It’s never too early for registered nurses and nurse practitioners working in a HPSA to start applying for Federal Loan Forgiveness dollars.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will begin accepting new applications from “advance practice” nurses later this year. The two-year program that willremove as much as 60 percent of their qualified nursing school debt. Nurses who receive awards agree to work at an approved location inside of a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA.)
HRSA published an overview of the program here.
To be eligible, a registered nurse, nurse practitioner or other “advanced practice” nurse must work at a qualified facility that operates inside of a HPSA.
Health care facilities include:
- Critical Access Hospital
- Disproportionate Share Hospital
- Public Hospital
- Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)
- Indian Health Service Health Center
- Native Hawaiian Health Center
- Rural Health Clinic
- Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
- State or Local Public Health or Human Services Department
- Ambulatory Surgical Center
- Home Health Agency
- Hospice Program
- Nonprofit, Non-Disproportionate Share Hospital
- Nursing Home
In order to be eligible, the facility must be in an active Health Professional Shortage Area, or HPSA. To search for a HPSA, search here.
