to shape student learning
• Mentor future nurses in real-world rural practice
• Strengthen your workforce pipeline by connecting early with students who may return as future employees

Together, we are preparing nurses and building sustainable rural health futures.

Lead. Mentor. Inspire the next generation of rural nurses.

Rural nurse preceptors are at the heart of Project ConNECT. Your expertise, insight and lived experience shape how students understand rural nursing — not just as a job, but as a calling.

As a Project ConNECT preceptor, you will:

• Guide students through immersive rural experiences that integrate clinical care, community engagement and leadership
• Strengthen your skills as an educator and mentor in rural practice
• Join a network of rural health leaders, faculty and fellow preceptors
• Contribute directly to addressing rural workforce shortages in your community

What you gain:

• Access to educational pathways, including support for pursuing an MSN-Nursing Education at the College of Nursing
• Opportunities for professional growth in teaching, leadership and mentorship, including:
  • Preceptor training
  • Support for CNE Certification
• Recognition as a key partner in developing the rural nursing workforce

Leave a legacy in rural health.