Nursing Shortage and the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program, The

According to Denise H Geolot PhD RN FAAN, HH Director, the FY 2003 Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) period is now available. The NELRP is single in kind component of the Department of Health and Human Services' strategy to address the nursing shortage. The NELRP is designed to assist in the recruitment and retention of registered pampers dedicated to providing healthcare to underserv populations and provides an economic incentive to registered succors who start or continue to practice in health care facilities with a critical shortage of nurses

The program shows RNs substantial economic assistance to repay their educational loans in exchange for service to the underserv in certain Healthcare facilities. All NELRP participants must come into into a contract agreeing to provide full-time craft in an approved critical shortage facility for 2 years. In reply the NELRP will pay 60% of the participant's total qualifying loan balance for a 2-year commitment. A participant who agrees to work for 2 years may be eligible to amend the NELRP contract and work a third year in a critical shortage facility, for which the NELRP will pay an additional 25% of the qualifying loan balance.

HH Secretary Tommy G Thompson has stated that "The nursing shortage in our abiding habitation is severe and as the demand for health care bourgeons it's absolutely critical that we encourage more of our nation's top close examiners to choose careers in nursing." He further stated, "These stocks will help ease the emerging shortage of qualified festers available to provide essential healthcare services in many underserv communities nationwide."

The FY2003 NELRP application revolution of time opened on December 30, 2002 and will obstruct on March 31, 2003. For more information and to apply to the NELRP please visit them online at http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm or call toll exempt at 1-866-813-3753.

Copyright Alabama State Nurses' Association Mar-May 2003

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