With more than a month left to go before the March 1 application deadline, already more than 4,800 nurses have submitted applications for the $5 million in student loan relief being made available to Pennsylvania-licenses nurses from federal COVID-19 relief aid.
A student loan forgiveness program offered to Pennsylvania-licensed nurses has drawn an overwhelming response. It has state policymakers calling for an increase in funding available beyond the $5 million of federal COVID-19 relief aid Gov. Tom Wolf has set aside for it. File/Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.
But assuming each eligible nurse qualifies for the maximum amount of loan forgiveness, Elizabeth McCloud, PHEAA’s vice president of state grant and special programs, told PHEAA’s board of directors on Thursday said that means only 666 nurses will receive relief.He urged the board to sound the warning bell to Wolf’s budget secretary and the House and Senate appropriations committee chairmen about the response.
The purpose of creating this loan forgiveness program is to provide loan relief to nurses in hopes it helps retain nurses to ensure Pennsylvania has the nursing workforce it needs to continue to care for COVID-19 patients, McCloud said. Since November when PHEAA worked out the details of the loan forgiveness program, it allowed nurses to sign up for updates about the forthcoming program. By the end of December, McCloud said more than 8,100 nurses entered their information to get on the mailing list.
The program is limited registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified registered nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives who are registered nurses who began employment before Dec. 31, 2021, at a Pennsylvania facility that provides nursing care directly to patients.
Because the demand far outpaces the funding, PHEAA has chosen a selection method that ensures each of nine geographic regions of the state receives a percentage of the funding equal to the percentage of eligible applicants from each region.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
COVID and politics in Pa. and beyond, where time seems to stand still | John BaerTime constricts or expands in a rhythm set by significant events. In terms of COVID and politics, we’ve had a parade of events in the last 12 months.And yet, here we are, in many ways, in a place where time seems to stand still. Same angst-filled pandemic problems. Same divisive politics in a state and nation split in two. Same uncertainties over what comes next.
Read more »
Woman beaten to death with pipe at Pa. office building, police sayPolice arrested a man after the deadly attack Wednesday afternoon, a department spokeswoman said.
Read more »
Troubling note from Budd Dwyer and ‘shaky’ criminal case haunt former Pa. lieutenant governor“In retrospect, it has become clear to me that it was a suicide note. He was saying he was not going to be on the planet,” Mark Singel says of Dwyer.
Read more »
Pennsylvania teacher caught taping mask to student’s face in viral image | Today in Pa.State lawmakers propose needle exchange program. Teacher caught taping mask to student’s face in photo. Shippensburg min-casino gets license. Pa. city among pet-friendliest.
Read more »
Pedestrian hit by central Pa. train identified: reportThe Lancaster County Coroner has not yet determined the man's manner of death.
Read more »
Central Pa. football coach messaged teen girl he was ‘drunk and horny’: prosecutorsHe admitted to sending the message but said it was an accident, prosecutors said.
Read more »