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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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Program Overview

2010 Application Cycle is closed. 

  • Applicants selected to receive funding will be notified no later than September 30.
  • Applicants who submitted complete application packages, but are not selected for funding, will be notified in October.
  • Sign up to be notified by e-mail when the 2011 application cycle opens.

Introduction

What is the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP)?

The United States is in the midst of a nursing shortage that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows.  Compounding the problem is the fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country are struggling to expand enrollment levels to meet the rising demand for nurses.

NELRP is administered by the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS) within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  HRSA is continuing to strengthen its commitment to address health care workforce issues by supporting the repayment of nursing education costs of Registered Nurses (RNs) committed to serving in Critical Shortage Facilities (CSFs) throughout the United States and its territories and the District of Columbia.

The purpose of NELRP is to assist in the recruitment and retention of professional RNs dedicated to providing health care in facilities with a critical shortage of nurses.  In addition, NELRP encourages practice in these facilities by decreasing the economic barrier that may be associated with the rising costs of obtaining a degree in nursing.  The program offers RNs substantial economic assistance to repay a portion of their qualifying educational loans in exchange for full-time service at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. 

What are the benefits of NELRP?

  1. Service

    Participants will join the thousands of RNs across the country that have benefited from NELRP and continue to practice at CSFs beyond their commitment to NELRP.  

  2. Loan Repayment

    The NELRP will provide funds to program participants to repay a portion of their outstanding qualifying nursing education loans.  Recipients of NELRP contracts receive the following benefits:

    1. For each of the first two years of service, NELRP will pay participants 30 percent of their total qualifying nursing education loan balance incurred while pursuing an education in nursing (total of 60 percent), as of the effective date of their 2-year contract.
    2. For a third (optional) year of service, subject to the availability of funds, NELRP will pay participants 25 percent of their original total qualifying nursing education loan balance for qualifying nursing education, as of the effective date of their initial 2-year contract.
  3. Salary

    NELRP participants will receive salary and benefits from the employing CSF or professional group. Employment compensation packages may be negotiated between the nurse and the employer. The CSF cannot guarantee a NELRP contract. Therefore, the NELRP loan repayments should not be part of any salary negotiations between the nurse and the employer.