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H H S Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration

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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
HRSA NEWS ROOM
http://newsroom.hrsa.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
CONTACT: HRSA PRESS OFFICE
301-443-3376
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HHS awards $82 million to strengthen nursing workforce

Funds help support facilities with nursing shortages

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:

State

Nursing Scholarship Program

Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

Total

Alabama

4

19

23

Alaska

5

4

9

Arizona

11

17

28

Arkansas

0

10

10

California

31

57

88

Colorado

9

57

66

Connecticut

0

31

31

Delaware

2

1

3

Florida

21

25

46

Georgia

27

21

48

Hawaii

5

6

11

Idaho

2

4

6

Illinois

12

40

52

Indiana

10

23

33

Iowa

1

32

33

Kansas

5

6

11

Kentucky

6

17

23

Louisiana

10

36

46

Maine

5

9

14

Maryland

15

36

51

Massachusetts

10

21

31

Michigan

18

13

31

Minnesota

2

11

13

Mississippi

2

5

7

Missouri

18

30

48

Montana

2

16

18

Nebraska

8

10

18

Nevada

1

3

4

New Hampshire

3

19

22

New Jersey

2

18

20

New Mexico

6

1

7

New York

21

70

91

North Carolina

12

21

33

North Dakota

1

22

23

Ohio

15

65

80

Oklahoma

2

5

7

Oregon

11

40

51

Pennsylvania

18

63

81

Rhode Island

0

14

14

South Carolina

3

21

24

South Dakota

0

12

12

Tennessee

11

75

86

Texas

18

117

135

Utah

6

6

12

Vermont

1

3

4

Virginia

15

34

49

Washington

10

59

69

West Virginia

0

27

27

Wisconsin

2

31

33

Wyoming

0

0

0

District of Columbia

11

21

32

Puerto Rico

2

0

2

Total

412

1304

1716

 

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

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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.