In 2006, the GNYHA Foundation launched a program entitled, Bridging the Gap: Linking Clinical Practice to Academia, also known as the "Gap Program”. The goals of this program were to empower practicing nurses, as well as increase current levels of nursing faculty and the nurse workforce retention rate.

The program consisted of two phases:

• Phase 1: Train experienced nurses to be preceptors
• Phase 2: Institute a “Match Program” for nursing schools and hospitals

The goal of Phase 1 was to equip nurses with the skills to become preceptors to student nurses in the hospital setting. Nurses who participated in this phase of the program were granted 12 Masters-level credits toward a graduate degree in nursing. For nurses who already held a Masters degree, Lehman College of the City University of New York granted a post-masters teaching certificate. GNYHA conducted training for 63 nurses from numerous hospitals, comprising four cohorts and representing a range of hospital clinical areas. GNYHA enlisted the help of its existing Nursing Leadership Work Group to assist with curriculum development for the training program. Faculty from Lehman College School of Nursing, Adelphi University School of Nursing, and GNYHA staff taught the curriculum.

Participating nurses who completed the program continued on to work with GNYHA and the Nursing Student “Match Program” in Phase 2. The Match Program strived to improve the transition from nursing student to clinical professional by increasing the clinical exposure for students and allowing for early acculturation into the hospital setting. The program improves nursing students’ clinical experiences by matching them with faculty who are hospital nurses, and ensuring that nursing students rotate through numerous clinical areas in the hospital to gain a comprehensive perspective on clinical practice.

This program was supported by grants from the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence and the New York State Department of Health.