Amendment #792 to H5007

Nursing Pipeline Shortage

Ms. Belsito of Topsfield moves to amend the bill Moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"Section xxxx

For a reserve to establish and maintain a student loan fund aimed at strengthening the nursing instructor pipeline in the commonwealth, provided that not less than $15,000,000 be transferred to the Department of Higher Education to establish tuition forgiveness for nursing instruction workforce pipeline within the state public university system.

The purpose of the program is to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty by providing funding to accredited schools of nursing to offer loans to students in advanced education nursing degree programs who are committed to becoming nurse faculty. Department of Higher Education is to develop a strategy to recruit and retain students who plan to practice in an area with significant racial, ethnic and rural disparities.

Any state public university system school(s) of nursing affiliated with the application must be accredited at the time of application. Eligible applicants, full-time/part-time students pursuing a course of study in an advanced education nursing degree program that prepares the individual to become nurse faculty, shall: (I) commit to said program that, immediately post-graduation, to serve as a University nursing instructor for a period of not less than five years."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #792 to H5007

Nursing Pipeline Shortage