Seasoned nurses looking to become nurse educators now have a new program to help them transition, reports Nurse.com.

Sigma Theta Tau International created the program, entitled Nurse Faculty Mentored Leadership Development, with the help of a $200,000 grant from Elsevier. The program will focus on placing novice nurse educators with long-term mentors to create higher job satisfaction and retention.

“We have an amazing shortage of nurse faculty,” said Cynthia Vlasich, RN, to Nurse.com. Vlasich is the director of education and leadership for Sigma Theta Tau. “There needed to be some real foundational support for early career nurse faculty,” she added. Scholars who take part in the program will learn about managing, prioritizing activities for successful career development, and achieving satisfaction as a nursing faculty member.

Novice nurses, who hold master’s or doctoral degrees or are enrolled in doctoral programs, can apply between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2009 for one of the expected 16 faculty scholar, or mentee positions. Most of the scholars are expected to hold faculty positions for less than four years. Sigma Theta Tau encourages members from around the globe to participate.