Nursing Student Loan Repayment Option

The Health Resources and Services Administration is offering RNs a break on their student loans.

The program pays off a portion of student loans for RNs working in variety of non-profit health care settings, in return the RN agrees to continue working for a period of time. The amount of loan repaid varies from 60-85%, depending on the length of service the nurse agrees to provide.

The program is aimed at keeping nurses on the job and filling critical shortages. To learn more or to apply, check out the HERSA website.

HWFI Executive Director Featured on NPR's Marketplace

National Public Radio's Marketplace is exploring new avenues for low-income workers to receive education and move up the career ladder. Health Work Force Institute Executive Director Jaime Garcia was a featured expert for a story on options in health care. The story focused on the Healthcare Career Advancement Program or H-CAP. The program is a partnership between employers, unions, and state governments. Each partner provides funding to help entry level workers access the training they need to move into skilled positions. To learn more, listen to the entire story: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/02/05/mm-stern/.

Health Care Jobs Continue to Grow

According to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care industry will add 3 million new jobs by 2018. The new positions won't just be in nursing. Demand is expected to range across the care spectrum, from physicians to techs and aides. One way to prepare for the demand is to provide education and training to current entry-level workers to move into skilled positions. Implementing these programs is one area of focus for the Health Work Force Insitute. To learn more about the Bureau of Labor's report, check out this National Public Radio report.