Funds help support facilities with nursing shortages

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $82 million in awards to help bolster the country's nursing workforce. Administered by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the awards will provide financial support to nurses and nursing students in exchange for service at health care facilities with a shortage of nurses.

"Nurses play a critical role in our health care system, and demand for them is expected to grow over the next decade," said Secretary Sebelius.  "These awards reflect our ongoing commitment to attract and retain highly skilled nurses in underserved areas."

The nursing awards were made through the following programs:

• Nursing Scholarship Program: ($27 million – 412 awards) Provides tuition, educational fees, and a stipend for living expenses for as many as four years to eligible nursing students in exchange for a commitment to work at a Critical Shortage Facility.
• Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program: ($55.3 million – 1304 awards) Provides loan repayment assistance to registered nurses and nurse faculty in exchange for working at a Critical Shortage Facility or educational institution.

"These awards mean highly motivated and highly qualified registered nurses can continue to improve access to health care services across this nation," said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. 

Awards by state:

For more information about health professions loans and scholarships, please visit http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/index.html.

The Health Resources and Services Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  HRSA is the primary Federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable.  For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit www.hrsa.gov.

SOURCE Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

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