Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

In response to the growing shortage of nurses, the United States government created NELRP, the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. Basically, the government will repay sixty percent of a registered nurse's qualifying loan balance. In return, the nurses repay that gesture by serving at least two years in an area where there are critical shortages of nurses.

While the 2006 deadline has past, there are a few things you should know to see if you will qualify or be eligible for applying in 2007. First of all, by the next application deadline, you should have received your two-year (Associate's) degree or a Bachelor's degree in nursing. You would also be eligible if you have a comparable nursing degree from an accredited university or school. Other things to be aware of in time for the next deadline include:

• You are eligible if you have outstanding qualifying loans for your education and degree in nursing and have completed your course of study and obtained a diploma.
• You must be a citizen of the United States or be a lawful national or resident of the United States.
• You must be employed full-time or at least thirty-two hours per week in a facility that is in a crisis nursing shortage.
• You must have no dings on your record. In other words, there should be no restrictions to your Registered Nurse license in the state where you serve or practice.
• And of course, you must fill out al the paperwork and documentation for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program.

There are a few things you should be aware of that might preclude you from qualifying for the NELRP. If you have any liens on your property, you are not eligible until the liens are taken care of. And that makes sense - showing fiscal responsibility. In addition, if you have been negligent in paying any federal debt like taxes or other loans, you cannot apply. Being employed through a staffing nursing agency is not applicable for eligibility. If you only have a temporary RN license or a lapsed license, you cannot participate in the NELRP. Self-employment, fill-in nursing, and only having an LVN degree will also deem you ineligible.

If you do qualify, you do have some say in where you serve your two-year commitment. You can rank from first to last your preference serving in nursing homes, federally designated health centers or migrant health centers, departments of public health, Indian Health Centers, rural clinics or share hospitals. In addition, you might be able to sign on for a third year and receive another twenty-five percent of your loan balance.

For more in the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program, visit http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm

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